In 1990, a portion of Highway 149 was given the distinction of becoming a National Forest Service and Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway. Then in the fall of 2005 this byway was extended to the end of Highway 149 at Blue Mesa Resevoir. This historic route carries you on a 135 mile journey from South Fork almost to Gunnison while passing through the quaint and historic towns of Lake City, & Creede

As you travel through the Silver Thread's rich history, you will drive through the Gunnison and the Rio Grande National Forests and you can see parts of the La Garita, Weminuche and Powderhorn Wilderness Areas. You will also cross through Rio Grande, Mineral and Hinsdale counties.
Traveling the byway, you will discover that there are very few towns along the way. Ninety-six percent of Mineral and Hinsdale counties consist of lands that are federally owned.

The colorful old mining camps of the Silver Thread offer history, scenic beauty, and a heavy dose of authenticity. The heights around Creede and Lake City remain strewn with abandoned mining structures, most of them accessible via rugged back country roads. On average it takes at least 3 hours to reach Blue Mesa from South Fork. A Milepost Guide book is available for $1.00 at any of the byway visitor centes. This book provides an overview of the byway, along with points of interest and stopping points along the way that are noted for historical, geographical or scenic significance.