Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway

08/27/2026

Skip the tourism traffic Visit Wet Mountain Valley Small and scenic, with dramatic views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Westcliffe is tucked into the Wet Mountain Valley. The town offers a scenic getaway among fourteeners and is a great area for hiking, fishing and more. It’s also an international Dark Sky Community, and offers great stargazing.

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08/12/2026

Bird's Eye View of Bishop Castle

Ever wanted to see the bird's eye view?

08/12/2026

We are happy to report CO Hwy 165, part of the Frontier Pathways, is open and is still a beautiful drive...as well as eye opening with the scars of fire and flood. We took a leisurely drive and had lunch at The Rye Cafe. If you are inclined to take a scenic drive to go support The Rye Cafe after being closed for a month while the Aspen Acres Fire burned. Friendly staff, good service and a great menu; we had the vegetarian pizza. Currently not sure of status of The Lodge at San Isabel - Cabins, Restaurant, & Store that had a lot of flood damage and all the campgrounds around Lake Isabel are closed.

08/08/2026

We are thankful Bishop Castle survived the Aspen Acre Fire.

Bishop Castle was spared from the devastating Aspen Acres Fire thanks to the dedicated work of firefighters from around the country to help battle the blaze. When the Bishop family returned to the fortress that their father, Jim, spent 50 years constructing, they were pleasantly surprised to find that the firefighters left behind a guestbook signed with their names and hometowns.

In addition to protecting what could be the largest one-man architecture project in the world, the firefighters left monetary donations to keep the late Jim Bishop’s vision for a freely accessible landmark alive.
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The Bishop Castle, near Fairview in Custer County. Hustvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

08/01/2026

The Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway is the byway that takes you to Visit Wet Mountain Valley. It's a beautiful, breathtaking drive on CO-Hwy 96. Take it slow and enjoy the spectacular views.

07/31/2026

Even though CO Hwy 165 is still closed due to fire and flood damage, CO Hwy 96 is all clear to take you to Westcliffe and the 3rd Street Gallery where they are celebrating Colorado with an art exhibit and the 50 Artist Canvas Quilt Project. Master wood craftsman Ken Wisecup also has a bounty of his furniture on display. Come for the mountains and enjoy the art that is very much a part of the Wet Mountain Valley. Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Visit Wet Mountain Valley

07/21/2026

https://creators.yahoo.com/lifestyle/story/im-a-travel-writer--these-11-us-towns-you-need-to-visit-at-least-once-in-your-life-152641268.html

From Alaska's glacier country to the Mississippi bluffs, these are the small towns worth planning a whole trip around.

06/29/2026

Take a weekend drive on the Frontier Pathways to Visit Wet Mountain Valley and take in the Westcliffe Center for the Performing Arts Shakespeare in the Sangres. Stay overnight to take in both superb performances of 1776 and Julius Caesar! You won't be disappointed, this is local theater at its finest!

Theatre attendees bustled into Jones Theatre Saturday evening for the Westcliffe Center of the Performing Arts (WCPA) second evening of Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone’s Tony Award-winning musical, 1776. Written 57 years ago, 1776 highlights the complexities, conflicts, and compromises of America....

06/16/2026

Take a drive on the byway and stay for the weekend to enjoy live theater at the Jones for the annual event - Westcliffe Center for the Performing Arts Shakespeare in the Sangres!

1776 opens Friday, June 19 and Julia Caesar opens Friday, June 26. Get your tickets now - https://jonestheater.com/

04/23/2026

It's a wrap for the Colorado Byways Photo Exhibition at 3rd Street Gallery. We had over 600 visitors in 3 months! Many people were introduced to the endless beauty of our state. The exhibit has moved onto Durango. Big thanks to Lenore Bates!