Unaweep Tabeguache
Scenic & Historic Byway
The Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway offers
a touring experience unlike any other in Colorado.
Prominent geological landmarks include Thimble Rock,
overlooking the forlorn Driggs Mansion in Unaweep Canyon; the
Palisade, towering above the community of Gateway; and the majestic
Lone Cone dominating Wright's Mesa near Norwood. Past and present
inhabitants have thrived in these isolated and minera-rich lands,
leaving an enduring legacy.
For countless generation, native peoples
followed plentiful game herds through the region.
After the removal of the Ute Indians in 1881,
sprawling ranches, many of which still operate
today, supported hardy breeds of cattle in the
desert canyons and mesas. Also visible are
remarkable mines and waste piles dotting the
landscape, leftover remnants of the mining era
that began in 1900. The quest was for a yellow
mineral called carnotite, containing three metals
crucial to 20th century science: radium,
vanadium, and uranium.
Come discover for yourself the geologic diversity
and human history that has shaped this
intriguing region.
Ute Names
The words Unaweep and Tabeguache come from the Ute Indian
language. Below are their meanings and Anglo and Ute
pronunciations.
| Unaweep | Yoon'-a-weep | Una'-we-up |
|
Meaning: Oldtimers say Unaweep means “canyon with two mouths,” for East Creek and West Creek, which drain both ends of Unaweep Canyon, Literally, Unaweep in the Ute language means “thorny canyon” or “where land comes together.” | ||
| Tabeguache | Tab-e-watch' | Tavi'-watch |
|
Meaning: People who camp on the sunny side of the mountains, the name for one of the original six Ute bands in Colorado. | ||
| Uncompahgre | Un-come-pah'-gray | Aka-pah-ka'-dith |
|
Meaning: Place with red water. The Elk Mountain and Tabeguache Ute bands were renamed Uncompahgre, or Grand River Utes, by government officials. The Grand River, an early name for the Colorado River, is known for its distinctive red color. | ||
