The road through Creede is a scenic byway, and the side roads are rougher than they look

The main road through Mineral County, Highway 149, is part of the Silver Thread Scenic Byway. It is a lovely drive past the river, the canyon, and the high country. It is also a real mountain highway, which means weather, snow, and grades that ask for attention, especially in winter.

The bigger surprise for many visitors is what happens when you leave the pavement. A lot of the forest roads that lead toward lakes, trailheads, and old mining sites are not gentle gravel. The route toward the Wheeler Geologic Area, for example, is a long, rough four-wheel-drive road with deep ruts and steep pitches, and it is snowed in for much of the year. A regular car can get stuck or damaged fast.

So plan the road, not just the destination. Match the vehicle to the route, carry the basics, and know that “it’s only a few miles” can mean a slow, jarring hour on a forest road.

For highway conditions, the state’s COtrip service is the place to check before you travel. For the forest side roads, the Rio Grande National Forest can tell you what kind of vehicle a route really needs.