The Silver Thread Scenic Byway CO149, Colorado

Looking for a Colorado motorcycle scenic byway with sweeping curves, breathtaking vistas, old mining towns that went from boom to bust in 3 years, spectacular water falls or maybe you’re just looking for a bit of gore along with some of the most amazing roads around? 

Look no further than the Silver Thread Scenic Byway (149) which goes from South Fork, through Creed, Lake City and ends in Gunnison, Colorado.  This amazing, rather remote route has sweeping curves, broad and majestic vistas, and high mountain passes.

Creed, Colorado – in the late 1800’s at one point this town was growing at a rate of 300 people today.  It went from boom to bust in just a matter of 3 years, and during its peak it was producing over $1 million in silver a month!  We didn’t time it right – later in the summer they hold their annual donkey dash – with no asses around to see we motored on down the road.

South Clear Creek Falls – well, what can I say – even after traversing down mountain, dirt roads we were unable to find this rather elusive falls, but we were able to locate the North Clear Creek Falls.

Though it is not visible from the road, North Clear Creek Falls is a cascade of water that appears almost magically out of a meadow and crashes down a box canyon. This is considered one of the most photographed waterfalls in Colorado and is located in one of the most remote locations compared to other falls throughout Colorado.  This is a hidden treasure that you don’t want to miss.  Keep your eyes out for Forest Road 510, just past Spring Creek pass and follow the road back to the falls.  The view of the gushing North Clear Creek Falls as it plummets from a flat meadow into a box canyon will take your breath away. 

Looking for a little gore?  Don’t miss the Alferd Packer Massacre Site.  Legend has it that in the winter of 1874, Alferd Packer led 5 rather under-prepared prospectors into the wilderness.  Packer emerged two months later alone and not looking like he’d miss too many meals.  Eventually he confessed to killing one man in supposedly self-defense and eating the remains of all his five fellow prospectors in order to survive.  He was sentenced to 45 years in prison and served 15.  Released in 1901, he maintained his innocence until his death in 1908.  At the site his victims are memorialized.