Wet Mountain Valley & Florence Loop | American Tour Association

THE JOURNEY IS THE REASON TO GO

Let the road set the pace.

Open ranch country and the Wet Mountain landscape offer a quieter Colorado outing south of the Arkansas River corridor. Plan the actual loop around Westcliffe, Silver Cliff, Wetmore and Florence, with time to enjoy the valley.

The experienceScenic drive idea

Start with this outlineCO 69 / CO 96 / CO 67 with US 50 connections

Regional inspiration: these photographs show the named landscape, nearby place or related outing in their captions. They are not all views directly from this road; side trips may require additional travel.

Entering the valley on State Highway 96, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains come into view. Westcliffe sits at the end of the highway. — Sangre de Cristos Along Highway 96
Public Domain. Photo by Sally Pearce · Photo credits

A group poses in front of the Westcliffe Information Center, which serves as a visitor and interpretive center, focusing on the Byway’s railroad history. — Group at Westcliffe Information Center
Public Domain. Photo by Sally Pearce · Photo credits

GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO STOP

Places and landscapes to consider

Westcliffe and Silver Cliff
Wet Mountain country
Florence

Before you drive

Confirm the road sequence on a current map. This loop is separate from Phantom Canyon north of US 50.

Make it a satisfying day

Choose a realistic section, then allow time for viewpoints, a town stop and breaks. Scenic mileage rarely tells the whole story of how long an outing will take.

Match the road to your vehicle

Check the exact roads for your car, RV or motorcoach. Tunnel dimensions, turning space, grades and road surfaces can matter as much as distance.

Official route information ↗State road-condition links ↗

Selected scenic-drive outline. Research: October 2026. This is a travel idea, not live navigation or a guarantee that the full route is open. Confirm exact roads, current conditions, parking and any attraction reservations before departure.