Some time ago we received a very particular comment: a reader of our website was stunned when she saw a scenic road cutting through a Colorado canyon, while watching Jaaaaaaaags, an episode of The Grand Tour (season 2). This place had impressed her so much that she asked us for help to understand where exactly that scene took place. Well, thanks to our powerful means, we immediately found the location! The scene (of which you can see two frames below) took place near Gateway, Colorado, on a stretch of the Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway.
Today we want to talk about Gateway and this beautiful and unpronounceable scenic byway that starts south of Grand Junction and ends in Placerville, giving exciting views and scenery from the Wild West to anyone who decides to go on a wild road trip!
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Where is Gateway?
The small town of Gateway is located near the Utah border in the west-central region of Colorado. It can be reached via Colorado State Highway 141 (Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway).
The main landmarks are:
Things to do in Gateway, Colorado
The only “classic” tourist attraction in the town is the Gateway Colorado Auto Museum , the exceptional collection of American cars belonging to John Hendricks that traces 100 years of automotive history. More than 50 vehicles can be seen in the gallery, including some rare examples from the Thirties (Pierce Arrow, Supercharged Auburn, Duesenberg Model J LWB Transformable, Cord Phaeton) and Fifties (Cunningham C3 Continental Coupe, among others): practically a must-see for those who love star-spangled motors.
As for the rest, Gateway has a General Store with a bar and a gas station (the only one around for miles!), a few houses, three restaurants, a church and a school: just like in the best tradition of small towns of the American province! Most of Gateway’s buildings (including the museum) are made of adobe: a particular style that helps to recreate an authentic western atmosphere.
The Gateway Canyon Resort
As you may have guessed, the main attraction of Gateway lies in its exceptional location on the banks of the Dolores River: the real protagonist of this town is The Palisade, a monolithic rock formation that stands out with its bright red color in the Colorado sky. Gateway’s fortunate location has made it the home of one of the West’s most exclusive resorts: the sprawling and exclusive Gateway Canyon Resort & Spa, which boasts stunning adobe accommodations with mountain views and top-notch amenities, including a helicopter flight to view the spectacular natural surroundings from above.
Highway 141 Colorado: Driving the Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway
As previously mentioned, the scenic road traveled by the characters in The Grand Tour was the Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Drive , which is at its best just south of Gateway, offering spectacular views of the canyon carved into the red rock by the Dolores River. But that’s not all there is to it! The scenic drive, along its 140-mile length (which can be done in about 3 hours without a break), offers some truly wonderful views of the entire Unaweep Canyon, valleys, rivers, cliffs and peaks of the San Juan Mountains.
The Indian name “Un-a-weep,” which translated means “canyon of two mouths” refers to the fact that one side (East Creek) “digs” towards the Gunnison River, and the other (West Creek) to the Dolores River.
Best Stops Along the Scenic Drive
Here’s where you might stop along an itinerary that starts in Whitewater and ends in Placerville:
Drigg Mansion: 25 miles past Whitewater you need to stop for a nice photo opportunity at the ruins of Drigg Mansion, a 1914 home built by one Lawrence LaThourette Driggs with rocks from the surrounding canyons. However, the Drigg Mansion wouldn’t be so beautiful if the majestic profile of Thimble Rock didn’t stand out behind it!
27 miles south of Gateway, on the side of the road that runs along the river, you will come across the Coke Oven, a very old furnace dating back to 1880 used for the production of coke, a combustible material that burns without producing smoke.
Hanging Flume: The Lone Tree Placer mines were located in the Uravan area (a town that takes its name from the Uranium, Radium and Vanadium that were extracted here). It took thousands of gallons of water to run the miners’ equipment, which was brought to the destination through artificial wooden channels suspended on the walls of the ravine carved by the Dolores River. There were 7 miles of these channels. Today, from the top of a sensational overlook, you can see what remains of the Hanging Flume: you will easily recognize the observation point, because it is located right on the road, at a parking lot 2 miles from the Coke Oven.
If you are really motivated and you have a 4×4 at your disposal, you can visit the Hanging Flume area close up, reaching it from the other side of the river along the dirt road Y11 Rd to Bedrock (not to be confused with Bedrock in Arizona): to help you to understand the correct turn you can take a look at this map. Bedrock can be reached via CO-90, turning off the scenic drive just before arriving in Naturita in the direction of Bedrock/Paradox.
After driving down Y11 Road, you can follow a few of the walking routes to discover the area’s mining past. Here is a brochure with more details.
Paradox is so called because near the town, the course of the Dolores River carves the canyon walls at right angles, a truly rare geological phenomenon: paradoxical!
A few miles after the Hanging Flume Overlook, following a dirt road on the right (see map at the top of the itinerary), you can arrive at an impressive observation point at the confluence of the Dolores River and the San Miguel River . About 4 miles from the observation point, on one side of the road you’ll see the Black Bridge , an old bridge over the Dolores River now closed to traffic. At the time it allowed people to reach Bedrock and Paradox along the already mentioned Y11 Rd, without having to go all the way to Naturita.
Before arriving in Placerville and concluding the itinerary, you will come across the small and pleasant towns of Redvale and Northwood: enjoy this last part of the road, to be traveled all at once between the high forested peaks on the sides of the road and on the horizon. This kind of view will become more familiar to you as you approach the mountain town of Telluride, but that’s another story!
Where to Stay
If you’re not interested in staying overnight at Gateway Canyon Resort, you can find lodgings in Grand Junction or Placerville– choose wisely based on the direction of your itinerary!
