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See the reds, yellows, oranges and browns create a kaleidoscope of color in the southern Colorado towns of Lake City, Creede, Alamosa, Antonito, Mosca, La Veta, Cuchara and Trinidad.
It’s easy to get caught up in the moment when viewing fall colors on a scenic drive. For the best photos, Do Colorado Right by choosing a spot in a safe, designated parking area to really bask in fall’s beauty.

3 Scenic Byways: Leaf Peeping in Southern Colorado

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There are special places and unique vistas around nearly every Colorado corner. You can help ensure these places exist for generations to come by staying on roads and trails, keeping speeds in check, leaving campsites and picnic spots just as you found them, and following instructional signs while you’re out and about in our state.

Travel Like a Local

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Heading south on the Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byway, make a pit stop at Windy Point, east of Lake City. This overlook offers superb views of five fourteeners (mountains that stand more than 14,000 feet in height) and endless views of golden aspens.

Windy Point Overlook

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<div>Stop by the Lake City Visitors Center for a Mile Post Guide prior to hitting the road and heading south toward Creede.</div>

Pick Up a Guide

Elevated comfort food and craft cocktails served with attentive, friendly service.

Climb Elevated Eatery

This 17-mile, self-guided driving tour showcases amazing foliage and historic mining structures throughout Creede’s silver-mining district.

Bachelor Loop Tour

Kip's Grill started operating out of a caboose on the side of the Highway in Del Norte, Colorado in 1996. The goal was to create seriously fresh, handmade tacos with amazing flavors and provide our patrons with outstanding customer service. A lot of things have changed along the way. The menu has expanded, the location moved to 101 5th Street in Creede, Colorado and we are now open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. A lot of things have not changed at all. We still work hard to make fantastically fresh and delicious food and our efforts are always 100% focused on "Pleasin' The People".

Kip's Grill

Experience the history and charm of the western mining town of Creede.  Downtown is home to shops, art galleries, and eateries, as well as the nationally acclaimed Creede Repertory Theatre. Pick up a self-guided walking tour booklet at the Creede Historic Museum.

Historic Downtown Creede: Walking Tour

A small inn in a historic building of an old mining town offers accommodations in comfort and natural beauty while retreating from the modern world. The inn is listed on airbnb and booking.com or you can call us directly.

Aspen Inn & Finding Gems Gift Shop

Bristol Head Bakery in Creede offers fresh, made from scratch pastries, pies, cakes and cookies. Custom orders are available with advance notice.

Bristol Head Bakery

Views of golden aspens line Pool Table Road, just off the Silver Thread. Scenic views of the Rio Grande River Valley are visible for the first few miles of the trip, which climbs through aspen, spruce and fir to beautiful rolling, grassy, sub-alpine parks. The 9.4-mile scenic drive is accessible by passenger car and leads to Hanson's Sawmill Site.

Pool Table Road Scenic Drive

Take a drive on the <a href="https://www.colorado.com/byways/los-caminos-antiguos">Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway</a>.

Head to Alamosa

The Rubi Slipper has classic American cuisine, and is open for lunch and dinner. Famous for their $1 Taco Tuesdays, they've extended that special to every day. Enjoy burgers, salads, chili, nachos, and buffalo wings at the Rubi Slipper.

Rubi Slipper

Take a brisk fall drive starting in Alamosa through the southern end of the San Luis Valley to the beautiful San Juan Mountains along the Conejos River. Climb Highway 17 along the Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway through colorful aspen trees and crisp mountain air. Enjoy the views from Conejos Canyon Overlook. You may even spot the Cumbres &amp; Toltec Scenic Railroad train rumbling by.

Scenic Autumn Drive & Conejos Canyon Overlook

<div>If you have more time, stop at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recarea/?recid=29526">Elk Creek Bridge</a> before you drive up the switchbacks and take a kayak or tube down the Conejos River (during low water in July and August when it’s hot). Stop to see Elk Meadow Ranch on your way back to Mogote on the southeast side of the Conejos River. </div>
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Make a Pitstop

For two delicious decades, Dos Hermanas Restaurant has been a destination for Antonito’s best homemade recipes and margaritas.

Dos Hermanas Restaurant

On the way back to Alamosa, turn right on Hwy 142 toward San Luis and drive to the Rio Grande Natural Area at the pull-off just west of the Rio Grande. You might even come across a tarantula — this is one of the few places in Colorado to find them!

Rio Grande Natural Area

Valley Motel is a family operated independent economy motel located right of Highway 160 in the beautiful town of Alamosa in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. It makes an attractive and affordable choice for business and leisure travelers and fulfills the lodging requirements

Valley Motel

Drink Coffee....Love Others!  Milagros Coffeehouse not only serves a full line of delicious espresso and coffee drinks, teas, and baked goods, we also support the efforts of La Puente Home in combating homelessness and poverty in the San Luis Valley.

