Top of the Rockies
Top of the Rockies Historical Tour
| Departure: | Dowd, Colorado |
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| Destination: | Annunciation Church, Colorado |
| Time to allow: | 2 days |
This tour begins in the town of small mountain town of Dowd, and it weaves across the beautiful, rugged stretch of land that graces Colorado.
Day 1
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Start: Dowd
The Byway begins in this small mountain town. Leaving, elevation increases quickly up and over rugged mountain passes.
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Stop 1: Minturn
Directions from previous place: Leaving Dowd, take I-70 east for 4.3 miles. At Exit 171, turn off onto ramp (US-6/US-24/Minturn/Leadville). Keep right to stay on ramp (Minturn/Redcliff). Bear right onto US-24 and drive for 2.1 miles. Turn right onto Norman Ave. Turn left onto Pine St and arrive in Minturn.
Distance from Previous Site: 6.7 miles / 10.7 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Minturn, a quaint mountain community, guarantees magnificent nature watching; be sure to bring a camera because views of the valleys below are incredible -- especially in the fall.
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Stop 2: Camp Hale Memorial and Historic Interpretive Site
Directions from previous place: Leaving Minturn, start on Pine St, then turn left onto Harrison Ave. Turn right onto US-24 [S Main St] and follow for approximately 22 miles. Camp Hale is on your right.
Distance from Previous Site: 22 miles / 35.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 30 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours Located on the Byway near milepost 160, this site features several plaques detailing the history of the Tenth Mountain Division who trained here before serving in Europe in WWII.
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Overnight Point: Leadville
Lodging is available in Leadville.
Total Distance Traveled in Day 1: 28.7 miles / 45.9 km
Day 2
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Stop 1: National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum
Directions from previous place: Leaving Camp Hale, take US-24 south for 7.9 miles. Keep right onto local road for 0.1 mile, then bear right onto US-24. Drive for 1.0 mile, and keep straight onto W 9th St in Leadville. The museum is at 120 W 9th St.
Distance from Previous Site: 9 miles / 14.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 18 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours This museum is dedicated to the memory of the men and women who pioneered the mining industry in this country. See displays of hundreds of fine specimens of gold, silver, ore, and minerals, including spectacular examples loaned from the Smithsonian Institute and the Harvard Mineralogical Museum.
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Stop 2: Tabor Opera House
Directions from previous place: Leaving the museum, take W 9th St for less than 0.1 mile, then turn right onto US-24 (Harrison Ave) and drive for 0.3 miles until you arrive at the Opera House on E 3rd St.
Distance from Previous Site: 0.3 miles / 0.5 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 minute Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours When it opened on November 20, 1879, the Tabor Opera House was said to be the finest theater between St. Louis and San Francisco. This building, located in Leadville, is one of only a few 'Tabor' associated buildings still standing in Colorado.
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End: Annunciation Church
Directions from previous place: Leaving the opera house, start on US-24 (Harrison Ave) and drive north for 0.2 miles. Turn right onto E 7th St. The church is on the southwest corner of Poplar and E 7th St in Leadville.
Distance from Previous Site: 0.3 miles / 0.5 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 minute Started in 1879, this historic church was dedicated on New Year's Day, 1880. This church's steeple has become a prominent landmark of this area. It houses an enormous bell that weighs over 3,000 pounds.
