The Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway runs through the Arkansas River Valley between Poncha Springs and Leadville, passing directly through Buena Vista. The route frames a remarkable lineup of fourteeners: Mounts Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Oxford, and Princeton rise along the western edge of the valley, their names reflecting the survey team that mapped them in the 1860s.
The byway itself — mainly US Highway 24 and Colorado Highway 82 — offers pull-offs with views across the valley to the peaks. In autumn, the aspens on the lower slopes turn gold and the driving is spectacular. The route also connects Buena Vista to Leadville to the north, another historic mining town worth a stop.