Milagros Coffee House

Reptile rescue park. See more than 250 alligators including Mr. Bo Mangles the albino alligator and Morris the movie star, tortoises, pythons and much more! Lots of hands on experiences! Hold a gator! Feed the gators, tortoises, and fish! Go fishing!

Colorado Gators Reptile Park

Drive North past Hooper to see the <a href="https://www.alamosa.org/directory/835-ufo-watchtower">UFO Watchtower</a>. It's a 360-degree-view observation platform of the San Luis Valley. <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/UFO+Watchtower/@37.7580949,-105.893172,13.58z/data=!4m16!1m10!4m9!1m0!1m6!1m2!1s0x8715d228b2b322b7:0xb83494456f141ec0!2sColorado+Gators+Reptile+Park,+9162+W+Co+Rd+9+N,+Mosca,+CO+81146!2m2!1d-105.8701422!2d37.706023!3e0!3m4!1s0x8715ce851abbe0f9:0xbd2ed13d48f950e6!8m2!3d37.7885562!4d-105.8872175%20">Get directions</a>, and after you've seen the view, hop on the road to La Veta.

UFO Watchtower

This is the hottest thing going in the area. Nearly every day it’s obvious when you look at the multitude of parked vehicles, that the food is good.

George's Drive Inn Restaurant

The Gallery displays the works of regional artists in a variety of changing exhibits throughout the year, while the Gift Shop provides members a year-round outlet for their arts and crafts.

SPACe Gallery

Hop onto the <a href="https://www.colorado.com/byways/highway-legends">Highway of Legends</a> and head south toward Trinidad.

Drive to Dinner

Long considered the heart and soul of the Cuchara Valley, Dog Bar &amp; Grill is the place to enjoy lunch on the outdoor deck with your favorite canine or a casual dine-in evening for dinner and beverages from a full bar.  Live entertainment on weekends thru the summer.

Dog Bar & Grill

Pinyon-juniper woodland and short- and mixed-grass prairies occupy park uplands making for excellent photos.

Trinidad Lake State Park

Take a more interesting drive to your final destination for the evening: From Trinidad Lake State Park, take the road over the Trinidad Dam (CR 18.3) to Starkville then north on <a href="https://www.colorado.com/byways/santa-fe-trail">Santa Fe Trail</a> into Trinidad.

Take the Long Way Round

Take advantage of our pet-friendly hotel's many modern amenities, free hotel features, friendly service, and convenient location near the city's downtown hub.

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Trinidad

Your morning meal is included in your stay at the La Quinta Inn &amp; Suites.

Breakfast

Trinidad History Museum features the historic Bloom Mansion and Baca House, two residences built in the late 19th century, as well as heritage gardens and the Santa Fe Trail Museum. Learn all about the region’s diverse cultural and ethnic heritage through lively events and exhibitions such as <a href="https://www.historycolorado.org/exhibit/borderlands-southern-colorado-santa-fe-trail">Borderlands of Southern Colorado</a> and <a href="https://www.historycolorado.org/exhibit/children-ludlow">Children of Ludlow: Life in a Battlezone, 1913-1914</a>, an award winning display that examines the Colorado Coalfield Strike and Ludlow Massacre through the eyes of the more than 9,000 children who endured the strike. 
Tours of the historic Baca House take place each day at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Trinidad History Museum

Mission at the Bell is a cozy, family-owned restaurant, (over 20 years in business) serving Tex-Mex style menu items. Located on the basement level of the historic Bell Block building in the Corazon de Trinidad Historic District - Trinidad Colorado.

Mission at the Bell Restaurant

Wormhole Loop Trail is a 2.3-mile moderately trafficked loop near Trinidad. Trail run, hike or mountain bike the afternoon away.

Wormhole Loop Trail

Pizza specialist fixing up wood-fired pies, plus beer &amp; wine, with outdoor seating.

Bella Luna Pizzeria

Located in a breathtaking area of Southern Colorado, the Corazón de Trinidad Creative District supports local artists and entrepreneurs through creative initiatives to economically benefit the community, while honoring Trinidad's vibrant cultural and artistic history.

Corazon de Trinidad Historic District

Stop in and let us host your visit at our Days Inn &amp; Suites Trinidad hotel, conveniently located off I-25, halfway between Santa Fe/Albuquerque and Denver. We are also close to Trinidad State Junior College. Our hotel was designed with your comfort in mind, and we feature thoughtful amenities to brighten your stay.