Omayra Acevedo, Silver Thread Byway. How do you put into words something that takes your breath away? I’m not sure, but you’re about to witness me try. It was the second day of the year, winter sports enthusiasts bundled up and tossed their skis and snowboards over their shoulders; I watched from a distance as I prepped my belongings for a few hours’ drive. I snapped a few photos, inhaled with excitement over the unknown adventure ahead of me, clicked my seatbelt on, placed my sunglasses over my eyes and took off. 

Every turn weaves you in and out of a remarkable view and invites you into a different part of its story. Home to fly fishing gold medal waters, spectacular overlooks, the historic Bachelor Loop, Creede Mining District, North Clear Creek Waterfalls, Slumgullion Pass, Lake San Cristobal (Colorado’s second-largest natural lake), the Alfred Packer Massacre site, indigenous wildlife, and Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, which ends at Blue Mesa Reservoir, it is more than just a scenic paved road.

The Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byway is appropriately named for a good reason. When you stop along the way to explore, you learn so much about where you are and why it is a large part of the history of our state. From European pioneers to the Ute Indians, whose culture can be traced back to the 1300s, and the many phases of the byway itself, there is no question that this is an incredible part of our colorful Colorado. It was the way the clouds formed over the valleys, the vibrant colors of the sun setting and rising, the distant silhouettes of mountain ranges or Elk, the sensation of clean mountain air, and the solitude, that all made it presumably surreal. 

Through the two historic Colorado districts of Creede and Lake City, there is a remarkable stretch of roughly 120 miles that I am convinced was made only for (or perhaps by) the angels. For nothing with this caliber of beauty could possibly be earthly. That was my initial thought the moment I realized where I was. The thing is, I already know how beautiful Colorado is. But when something surpasses any expectation or image you had in mind, there is nothing more to do than to conclude that you have reached heaven on earth. 

For more information check out https://www.colorado.com/articles/colorado-scenic-byway-silver-thread.

(Originally published in the April 1, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)