128 miles (30 miles in Archuleta County)
The bi-state Tracks Across Borders Scenic and Historic Byway travels from Chama, N.M., to Durango, Colo. It is one of 26 designated byways in Colorado and an equal number in New Mexico. The byway traces the historic right of way of the abandoned narrow-gauge Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, which was instrumental in the development of the region. The byway celebrates other tracks as well — the tracks of the wildlife that inhabit the area, of Native American trails, of Spanish missionaries in the 1600s, of oxen on the Old Spanish Trail and of the wagons of pioneers. The byway begins at the western terminus of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama, travels westward through the Jicarilla Apache Nation at Dulce, and the well-preserved railroad bridge and tank at Navajo. Continuing north, rock outcrops and tall pines loom down from either side through the beautiful canyon of the Navajo River into Archuleta County and the ghost town of Juanita. This portion is not a road to drive in wet or snowy weather. From there, the byway passes the old three-span railroad bridge over the San Juan River and on to Pagosa Junction, Arboles, Navajo State Park, Ignacio and, ultimately, Durango. The byway has an interactive app travelers can download on their smartphones for free and follow as they drive the byway. The app, available through Google and Apple stores through the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, features more than 30 stops. Drive this backcountry byway to step back in time and see the little-changed western landscape and learn about the deep, rich history and culture of this part of Archuleta County and the American West.