Creede and Lake City’s large historic districts and rich history make them worth a stop, and stopping to take in the view at the Lake San Cristobal Overlook or Lake Fork Canyon Overlook is definitely worth the trouble. After passing through Creede, the Silver Thread byway begins climbing up the steep switchbacks towards Spring Creek Pass, which is one of the major highlights of the route.Īt 117 miles in length, the trip will take a minimum of three hours, but it could easily be extended by stopping at the towns, vantage points, and historical sites along the way. Spanning over one hundred miles between the mountain towns of South Fork and Gunnison, the Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byway is one of the premier ways to see the beauty of this section of Colorado.īeginning in South Fork, the byway first brings visitors along the Rio Grande River towards Creede. Silver Thread Scenic Byway Lake San Cristobal scenic overlook along the Silver Thread Scenic Byway. Discover fly fishing Gold Medal waters and snowshoeing through the backcountry, with these year-round activities in South Fork. No matter what time of year, South Fork draws in visitors with its beauty and outdoor recreation. Located in southern Colorado, at the boundaries of the Rio Grande National Forest and on the banks of the Rio Grande River, South Fork is a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts.įrom fly fishing and hiking to skiing and snowshoeing, discover these things to do in South Fork. To make the most of your trip, consider visiting the two other Nature Conservancy preserves downstream: San Miguel Canyon and Tabeguache.Find your basecamp for Colorado outdoor adventures in South Fork. The site has been designated as an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society. You could say the ranch is a kind of birder's paradise. This site plays host to the rare narrowleaf cottonwood-Colorado blue spruce/black twinberry plant community. ![]() Or hike along a half-mile gravel trail of moderate difficulty. The preserve also fronts a backdrop of several incredible sights, including Ophir Needles, a designated National Natural Landmark, and Ames Wall, which is composed of stratified rock types (granite, sandstone and shale).Įxplore the preserve through a handicap-accessible, 180-foot elevated boardwalk and viewing platform with interpretive signage. Perhaps the most striking of the three Conservancy-protected preserves along the San Miguel, the South Fork Preserve lies below the towering 14,000-foot Wilson Peak of the western San Juan Mountains. Natural flood cycles and a history of very little development have kept many parts of this river in pristine condition - much as they would have appeared before the state was settled. The San Miguel, one of the few remaining naturally functioning rivers in the West, supports some of the best riparian (streamside) habitat in the Upper Colorado Basin. More than 80 percent of Colorado's wildlife depends on rivers and riverside habitat. Educating the local community about riparian plant and animal communities.Creating partnerships within the region to promote conservation.The Conservancy's foremost concern here is preservation of the riparian habitat. Why The Conservancy Selected This Siteīecause it contains one of the best-known examples of the globally rare narrowleaf cottonwood-Colorado blue spruce/black twinberry plant community. FishingĬatch-and-release is allowed, but only with artificial flies and lures. ![]() There is also a half-mile gravel hiking trail of moderate difficulty. There is a handicap-accessible, 180-foot elevated boardwalk and viewing platform with interpretive signage. Southwestern Colorado: near Telluride What to Expect ![]() ![]() Now, with three preserves and cooperative projects with the Bureau of Land Management and other partners, we have helped protect more than 30 miles of the San Miguel. The South Fork Preserve, protected in the summer of 1989, was our most recent acquisition. The Conservancy established its first preserve on the San Miguel River in 1988.
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