Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Why Go?
This is the essence of Colorado: stark and soaring granite cliffs, multiple 14,000ft peaks,
geothermal hot springs, the powerful Arkansas River and a bit of ghost town history, too.
The Route
The Collegiate Peaks Byway begins where the Top of the Rockies route ends, at Twin
Lakes on Hwy 82, just below Independence Pass.
If you haven't yet explored the mining camp ruins at Twin Lakes, they're worth a look
before you get on the road and head east on Hwy 82 to Hwy 24 South. Mt Yale will be the
first of the Collegiate Peaks, part of the Sawatch Range, to reveal itself as you head into
Buena Vista, a town that is absolutely worth your time. Ostensibly it's a prison town, but
it's also recently become a magnet for groovy entrepreneurs who have opened restaurants,
cafes, coffee roasters and even a yoga studio. Rock climbing and plenty of paddling are
accessible from Main St, and even some spectacular free campsites on Tunnels Rd.
From here the official byway advises you to stay on Hwy 24 out of town. We beg to
differ: instead, drive west on County Rd 306 from the center of town for 0.7 miles. Turn
left on County Rd 321 and continue south for 7.2 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 322,
then drive 0.8 miles to a fork in the road. Bear right and you'll be on Mt Princeton Rd,
which will take you to the sprawling Mt Princeton Hot Springs Resort, at the base of mag-
nificent Mt Princeton. Whether you choose to dip into the hot water by the river or
scramble up to the peak is a question only you can answer.
You could also continue from the gates of the resort up County Rd 162 to St Elmo, an
old abandoned gold-mining town. The road narrows as it runs further up the canyon, with
the river flowing by and towering mountains laid out on both sides. The remaining build-
ings were built in and around 1881.
From St Elmo make your way south again toward Hwy 285, and the historic districts of
Poncha Springs and Salida, which is also the gateway to the wild and scenic Arkansas
River. From there, there is 99 miles of Arkansas River paddling all the way to the Royal
Gorge. Salida is also a great place to slip into a kayak for the first time.
When to Go
You can do most of the drive, except for St Elmo, year-round, though springtime is mud
season and not the best time to explore the trails.
