{{Short description|State highway in Colorado, United States}} {{Use American English|date=March 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox road |state=CO |type=SH |route=12 |alternate_name=Highway of Legends National Scenic Byway |map=Colorado State Highway 12 Map.svg |map_notes=Map of southern Colorado with SH&nbsp;12 highlighted in red |length_mi=70.39 |length_round=2 |length_ref=<ref name="dot">{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.state.co.us/app_DTD_DataAccess/Highways/index.cfm?fuseaction=Description&route=012&begRefPt=0&endRefPt=500&Printable=true|title=Segment list for SH 12|accessdate=2007-05-12}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> |established= |direction_a=CW |terminus_a={{Jct|state=CO|US|160}} in La Veta |junction= |direction_b=CCW |terminus_b={{Jct|state=CO|I|25|US|85|US|87}} in Trinidad |counties=Huerfano, Las Animas |previous_type=CO |previous_route=11 |next_type=CO |next_route=13 }} '''State Highway 12''' ('''SH 12'''), also known as the '''Highway of Legends National Scenic Byway''', in the U.S. state of Colorado is a mountainous state highway through the Rocky Mountains in southern Colorado. The route travels from La Veta through the mountains to Trinidad. It is included in the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways system and runs through the San Isabel National Forest. In 2021, the highway was designated a National Scenic Byway.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.codot.gov/news/2021/february-2021/new-scenic-byways |title=Two New National Scenic Byways for Colorado |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2021-02-18 |website=Colorado Department of Transportation |publisher=State of Colorado |access-date=2021-02-21 |quote=}}</ref>

==Route description== thumb|SH 12 looking at The Gap just north of Cuchara SH 12 begins at the junction with U.S. Route 160 (US&nbsp;160) north of La Veta. It heads southward through that town before entering the San Isabel National Forest and passing through Cuchara, near the Spanish Peaks Wilderness. It then crosses Cucharas Pass into Las Animas County.

SH 12 heads through Monument Park and turns eastward near Stonewall Gap. It then passes eastward along the Purgatoire River through Weston, Segundo, Valdez, Cokedale, and Jansen. It then ends in Trinidad at an intersection with Interstate 25, US&nbsp;85, and US&nbsp;87.

==History== The route was established in the 1920s, beginning at Stonewall at SH 111 east to Trinidad and La Junta. The Trinidad-La Junta section was replaced by US 350 in 1957 and the route was paved from Weston to Trinidad in 1939. The entire route was paved by 1946. In 1954, SH 111 was changed, leaving SH 12's terminus without another state highway.<ref name="mesalek">{{cite web|url=http://www.mesalek.com/colo/r1-19.html#12|title=Colorado Routes 1-19|author=Salek, Matthew E.|date=2010-01-30|accessdate=2010-04-04}}</ref> In 1970, SH 12 was extended to US 160, and the segment was paved a year later. The route was designated a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway in 1989.<ref name="DOT scenic">{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.state.co.us/communications/insider/PDFs/ScenicByways.pdf|title=Scenic Byways at 20|publisher=Colorado Department of Transportation|accessdate=4 December 2009|format=PDF}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Major intersections== {{COinttop|length_ref=<ref name=dot/>}} {{COint |county=Huerfano |location=La Veta |mile=0.000 |road={{Jct|state=CO|US|160|extra=hospital|city1=Alamosa|city2=Walsenburg}} |notes=Clockwise terminus; access to Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center }} {{jctbridge |river=Cucharas Pass |mile=22.266 |bridge=Summit (elevation {{convert|9941|ft|m}}) }}

{{COint |county=Las Animas |location=Trinidad |mile=70.485 |road={{Jct|state=CO|I|25|name1={{Jct|state=CO|US|85|US|87|noshield=yes}}|location1=Raton|city2=Pueblo}} |notes=Counterclockwise terminus; I-25 exit 13}} {{Jctbtm}}

<gallery> File:Cuchara Pass.JPG|Cuchara Pass on Highway 12. File:Segundo, Colorado.JPG|The highway as it passes through Segundo, Colorado. File:Cuchara, Colorado.JPG|The highway as it passes through the town of Cuchara, Colorado. </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Attached KML}} {{commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929024459/http://www.r-dub.us/various/033006/page6.html Ryan's Digital Roadgeekdom - The Southern Figure-8 Tour, Page 6] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929024506/http://www.r-dub.us/various/033006/page7.html Ryan's Digital Roadgeekdom - The Southern Figure-8 Tour, Page 7]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colorado State Highway 012}} Category:Transportation in Huerfano County, Colorado Category:Transportation in Las Animas County, Colorado 012