9 Most Scenic Road Trips to Take in Colorado
The open road is the embodiment of freedom. Go where and when you want to go; stop where and when you want to stop. But for a road trip to hit that movie-worthy gear, the surrounding environment also has to deliver something special. Sitting bumper to bumper in big city traffic, or locking in cruise control for hours on end across a straight-shot freeway does not exactly inspire wanderlust. Colorado has the right idea. There are many gas-tanks-worth of high mountain roads, intentionally-designed scenic byways, beloved national parks, energetic cities and small towns rich in character to click off. These nine routes are some of the most scenic drives to mark on your map.
Trail Ridge Road
One of the best ways to get a general overview of North-Central Colorado's pride and joy, Rocky Mountain National Park, is to drive the spellbinding Trail Ridge Road. This popular 48-mile stretch of Highway 34 was designed to be accommodating to a wide range of motorists, with a steady but manageable grade, wide switchback curves, and numerous/spacious viewpoint pullouts. As it traverses from Estes Park (East) to Grand Lake (West), the high-elevation road breaks the evergreen treeline (at 11,500 feet) for eleven miles, and tops out at 12,183 feet-above-sea-level. These sweeping vistas unveil the grandeur of the Rockies, the seasonal wildflowers that seem to bloom as offerings to the god-like peaks, and the wildlife that thrives amongst it all.
Peak To Peak Scenic Byway
Colorado's oldest scenic byway also traverses a stunning section of Rocky Mountain National Park. The traditional direction of flow is from Black Hawk/Central City to Estes Park, covering 55 miles in the process. This proposed terminus naturally makes Peak to Peak Scenic Byway an excellent pairing with Trail Ridge Road (for any of you who are keen to log some quality extra miles). This route avoids the rarified air in favor of the lower ridges of the iconic park's Front Range. And rather than focus solely on awesome views (which this drive is in no way lacking), it integrates some neat communities to bring out the history of the region. Established in 1918, Peak to Peak Scenic Byway rolls through defunct mining towns that boomed during the time of construction. Motorists will experience a contrast between the dusty ghost towns, thriving Wild-West main streets, and preserved Victorian-era architecture. In terms of the natural landscape, this byway doesn't just traverse Rocky Mountain National Park, but also Golden Gate Canyon State Park and Indian Peaks Wilderness Area.
Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway
Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway is a federally-contracted, culturally-focused road trip that flirts with the Four Corners region (i.e. the meeting point of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico). The Colorado section covers 116 miles from the Four Corners Monument (i.e. the designer's intended starting point) to Hovenweep National Monument (the intended finish). Along the way, Trail of the Ancients skirts by Mesa Verde National Park – home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of complex Ancestral Pueblo structures. The byway also incorporates the relics and living stories of the earliest-known Paleolithic societies, the nomadic Navajo, the Apache and Ute tribes, and the arrival of the first European settlers.
Black Cliffs of the Gunnison National Park
One of the most beautiful canyons in the United States can be found in the Centennial State. Black Canyon of the Gunnison is the marquee attraction of the West-Centrally-located national park by the same name, and provides both South Rim and North Rim roads from which to view its dramatic physique. Unlike Rocky Mountain, which is one of the most-visited national parks in the country, the traffic in these parts is quite modest, with only 300,000 people visiting in 2022. The South Rim Drive offers twelve overlooks, with the highlights being Gunnison Point, Chasm View, Painted Wall, and Sunset View, while the North Rim Drive provides six overlooks – and given that the walls on this side are almost vertical, some of the most astonishing views in the park. It is recommended to allow two to three hours for each section, in order to get the most bang for the buck.
Scenic Rim Rock Drive
Only a pinch further West of Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of the classic, Wild-West American motorways: Scenic Rim Rock Drive. This 23-mile adventure heads through the heart of the 32-square-mile Colorado National Monument, passing by the Saddlehorn Visitor Center and Campground, 19 valuable viewpoints, and 14 trails of varied lengths and intensities. The road is cherished by cyclists, making for an invigorating ride any day of the year, but also an annual race series known as the "Tour of the Moon" – so named because of the landscape's resemblance of our orbiting satellite (save for the reddish hue, of course). However you choose to traverse the land, take your time and appreciate the arresting notion that some of the exposed rock layers are roughly two billion years old (i.e close to half the planet's age).
Million Dollar Highway
Another option is to head South from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park to join the Million Dollar Highway (or vice versa, of course). This 25-mile stretch between the captivating mining towns of Silverton and Ouray (with an option to extend to Telluride and Bald Mountain) is considered one of the most dangerous drives around, but also one of the most scenic. I guess everything good comes with a cost – just take it slow in order to safely enjoy the experience, and the priceless views. This intriguing route is part of the 236-mile San Juan Skyway (which climbs through the eponymous mountain range). And if that still doesn't satisfy your road-trip-cravings, San Juan Skyway is itself part of the 305-mile U.S. Highway 550.
Skyline Drive
Road trips don't have to be lengthy to be memorable. Skyline Drive is a perfect example. The narrow, one-way, somewhat intimidating road goes for a mere 2.5 miles (one way, plus a two-mile approach on Highway 50). Built by inmates in the early 1900s, the aptly named stretch (that once had an oscillating schedule for cars and horse-drawn carriages) heads over the razorback ridge known as Dakota Hogback. At times, the cliffs drop off steeply on both sides of the highway, meaning that it's best to pull over often in order to enjoy the views. But don't just cast your gaze off into the distance, there is an interpretive panel with casts of dinosaur footprints mounted directly onto the rock face. The basecamp for this exhilarating drive is Fremont County's Cañon City, in Central Colorado.
Mount Evans Scenic Byway
The highest paved road in North America can be reached in less than an hour's drive from the West of the capital city of Denver. From there, beginning in Idaho Springs, tack on another immensely-rewarding 28-miles and 7,000 feet in elevation gain (to a high point of 14,130 feet) en route to the summit of Mount Evans (which can be reached with a short push on foot). The Mount Evans Scenic Byway unveils the naturally-mysterious Continental Divide, roadside mountain goats and bighorn sheep, and beds of beautiful wildflowers. From the apex lookout, the sight of glacial valleys and alpine lakes compliment the chilly breeze atop one of the state's famous "14ers."
Pikes Peak Highway
Another majestic and drivable 14er is Pikes Peak, less than 100 miles South of Denver, and 30 miles West of Colorado Springs via Highway 24. The actual Pikes Peak Highway is 19 miles of mountainous switchbacks. As always, the beauty of such a road trip is particularly potent along the roadside turnouts. So with a big picture and metaphorical rose-smelling break at the top, this targeted stretch should take between 2-3 hours, plus any additional commute to the town of Cascade, where the paved toll road up "America's Mountain" officially begins. While the route is typically open to casual motorists, once a year the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (i.e. the oldest motorsports race in the country) pits professional drivers against each other in a dash to the summit.
A great road trip tends to combine stimulating views and engaging twists and turns, but also, somewhat paradoxically, sufficient opportunities to not drive. For these Colorado routes, there's no sense in racing the miles away. The landscape, culture, and supportive infrastructure ensures a desire to prolong the journey. So if you're looking for a special kind of adventure, one that can be done while relaxing in your car and listening to some good tunes, then set course for one of these nine scenic road trips in this one-of-a-kind state.
