Colorado State Highway 12

State Highway 12 (SH 12), also known as the Highway of Legends National Scenic Byway, in the U.S. state of Colorado is a mountainous state highway through the Rocky Mountains in southern Colorado. The route travels from La Veta through the mountains to Trinidad. It is included in the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways system and runs through the San Isabel National Forest. In 2021, the highway was designated a National Scenic Byway.[2]

State Highway 12 marker

State Highway 12

Highway of Legends National Scenic Byway
Map of southern Colorado with SH 12 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by CDOT
Length70.39 mi[1] (113.28 km)
Major junctions
CW end US 160 in La Veta
CCW end I-25 / US 85 / US 87 in Trinidad
Location
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountiesHuerfano, Las Animas
Highway system
  • Colorado State Highway System
← SH 11→ SH 13

Route description
SH 12 looking at The Gap just north of Cuchara

SH 12 begins at the junction with U.S. Route 160 (US 160) north of La Veta. It heads southward through that town before entering the San Isabel National Forest and passing through Cuchara, near the Spanish Peaks Wilderness. It then crosses Cucharas Pass into Las Animas County.

SH 12 heads through Monument Park and turns eastward near Stonewall Gap. It then passes eastward along the Purgatoire River through Weston, Segundo, Valdez, Cokedale, and Jansen. It then ends in Trinidad at an intersection with Interstate 25, US 85, and US 87.

History

The route was established in the 1920s, beginning at Stonewall at SH 111 east to Trinidad and La Junta. The Trinidad-La Junta section was replaced by US 350 in 1957 and the route was paved from Weston to Trinidad in 1939. The entire route was paved by 1946. In 1954, SH 111 was changed, leaving SH 12's terminus without another state highway.[3] In 1970, SH 12 was extended to US 160, and the segment was paved a year later. The route was designated a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway in 1989.[4]

Major intersections
CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
HuerfanoLa Veta0.0000.000 US 160 – Alamosa, WalsenburgClockwise terminus; access to Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center
Cucharas Pass22.26635.834Summit (elevation 9,941 feet (3,030 m))
Las AnimasTrinidad70.485113.435 I-25 (US 85 / US 87) – Raton, PuebloCounterclockwise terminus; I-25 exit 13
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References
  1. "Segment list for SH 12". Retrieved 2007-05-12.
  2. "Two New National Scenic Byways for Colorado". Colorado Department of Transportation. State of Colorado. 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  3. Salek, Matthew E. (2010-01-30). "Colorado Routes 1-19". Retrieved 2010-04-04.
  4. "Scenic Byways at 20" (PDF). Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
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