Frontier Pathways is a 103-mile journey from Pueblo, Colorado, west across the Arkansas River Valley, south through the Wet Mountains, to the edge of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The roadway visits the towns of Silver Cliff, Westcliffe, Rye, and Colorado City, while passing through the broad prairie, rugged Hardscrabble Canyon, and the public lands of the San Isabel National Forest.

The land holds the history and contributions of Native Americans, Hispanic settlers, homesteaders, and European immigrants. Native Americans lived and hunted in the mountains and plains. Those who later came to live here were drawn by the beauty and promise of the land and the hope of a better life—the hope of finding the “American Dream.” But they had to contend with the harsh realities of a difficult climate, a rugged landscape, and the dangers of the frontier. Frontier Pathways stands as a testimony to the dreams of the settlers and their courage, stamina, and tenacity in following those dreams.