Independence Pass

At 10,200 feet, Leadville is the highest incorporated community in the United States. Yet in this setting, surrounded on all sides by 14,000-foot behemoths, the city occupies the lowlands. South of town, Colorado’s two loftiest mountains – Elbert and Massive – stand side by side like Jupiter and Saturn. The colossal peaks of this area yielded fortunes of like proportions in the 19th century, as miners pulled millions of dollars’ worth of mineral from the ground. The luckiest of them, Horace Tabor, became one of the titans of Colorado’s silver industry. This 82-mile route crosses the Continental Divide twice and traces the Arkansas River nearly to its source in the vicinity of Fremont Pass. The small communities of Redcliff, Minturn, and Twin Lakes add charm. Continue reading ‘Scenic Drive: Colorado – Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway’ »