The concept of a trail linking Telluride and Ouray was born in 1988 with dialogue between interests in Ouray and San Miguel Counties. A grant request was submitted and approved under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. This grant was administered by San Miguel County, with the County of Ouray as a partner, for the purpose of studying the possibility of a route from the Town of Telluride to the City of Ouray.

The Southwestern Colorado Data Center, a publicly and privately funded non-profit information provider received the contract to conduct the study and provide a document upon which to base further consensus and possible design, engineering, and construction of a proposed trail.

San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway Existing Transportation Routes Recreation Signage and Interpretive Sites Access Points and Connecting Trails Planning and Design Considerations