Start Your Exciting Path to Adventure in Pueblo, CO

iStock.com/Brandy Herren

There’s always plenty to do in Pueblo, CO, for residents and visitors, and that’s only the beginning. The city also provides a spectacular base for exploring the surrounding area, with adventures to be found around every corner.

A great way to explore is via the Frontier Pathways Scenic & Historic Byway. One of 26 Byways in Colorado and one of 13 National Byways in the state, Frontier Pathways has now been designated an Electric Byway. EV travelers will find dual-port DC fast charging stations located no more than 100 miles apart along the route, making trips convenient while helping the state achieve its ambitious climate goals.

Shaped like a wishbone, the 103-mile byway in Pueblo is a paved two-lane route that winds through some of the state’s most spectacular scenery and provides access to outdoor recreation including hiking, kayaking, fishing and ATV trails.

Located along Highway 96 and Highway 165, the Pueblo byway climbs almost 5,000 feet in elevation. Here visitors will find pronghorn (often called antelope), bighorn sheep, elk, working ranches and several of the state’s famed “Fourteener” peaks that crown the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range.

The entire route can be driven straight in about 2.5 hours, but there are so many reasons to stop along the way.

Downtown Pueblo

Stroll along the 32-acre waterfront at the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo, where visitors will find local shops, restaurants and entertainment. On the river, gondolas, excursions and pedal boats operate from May to September. Stop in at Brues Alehouse, a converted jail and police station that pours beautifully crafted pints. It also serves an exemplary Pueblo Slopper, an open-faced cheeseburger topped with fries and the city’s famed green chile. Admire the red stone buildings of the Union Avenue Historic District and be sure to look for the art painted on the Arkansas River Levee. At 177,000 square feet, it’s one of the largest murals in the world.

Custer County

Just over an hour outside of Pueblo, the towns of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff are Colorado’s first designated International Dark Sky Community. View the majestic night skies at the Smokey Jack Observatory, which boasts a retractable roof and a 14-inch telescope. Train aficionados won’t want to miss All Aboard Westcliffe, which keeps the county’s railroad history alive in a restored 1901 Denver & Rio Grande Railroad depot.

Bishop Castle

A fire-breathing dragon, a 160-foot tower and a never-ending story, Bishop Castle is said to be the largest one-man construction project in the world. The dream of Jim Bishop, a local ironworker and weekend laborer, this whimsical wonder is in the San Isabel National Forest outside the tiny (pop. 204) town of Rye. Enter at your own risk from sunup to sundown and admire the ingenuity of Mr. Bishop, who worked on his castle for 50 years.