The Scene: The valley nestled between the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains is a bit of a journey back in time. Remnants of old homesteads, barns and one-room school houses are set amid some of the state's lushest country, still dominated by farms and ranches. Nearby Towns: Westcliffe, Silver Cliff
Number 86: Lone Eagle Peak
The Scene: This unique peak is recognizable by its steep, almost dizzying granite spire, which towers above Crater Lake. Even though it tops out at 11,900 feet -- much shorter than Colorado's many 14,000-foot peaks -- it's considered one of the state's most technical climbs. Nearby Towns: Granby, Tabernash, Grand Lake, Winter Park
Number 85: Engineer Pass 4WD Road
The Scene: This rugged and narrow San Juan Mountain pass spirals 12,800 feet high and provides an unsurpassed vantage point for photographs of the serrated Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn peaks. Once a stagecoach route, it's easy to spot structures that remain from the area's hardy mining days. Nearby Towns: Lake City, Silverton, Ouray
Number 84: Ute Mountain Tribal Park
The Scene: This park is only open to the public through a unique program in which Ute guides navigate visitors into the wilderness that abuts Mesa Verde National Park's southern boundary. Thousands of years ago, Ancestral Puebloans built dwellings into the canyon walls, irrigated and farmed the land, and developed a highly sophisticated culture. Nearby Towns: Mancos, Cortez, Durango
Continue to keep counting down 99 gorgeous places in Colorado, part one.
