Destinations · Colorado
Southwestern Colorado
CO · 37.7300, -107.7100
San Juan Skyway, Alpine Loop and Silver Thread Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway are signed byways within 30 miles of Southwestern Colorado, Colorado.
Understand
Region boundaries in Colorado tend to be somewhat controversial (even in day-to-day life in the state) and are done in an ad-hoc way here. If you're expecting to read about some destination in this article and can't find it, check in the neighboring Northwestern Colorado and South Central Colorado sections to see if it's covered there.
The drives · Designated roads lead.
3 scenic drives near Southwestern Colorado
Ordered by federal designation, then by how close each one runs to Southwestern Colorado. All-American Roads and National Scenic Byways are named by the Federal Highway Administration, not by us.
- 01
San Juan Skyway
All-American Road · starts in town
Runs through Mesa Verde National Park, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests and San Juan National Forest.
- 02
Silver Thread Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway
National Scenic Byway · 29 mi out
Runs through Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests and Rio Grande National Forest.
- 03
Alpine Loop
State scenic byway · 6 mi out
Runs through Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Rio Grande National Forest and San Juan National Forest.
Day-trip loops
Ready-made loops for Southwestern Colorado are growing. What is within reach is measured today; plan a live day trip and the engine routes it now.
Within reach
Measured from Byway's own registries, 30 miles around town.
Scenic byways
- San Juan Skyway · inside · national
- Alpine Loop · 6 mi
- Silver Thread Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway · 29 mi · national
Public land
Campgrounds
- South Mineral Campground · 6 mi
- Sig Creek Campground · 12 mi
- Matterhorn Cabin · 12 mi
- Matterhorn Campground - Norwood RD · 12 mi
- Priest Lake Designated Camping Area - Norwood RD · 12 mi
- Pole Creek Trailhead #820 · 13 mi
- Alta Lakes Campground (Designated) - Norwood RD · 13 mi
- Haviland Lake Campground · 14 mi
Lookouts
- Molas Pass · 1 mi
- Twilight Peak · 4 mi
- Arrastra Gulch · 8 mi
- Red Mountain Overlook · 13 mi
Named places
- Snowdon Peak · 2 mi
- Molas Park · 2 mi
- Spencer Peak · 3 mi
- Grand Turk · 3 mi
- Sultan Mountain · 4 mi
- North Twilight Peak · 4 mi
- Coal Bank Hill · 5 mi
- Bear Mountain · 5 mi
A day out of Southwestern Colorado, planned on real roads
The engine starts from town, weaves the byways and verified stops around it, and hands back an honest schedule — zero hallucinations.
Take the scenic way to Southwestern Colorado.
Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.