The Overlook wayside site provides an unbelievably beautiful view at the highway switchback high above the Conejos canyon. The highway then drops off the mountain and follows the Rio Conejos through the mountain forest of ponderosa pine and aspen, out onto the dry Valley floor. Conejos River Canyon Bighorn Release Area. Look for deer and bighorn sheep in areas along the Conejos, west of Antonito. Once out on the Valley floor, the habitat changes dramatically.
Pronghorn antelope replace deer and elk in some of the dry high-desert habitats along the road.
On CO Hwy 17, southwest of Antonito. Las Mesitas Church. Along CO Hwy 17, between mile markers 32 and 24, 6.8 miles southwest of Antonito. Driving, hiking or floating the river corridors you might see golden eagles, songbirds, woodpeckers, waterfowl, shorebirds, beavers, deer and porcupines. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church , in Conejos, is a beautiful mission church, the oldest parish in Colorado.