(West of Silver Cliff) Miners, ranchers and modern-day motorists have all marveled at this breathtaking view of the Sangre de Cristos This 50-mile-stretch includes 22 peaks that are over 13,000 feet in elevation.

Silver ore was first discovered in black stained cliffs in 1878, and the town of Silver Cliff was incorporated in 1879 as a mining town. By 1880, Silver Cliff was the third largest town in Colorado with a population of 5,040 people. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad planned to lay tracks into the valley in the early 1880s. Insiders bought up land just west of Silver Cliff before the railway was completed. When the terminal was built in what would become Westcliffe, Dr. William Bell and other investors presumably made a tidy profit.

In the summertime, visitors can learn about the byway, recreation, local events and facilities in this old caboose on west Main Street.

The “Westcliff’ Schoolhouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located on south 4th Street in Westcliffe. It was built in 1891 and was dedicated on Christmas Eve of the same year. No one knows why the school name, still visible above the front door as “Westcliff” was spelled without the “e.”

(4.5 miles south of Westcliffe on SH69) In 1870, Carl Wulsten formed the German Colonization Society in Chicago. His goal was to provide a way for
German families who lived in the city to move to the West and obtain ownership of their own land. Wulsten hoped the colony could jointly file for 40,000 acres in the Wet Valley. About 100 families left Chicago on February 8,1870 and arrived in the valley on March 21. By December, the colony
was falling apart. The government denied the colony’s joint claim for land. Some settlers moved away, but many stayed in the valley as homesteaders. Descendants of some of the original colony members remain in the area today.

The oldest town in the valley began as a supply center for ranchers located in an area northwest of Westcliffe known as Ula, or “the English Settlement.” Ranchers and home steaders first moved to the area in 1870. Early settlers included the Kennicotts whose cabin can be seen from State Highway 69 just north of Westcliffe. By 1871, the little town of Ula had a post office, general store and hotel. At its peak, Ula’s population was 365 people. Today, all that remains are a cemetery and cabin.

The Beckwith Ranch is easily visible from State Highway 69 north of Westeliffe. At the turn of the century, it was the largest cattle and horse operation in the region. In 1871, Edwin Beckwith built a log cabin and homesteaded the land. Soon, he brought in 1,500 head of Texas cattle. Edwin was soon joined by his brother Elton. The Beckwiths owned nearly 7,000 head of cattle and 200 horses by 1885. They built their unusually-styled house around the original log cabin. At its height, the Beckwith Ranch encompassed 60,000 acres.

This junction has seen many travelers over the centuries -- Ute Indians, early trappers, scouts like Kit Carson, explorers, the Espinosa Gang and many others. In the late 1800s, Angus McKenzie ranched here; now the Hardscrabble Ranch stands in its place. From here, you may choose to follow the byway to Pueblo (36 miles), to Westcliffe (16 miles) or through Rye to Colorado City (35 miles).