This byway cuts through the heart of the original White River Plateau Timberland Reserve, set aside in the late 19th century as the second unit of what eventually became the National Forest system. Two decades later, in a foreshadowing of the 1964 Wilderness Act, development of any kind was banned around Trapper's Lake (the "Cradle of Wilderness"). The area's long-standing history of preservation and multiple-use land management makes for pristine scenery and superlative wildlife viewing. Yet this remains very much a "working" byway, dotted with active mines, ranches, and timber-producing woodlands. Meeker and Yampa, the route's two endpoints, embody the rugged individualism that lies at the heart of western lore.

Navigating the Byway:
Off of SR 64 in Meeker, take Country Road 8 eastward. Continue along the paved road into the White River National Forest. About 40 miles along the byway, the road becomes unpaved. Continue along the unpaved road for another 40 miles through Ripple Creek Pass. The unpaved road meets with the paved road about five miles before the junction with SR 131 in Yampa.