• Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway - This 65-mile route circles through the historic mining towns of Lake City, Silverton and Ouray in southwestern Colorado's backcountry. Travel up Cinnamon Pass and Engineer Pass for breathtaking views or sample the area's many hiking and biking trails.

• Cache La Poudre - North Park Byway - Starting in Fort Collins, this 101-mile north-central Colorado trip winds through Roosevelt National Forest, Poudre Canyon and scenic North Park before dropping into the quiet town of Walden. Enjoy plenty of opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing and fishing along the way.

• Collegiate Peaks Byway - This 57-mile route takes drivers through south-central Colorado towns such as Twin Lakes, Buena Vista, Salida and Poncha Springs. Visit the many historic school houses, homesteads and museums along the way and marvel at the multiple 14,000-foot mountains towering overhead.

• Colorado River Headwaters - Travel alongside the roaring Colorado River on this 80-mile, north-central Colorado byway from Grand Lake to State Bridge. Don't miss Three Lakes Reservoir, fishing on the river's Gold Medal Waters near Kremmling and soaking in the therapeutic Hot Sulphur Springs.

• Dinosaur Diamond - Step back into prehistoric times on this 512-mile byway. Winding south from Grand Junction, drivers can explore excavation sites at Dinosaur National Monument, learn about the region's first people at Colorado National Monument and much more.

• Flat Tops Trail - Pristine landscapes and an abundance of wildlife await drivers on this 82-mile north-eastern Colorado byway. Running from Yampa to Meeker, the route passes through White River National Forest and the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, vast swaths of beautifully preserved mountain land.

• Frontier Pathway - For a taste of variety, try this 103-mile byway, which passes landscapes from desert to mountain on its way from Pueblo to Colorado City along Highways 96 and 165. This south-central Colorado route passes the San Isabel National Forest, the ghost town Rosita and Bishop Castle.

• Goldbelt Tour - Composed of three roads(High Park Road, Shelf Road and Phantom Canyon Road), the 135-mile Gold Belt Tour takes drivers through many of south-central Colorado's former mining towns. Gamble in Cripple Creek, check out Florissant Fossil Beds' dinosaur bones and walk the suspension bridge at the Royal Gorge.

• Grand Mesa Scenic Byway - For centuries, Native Americans, early settlers and - now - drivers have flocked to see the 11,000-foot Grand Mesa. This byway, running 63 miles from Cedaredge to Mesa, climbs to the top of the mesa and through the national forest that surrounds it.

• Guanella Pass - Just a few miles southwest of Denver, this 22-mile route takes drivers from Georgetown to Grant along Highways 381 & 62. Sites along the way include the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad, the former Silverdale mining camp and plenty of hiking and biking trails.

• Highway of Legends - This 82-mile route allows drivers to discover some of southern Colorado's finest treasures. Running from Trinidad to Walsenburg, the route offers dazzling views of the Spanish Peaks, passes through San Isabel National Forest and summits Cucharas Pass.

• Lariat Loop - Colorado's only urban byway, this 33-mile loop passes through the towns of Denver's Mountain Area, running from Golden and passing through Genesee, Evergreen and Morrison. Visit Buffalo Bill Cody's grave and Red Rocks Park, home to stunning rock formations and its famous natural amphitheater.

• Los Caminos Antiguos - This 129-mile route explores the towns of the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado before dropping into New Mexico. Sites along the way include Colorado's first church in Conejos and the home of boxing great Jack Dempsey in Manassa.

• Mount Evans - Climbing 7,000 feet in 28 miles, this byway is the highest paved highway in North America. The route starts in Idaho Springs and climbs to Mount Evans' summit at 14,258 feet, offering stunning views, wildlife watching and hiking trails along the way.

• Pawnee Pioneer Trail - Traveling the same paths as Colorado's early Native Americans and settlers, this 125-mile route runs through northeast Colorado's rolling prairies. The road offers stunning views of the 250-foot-tall sandstone Pawnee Buttes, the Pawnee National Grasslands and the area's abundant wildlife.

• Peak to Peak Highway - This 55-mile route, which starts in Central City and runs north to Estes Park along Colorado Highways 72 & 7, passes through some of Colorado's most popular destinations. Drivers can visit Rocky Mountain National Park, Allenspark, ghost towns, gold mines and historic Black Hawk.

• Pikes Peak Road Scenic Byway - This 12-mile byway climbs to the top of the world's second most visited mountain summit. Take in the spectacular scenery as the road winds to the top, where the view inspired the song "America the Beautiful."

• San Juan Skyway - Passing through some of southwest Colorado's most historic places, this 236-mile byway loops through Durango, Telluride, Ouray and Cortez. Popular sites include Mesa Verde National Park, the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Chimney Rock Archaeological Area.

• Santa Fe Trail - An important 19th century trade corridor linking Mexico and the United States, the Santa Fe Trail is now closely paralleled by this byway, which loops through Colorado for 188 miles into New Mexico. Look for wagon wheel ruts along the road and historic Bent's Fort.

• Silver Thread Scenic Byway - Historic and scenic, this 75-mile byway links South Fork and Gunnison via Lake City and Creede in Colorado's southwest. Look out for the beautiful North Clear Creek waterfalls, Wagon Wheel Gap - the first stage stop between South Fork and Lake City - and the area's many elk.

• South Platte River Trail - The shortest byway in Colorado, this northeast route loops through Julesburg and its surrounding area. Don't miss Fort Sedgwick, the only Pony Express stop in Colorado, and the Julesburg State Wildlife Area.

• Top of the Rockies - Rarely dipping below 9,000 feet, this 75-mile, high-altitude route travels from Twin Lakes to Leadville before branching off to either Minturn or Copper Mountain. Don't miss the Camp Hale Memorial or the historic Tabor Opera House.

• Trail of the Ancients - This multi-state byway loops through Colorado for 114 miles, passing through the Ute Mountain Indian Reservation and Cortez in Colorado's southwest corner. Explore plenty of ancient Puebloan ruins, admire ancient rock art and stop at the Four Corners where you can be in 4 states at one time.

• Trail Ridge Road - One of Colorado's most popular roads, in Rocky Mountain National Park, this 48-mile byway in north-central Colorado is America's highest continuous highway it connects Estes Park and Grand Lake. Watch the trees disappear once the road passes timberline and look for Milner Pass, where the road crosses the Continental Divide. You usually can find some snow even in July to have a snowball fight with the kids.

• Unaweep/Tabeguache Scenic Drive - This southwest Colorado byway passes through the Unaweep Canyon while traveling from Whitewater to Placerville. Take advantage of the many scenic hiking and biking trails and keep an eye out for historic remnants of the area's mining past along the way.

• West Elk Scenic Loop - This 205-mile loop takes drivers through Carbondale, Paonia, Gunnison and Crested Butte. Natural beauty abounds, but make sure to stop at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Blue Mesa Lake.

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