John Cletheroe's
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Colorado State Highway 149 from US160 at South Fork to US50 at Gunnison over the Slumgullion Pass, including the Silver Thread Byway; the Rio Grande and Uncompahgre National Forests

Location

Colorado State Highway 149 runs from South Fork on US160 north to join US50 just west of Gunnison. Heading north it runs over the Spring Creek Pass, passes through Lake City and then runs over Slumgullion Pass.

Description

This road runs through isolated mountain scenery and has very little traffic. It is however a good quality paved road.

Heading north, from the summit of the Slumgullion Pass (just south of Lake City) the road descends almost continuously, and in many places fairly steeply, all the way to its terminus at US50. This must surely be one of the longest continuous descents/ascents of any road in the world.

The 75 mile long section of this road between South Fork and Lake City is known as the Silver Thread Byway.

The entire length of this road is highly scenic. The southern section passes through typical Colorado ranching country, while the northernmost part is through more arid country.

Between South Fork and Lake City the road passes through the Rio Grande National Forest. North of Lake City it borders the Uncompahgre National Forest.

Although there is a road from Lake City to Silverton and US550 just north of Ouray, this is a unpaved road only suitable for four-wheel-drive vehicles.

In the Area

Colorado

Colorado Plateau

Historic Trails, Named Roads, etc

Mountain Roads

National Forests

Scenic Roads

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Most recently modified 3-Feb-01