• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Colorado Brands
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Mine Tours
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Public Parks
      • Scenic Drives
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos with Lodging
    • Dude Ranches
    • Hot Spring with Lodging
    • Wineries with Lodging
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
Collegiate Peaks Byway Highway 285 Home Colorado
Home on Collegiate Peaks Byway. Photo: Kent Kanouse

Collegiate Peaks Byway – Buena Vista-Salida

FacebookTwitter

[Home on Collegiate Peaks Byway. Photo: Kent Kanouse] One of Colorado’s newest scenic byway, Collegiate Peaks stretches about 57 miles and travels through highways 285 and 24. Identified in the late 2005, it got its title due to the several nearby mountains that mostly have names of prestigious universities like Mt. Oxford, Mt. Harvard, Mt. Columbia, Mt. Yale and Mt. Princeton.

Driving the Collegiate Peaks Byway

It starts from the town of Granite and ends in Salida (north to south) or vice versa, and would take about 2 hours to finish. Depending on one’s starting point, its entirety is definitely a scene to behold. If beginning from the north, you’ll take Highway 24 south past Buena Vista, where it turns to Highway 285. Take south to Salida for amazing views along the whole way.

Recreation on Collegiate Peaks Byway

Ensconced on the west side are the great fourteeners of the Sawatch Range, some of which are already mentioned above, while in the east side sits the Arkansas River Headwaters National Recreation Area. Aside from mining ghost towns, other interesting historic sites also abound along the way, such as the Old Nathrop Schoolhouse, the Gas Creek School, the Buena Vista Heritage Museum and the Hutchinson Ranch.

This scenic byway is navigable in almost any season, but stands out during autumn months. Roads are passable by all vehicles, as it’s a paved highway the whole way.

Surrounding national forests offer great 4×4 roads, where Jeep and ATV rentals are available in the town of Buena Vista and Salida. In addition to the amazing views, there are also a plethora of outdoor activities that can be enjoyed, such as biking, hiking, fishing, white-water rafting and bathing in the hot springs. Gift shops, art galleries and fancy restaurants are also easily accessible.

Collegiate Peaks Colorado
Collegiate Peaks. Photo: Patricia Henschen

Details

Address: Granite to Salida

Passes by: Buena Vista, Nathrop

Season: Year round

Length: 57 miles

Roads: 2WD

Map: Collegiate Peaks Byway (png)

Website: codot.gov/…

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Recent Posts

  • Upcoming Spring Festivals in Colorado
  • 8 Great Springtime Colorado Festivals
  • 9 Colorado Ski & Snowboard Companies
  • Brief Timeline of Colorado’s Ski and Snowboard History
  • Fly Directly to these Colorado Ski Resorts with Airports Nearby

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 · Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise