The San Juan Skyway is a spectacular loop of designated Colorado State Highways running 236 miles in Southwest Colorado. The entire length of the Skyway Trail is paralleled by the San Juan Skyway, a vehicular scenic drive. The San Juan Skyway was the first of 21 Scenic and Historic Byways in Colorado approved by the U.S. National Forest Service in 1988 and the State of Colorado in 1989. This route, adopted as an All-American Road by the U.S. Department of Transportation, travels through a diverse set of environments. From the drylands of the south, rich with Anasazi history, to the 10,000 plus feet of the highway passes in the San Juan and Uncompahgre National Forests, the variety of environmental, cultural, and historical experiences available covers a large segment of the Colorado profile. The mountain towns Rico, Ophir, Telluride, along Highway 145 and Ouray and Silverton along 550 arose from the mining frenzy just before the turn of the century and supported the growth of the surrounding agricultural areas. The towns of Cortez, Mancos, and Durango, along the southern leg on Highway 160, were settled primarily as farming and ranching communities. Placerville, on Highway 145 and Ridgway, on Highway 62, both on the north side, became mining supply and agricultural centers. The Dolores River Valley along Highway 145, including the town of Dolores, was developed for timber products. Together, these towns supported the matrix of development that has spread over the region. The San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway celebrates and documents this human development and the unique scenic beauty of this part of the Rockies in a format accessible to all. Recreational impacts are increasing as a result of the national Scenic Byway designation and more people are now visiting the area.