Volunteers Sought for Scenic Byway

LEADVILLE – The Colorado Department of Transportation is seeking volunteers to serve on the governing committee for the Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway – one of the highest byways in the U.S. that rarely drops below 9,000 feet through west-central Colorado.

Volunteers would be part of a team promoting and managing a byway offering travelers an opportunity to experience high-country scenery and a wealth of natural, recreational, and cultural activities.  Duties would include:

• Maintaining a regular meeting schedule, including a minimum of two meetings per year, with one being an in-person meeting.
• Holding at least one public workshop, community event, or presentation to local elected officials or another group.
• Participating in at least four CDOT, Colorado Byways, National Scenic Byway Foundation or other public meetings, trainings, webinars and conference calls per year.
• Completing an annual survey to 1) track the program’s accomplishments and the byway’s goals, 2) assess that the rational for corridor designation remains relevant, and 3) make sure progress continues to preserve the corridor. 

The Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway, designated as a National Scenic Byway in 1998, provides access to an abundance of attractions, such as: 

• Five 14-er’s (above 14,000 feet), including Mt. Elbert, Mt. Massive, Quandary Peak, Mt. Lincoln, and Mt. Democrat.
• Three national forests, including Pike, White River, and San Isabel, offering ample opportunities for a variety of activities, including four-wheel driving, biking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and camping.
• The Twin Lakes area, popular for fishing, boating, hiking, snowmobiling and photographing Colorado’s scenery. 
• The Tabor Opera House in Leadville, an elegant, three-story brick-and-stone structure built in 100 days in 1879, offering seasonal concerts, community events, and tours.
• The Camp Hale Memorial Campground.  Fifteen thousand World War II soldiers were trained here to ski, and acquire mountaineering and cold weather survival skills.

Interested individuals should contact Colorado Byways Program Manager Lenore Bates at 303.757.9786 or [email protected].

ABOUT CDOT

CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located at its Denver headquarters and in regional offices throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated interregional express service. Governor Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.