West Elk Scenic Byway con't
...Pass to Kebler Pass. This pass is a 31-mile stretch of dirt road, only accessible during the summer months. The route leads through magnificent aspen forests and into Crested Butte where it continues south to Gunnison, then southwest on U.S. 50 along the Blue Mesa Reservoir, passing through Sapinero to the junction of U.S. 50 and Colorado Highway 92. The byway proceeds north through the towns of Crawford and Hotchkiss. In Hotchkiss, at the intersection of Highways 92 and 133, it turns right and heads back to Paonia, completing the loop at the Paonia Reservoir.
This magnificent landscape has been home to uncounted generations of Native Americans, most recently the Utes. White settlers originally came in search of minerals and stayed to farm and ranch. The coke ovens at Redstone bear witness to the toil that built the communities of today. Carbondale, Hotchkiss, Crawford, Gunnison, Crested Butte, and other towns offer a slice of Colorado's rich history, varied lifestyles, and natural beauty.
The route gives access to the White River and Gunnison National Forests, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Curecanti National Recreational Area, and Crawford and Paonia State Parks. Recreational opportunities abound with skiing, hiking, backpacking, photography, cycling, rock climbing and wildlife viewing.
...Pass to Kebler Pass. This pass is a 31-mile stretch of dirt road, only accessible during the summer months. The route leads through magnificent aspen forests and into Crested Butte where it continues south to Gunnison, then southwest on U.S. 50 along the Blue Mesa Reservoir, passing through Sapinero to the junction of U.S. 50 and Colorado Highway 92. The byway proceeds north through the towns of Crawford and Hotchkiss. In Hotchkiss, at the intersection of Highways 92 and 133, it turns right and heads back to Paonia, completing the loop at the Paonia Reservoir.
This magnificent landscape has been home to uncounted generations of Native Americans, most recently the Utes. White settlers originally came in search of minerals and stayed to farm and ranch. The coke ovens at Redstone bear witness to the toil that built the communities of today. Carbondale, Hotchkiss, Crawford, Gunnison, Crested Butte, and other towns offer a slice of Colorado's rich history, varied lifestyles, and natural beauty.
The route gives access to the White River and Gunnison National Forests, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Curecanti National Recreational Area, and Crawford and Paonia State Parks. Recreational opportunities abound with skiing, hiking, backpacking, photography, cycling, rock climbing and wildlife viewing.