Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway
Frontier Pathways Old West Tour
| Departure: | Pueblo, Colorado |
|---|---|
| Destination: | Lake Isabel, Colorado |
| Time to allow: | 2 days |
Go back in time to experience life in the Old West. Visit museums, ghost towns, and restored nineteenth-century buildings; explore the San Isabel National Forest and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Let history unfold along the Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway.
Day 1
-
Start: Pueblo
Pueblo, nicknamed "Home of the Heroes", is the hometown of four living Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.
-
Stop 1: El Pueblo Museum
Directions from previous place: Start out going north on I-25, take the 1st Street Exit (exit 98B) toward CO-96. Turn left onto E 1st Street. Drive for 0.3 miles until you come to the museum at 325 W 1st Street.
Distance from Previous Site: 1.33 miles / 2.1 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 3 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours At this museum, visitors can learn about the interaction of several different cultures: American Indian, Mexican, and American. Fascinating artifacts, colorful murals, and interesting stories bring the history of the Pueblo area to life.
-
Stop 2: Wetmore and Early Settlements
Directions from previous place: Start out going west on 1st Street toward S Grand Avenue. Turn right onto N Grand Avenue. Turn left onto CO-96 (W 4th Street). Follow CO-96 for 28.8 miles until you come to Wetmore.
Distance from Previous Site: 29.1 miles / 46.6 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 45 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 3 hours This early settlement was founded over 150 years ago by French traders, fur trappers, and poor American farmers.
-
Stop 3: Rosita
Directions from previous place: Go west on CO-96 toward CR-395 for 17.7 miles, then turn left. Drive 1.3 miles, then turn left onto CR-341. Follow CR-341 (which becomes CR-329, then CR-323) for about 3 miles until you end at Rosita.
Distance from Previous Site: 22.1 miles / 35.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 35 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours This town, which was established in 1872, was once a booming mining town with over 400 buildings. Several of these buildings can still be seen today. As you drive to Rosita, notice the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains near the road.
-
Overnight Point: Colorado City
Lodging is available in Colorado City.
Total Distance Traveled in Day 1: 52.53 miles / 84.0 km
Day 2
-
Stop 1: Bishop Castle
Directions from previous place: Leaving Rosita, go northwest on CR-323 toward CR-328. Drive for 3 miles on CR-323 (which becomes CR-329, then CR-341), then turn right. After 1.3 miles, turn right onto CO-96. Drive for 8 miles, then turn right onto CO-165 (Greenhorn Hwy). Follow CO-165 for 28.5 miles until you come to Rye. Bishop Castle is located at 12705 CO-165.
Distance from Previous Site: 40.9 miles / 65.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 hour Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes This castle began as a one-man project by Jim Bishop in 1969. All of the work has been done with a wheel barrow and a shovel.
-
End: Lake Isabel
Directions from previous place: Follow CO-165 going south a few miles until you come to Lake Isabel.
Distance from Previous Site: 2 miles / 3.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 5 hours Go fishing or boating on this beautiful lake, and spend an entire afternoon enjoying the abundance of water recreation that Lake Isabel offers.
