Silver Thread Scenic Byway
Colorado
Map
Byway Details
- Designation
- National Forest Scenic Byway
- Length
- 116 mi in Colorado
- Managed by
- Forest Service
About Silver Thread Scenic Byway
The Silver Thread Scenic Byway is a 116-mile drive through Curecanti National Recreation Area in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The route links the towns of Lake City, City of Creede and South Fork, so it works well as a base for exploring the area around these communities. Summer is the most comfortable time to drive it. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Gunnison show July highs around 80°F with lows near 44°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s and 30s. The byway passes a cluster of trails, campgrounds and fishing spots. Palisade Trail and Independence Gulch are both within a tenth of a mile, and Palisade Campground and Silver Thread Campground sit right along the route.
Scenic byway data: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
Facts about this place
When to go
Best time to go: May–Sep. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 66–80°F and lows of 30–44°F.
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Gunnison 3sw, CO weather station, 5.5 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan26° high-6° low
- Feb30° high1° low
- Mar44° high14° low
- Apr56° high23° low
- May66° high30° low
- Jun76° high36° low
- Jul80° high44° low
- Aug77° high43° low
- Sep70° high34° low
- Oct60° high22° low
- Nov44° high11° low
- Dec28° high-3° low
Where it is
- Curecanti National Recreation Area · National Park Service
- Towns along the route
- Lake City · City of Creede · South Fork
Source: NPS Land Resources boundaries; USGS GNIS populated places
Conditions
Active alerts for Curecanti National Recreation Area as of Oct 9, 2026:
Toxic Algae Found – Blue Mesa Water Quality Advisory
Danger · posted Oct 8, 2026
Source: NPS Alerts API
Nearby
- Palisade TrailHiking0.1 mi
- Independence GulchHiking0.1 mi
- Rio GrandeRiver fishing0.1 mi
- InspirationHiking0.1 mi
- Henson Creek RV ParkCamping0.1 mi
- Palisade CampgroundCamping0.1 mi
- Marshall ParkCamping0.1 mi
- Silver Thread CampgroundCamping0.1 mi
- Blue Creek Lodge & RV ParkCamping0.1 mi
- SPRING CREEK PASS SNOWMO/SKIHiking0.1 mi
- Lake To Lake TrailHiking0.1 mi
- Clear CreekCanoeing0.4 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 2 miles of the route, PostGIS distance)
