The Byway

Connecting the towns of Meeker & Yampa, the Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway showcases the White River National Forest’s long history of multiple-use land management and remains a “working byway” providing access to public lands as well as rangeland for local sheep and cattle ranchers. The 82 mile drive is accessible with any passenger vehicle (during summer) and is an ideal location to view pristine scenery and wildlife.

The Byway is the backbone of access to the Flat Tops Wilderness and over 350,000 acres of public land managed by the US Forest Service (Blanco Ranger District). The White River National Forest is the country’s foremost Forest for recreation, offering visitors a wide variety of outdoor activities.

Visitors to the area can embark on motorized, hiking or horseback riding trips and excellent hunting and fishing access is available throughout the area.  In the winter months, snowmobile riders and cross-country skiers will find access to groomed trails and powder from the Lost Creek trailhead at mile marker 30. The byway is not maintained past Lost Creek in winter months and is not accessible by means other than over-snow travel.

The area surrounding Meeker & Yampa also contains a cache of interesting history. Both towns have enjoyable museums. Old photos and antique possessions are on display; you’ll see clothing ranging from wedding gowns to soldiers’ uniforms and a variety of Ute Indian artifacts. In these small Colorado towns, visitors can enjoy learning the history of the White River Valley.

This website; FlattopsByway.com was developed in 2009 under a state-funded tourism grant. The towns of Meeker & Yampa along with the Flat Tops Byway Committee, the US Forest Service, and a small team of web developers worked together to provide visitors to the Flat Tops an all-in-one resource for finding outdoor recreation information online. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.

Proceeds collected from local advertisers are used to expand the site and keep it up-to-date so we hope you’ll support our sponsors by choosing to buy local when you arrive. We look forward to seeing you soon and hope you enjoy your visit to the area.

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Things to know:

• The Flat Tops Byway is approximately 82 miles long. Only about half of this distance is paved. No gas or amenities are located on the Byway. Please be sure to fuel up in Meeker or Yampa before heading out.

 

• Weather conditions can change quickly in the Rocky Mountains. While the Byway is accessible to passenger vehicles, excess rain or snow can make travel more difficult or hazardous.

 

• Much of the area is open rangeland. Keep an eye out for cattle, sheep, or horses that may have wandered into travel corridors.

 

• Deer and Elk are abundant in the White River Valley so please consider wildlife when driving, especially on curvy mountain roads.