A tour of the Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway is like taking a trip back to the Old West. This area, full of high-country ranches and serene meadows, was once filled with American Indians, explorers, trappers, traders, settlers, miners and farmers. This roadway is also known for hosting the first auto recreation in a National Forest, as well as serving as the first settlements, colonies, and churches in the state. The Utes, Arapaho, Comanche and Cheyenne traveled the pathways that would later be claimed by explorers. France and Spain declared the land, as did the first American explorer, Zebulon Montgomery Pike. An abundance of beavers drew trappers and traders, who connected with native tribes and the settlers in Taos and Santa Fe—both part of New Spain at the time. The Arkansas River acted as the Spanish Border, which later became Mexico in 1821, until the Mexican American War (1846-1848).
Starting at an elevation of 4,600 ft and climbing to 9,400 ft, the route offers close-up views of surrounding peaks. It begins in Pueblo ascending to the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range, through San Isabel National Forest, the Wet Mountains to Colorado City. In the spring and summer, the meadows are full of flowers, teaming with golden aspens in the fall; pronghorn graze the land year round. Winters invite cross-country skiers and snowmobilers to a snowy mountain setting. The byway is shaped like a wishbone—103 miles on a paved 2-lane highway.
Among highlights of the route is the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, a popular location for whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Arkansas River. San Isabel National Forest contains 19 of the state’s 53 fourteeners and includes the highest point in Colorado—Mount Elbert. Visitors can take heritage tours of the route, learning about cowboys, farms, a bridge and a castle. The Royal Gorge Bridge spans a half-mile across the gorge, with the Arkansas River roaring below. Bishop Castle serves as a fascinating medieval artifact. In South Pueblo, visit the rural site of the Charles Goodnight Barn, home of the famous cattle baron who invented the iconic chuck wagon. The byway is an easy destination for hiking, biking, kayaking and bird watching, with areas for fishing, rock climbing, and backpacking.