---
id: "2103"
name: Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway
distance: "63"
duration: Two hours to drive the entire byway, or 90 minutes along Highway 65 and 30 minutes roundtrip on the spur road to Land's End
description: This "playground in the sky" climbs from the rugged Plateau Canyon floor to the cool evergreen mesa forests, 11,000 feet up. Featured are hundreds of sparkling lakes, wildflower meadows and forests of shimmering aspen and pine. Take a side trip to Lands End Overlook where the Grand Valley unfolds below.
path:
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  - "{ofmFreprSbO|R`GhIbAvBtCdNhC~NxAvOTtBh@hCfGhVBHfBfHTfAFRNfAD`@?h@IrA_@~A}BhIU|AEjALrBbEtNlBdHh@fBp@jAr@~@~@l@~B`AzDtAxA`AdGzFjAlAxB`BrHhCpAl@xDpDjAv@xDhBhDnArAf@t@n@dAhAbAxAnBrCbDnF|AfCbBhC~DnGrAfAvExBv@`@r@t@fC~DNVnG`Ld@fAf@vB?d@ErAkAvIYpBYvBMtA?vCFbBF|@pAvGlBdK\\nBPpAFjAc@rQAfABfALt@Jd@Xh@tBzBnGdHrAvAr@fAh@lA\\jATtAN|AB|B_@pDcAdKYxB[rAa@rA[|@wAxBgBrCORcAzAkAbBcEtGg@bAYr@]~@Sr@eAjIY|AO|@Yz@OZ[b@W\\{BhB{@t@Y\\QZ[dAQ|@G`AAt@Bh@FfAVjAb@|@rAnBp@bAlElFl@|@h@`Ab@lARt@RpAr@tIJrAXpB\\jAb@pAdDbHhBjEl@jBj@nCt@hFTtBDrA?pAE`AIz@aApDeDhLuAdFc@hBSdAOrA?hABx@JxAn@pDtCbNnA|G\\fBJjABpAAnNC|ATxJLbEFjAH|AHx@T~BjAxJRbBNbBAdBGvAG|@i@fDCNI|@[lB]nBWpAS|@Sj@u@tAqIhL}DvFaAbAk@b@{@j@qAd@qGtAyHbBw@Tq@`@UR[`@Yv@Of@Ox@Ev@@h@L`AJj@Zx@Vh@f@`@tF~Cl@Z`@\\j@l@d@z@Zv@ZlAPtAFpAC~BChBCz@BzBv@nGhA`KHn@H|@B|@?t@Et@Gj@Ov@Oh@i@pAqAlCSb@w@|AmG`NaBnCSPaDpB}CpBYP[PcA`@{@VqGh@cAFsA\\{BtAaCrAQJyAb@i@Rm@L[Di@@mB?wDCqBDs@Dq@Hu@ZiAp@yIfG{FdEwBbB_AhAaBfDo@zAU|@WrAc@pDcAtOw@hBa@j@Gr@QjAMb@]~@Yn@"
organization:
  - url: https://www.facebook.com/GrandMesaByway/
    name: Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway
websites:
  - url: https://www.codot.gov/travel/colorado-byways/northwest/grand-mesa
    name: Colorado Byways
  - url: https://www.colorado.com/byways/grand-mesa
    name: Colorado Travel Guide
  - url: https://www.coloradodirectory.com/maps/gmbyway.html
    name: Colorado Vacation Directory
  - url: https://nsbfoundation.com/nb/grand-mesa-scenic-and-historic-byway/
    name: National Scenic Byway Association
  - url: https://www.americanlegacytours.org/colorado/grand-mesa-road-trip/
    name: National Travel Center
  - url: https://www.thearmchairexplorer.com/colorado/grand-mesa-scenic-byway.php
    name: The Armchair Explorer
  - url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Mesa_Scenic_and_Historic_Byway
    name: Wikipedia
attractions:
  - url: https://www.gjhikes.com/2013/04/baron-lake.html
    name: "Baron Lake Trail #751"
  - url: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/recreation/cedaredge-observation-site
    name: Cedaredge Observation Site
  - url: https://www.gjhikes.com/2013/04/cobbett-lake.html
    name: "Cobbett Lake Trail #747"
  - url: https://www.gjhikes.com/2018/01/county-line-loop-3.html
    name: County Line Ski System
  - url: https://www.gjhikes.com/2015/10/crags-crest.html
    name: "Crag Crest Trail #711"
  - url: https://www.gjhikes.com/2010/08/discovery-trail.html
    name: "Discovery Trail #745"
  - url: https://www.grandmesalodge.com/
    name: Grand Mesa Lodge
  - url: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/recreation/grand-mesa-visitor-center-grand-valley-rd
    name: Grand Mesa Visitor Center
  - url: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug
    name: Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
  - url: https://www.gjhikes.com/2010/07/land-of-lakes.html
    name: "Land Of Lakes Trail #713"
  - url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land%27s_End_Observatory
    name: Lands End Observatory
  - url: https://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/12342-driving-the-iconic-road-to-lands-end-observatory-in-colorado.html
    name: Lands End Road
  - url: https://www.gjhikes.com/2011/08/mesa-lake-shoreline-trail.html
    name: "Mesa Lake Shore Trail #503"
  - url: https://www.mesalakeslodge.com/
    name: Mesa Lakes Lodge
  - url: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/recreation/mesa-lakes-picnic-site
    name: Mesa Lakes Picnic Site
  - url: https://www.gjhikes.com/2011/08/mesa-top.html
    name: "Mesa Top Trail #714"
  - url: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/recreation/old-mesa-ski-hill
    name: Old Mesa Ski Hill
  - url: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/recreation/plateau-valley-observation-site
    name: Plateau Valley Observation Site
  - url: https://powderhorn.com/
    name: Powderhorn Mountain Resort
  - url: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/recreation/raber-cow-camp-interpretive-hike
    name: Raber Cow Camp Interpretive Hike
  - url: https://gmnc.org/
    name: Skyway Nordic Area
  - url: https://stoneymesa.com/
    name: Stoney Mesa Winery
  - url: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/recreation/valley-view-picnic-site
    name: Valley View Picnic Site
  - url: https://www.gjhikes.com/2013/04/ward-lake.html
    name: "Ward Lake Trail #744"
  - url: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/recreation/ward-way-picnic-site
    name: Ward Way Picnic Site
  - url: https://www.pioneertown.org/
    name: Welcome Center at Pioneer Town
designations:
  - National Scenic Byway
  - National Forest Scenic Byway
  - Colorado State Scenic Byway
states:
  - CO
ll:
  - -107.930082
  - 38.8900268
bounds:
  - - -108.28135
    - 38.88942112358882
  - - -107.92568834138416
    - 39.182590000000005

---

Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway is a paved state highway between I-70 and Cedaredge. The spectacular 63-mile route begins in the scenic Plateau River Canyon, then climbs through forests and meadows full of wildflowers, to offer panoramic views from the top of Grand Mesa, 11,000 feet up. Featured are hundreds of sparkling lakes, wildflower meadows and forests of shimmering aspen and pine. Take a side trip to Lands End Overlook where the Grand Valley unfolds below.

Grand Mesa was designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation as a National Scenic Byway in 1996 for its historical qualities.