{"id":41824,"date":"2025-07-30T10:00:18","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T16:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=41824"},"modified":"2025-08-05T18:53:23","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T00:53:23","slug":"colorado-scenic-byways-to-explore-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/colorado-scenic-byways-to-explore-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Scenic Byways to explore now"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"Colorado
In the mood for a road trip? Check out Colorado’s Scenic & Historic Byways. Here, a road leads to the Wet Mountains along the Frontier Pathways Scenic & Historic Byway. Photo by Anna Zoromski\/Miles, courtesy of The Colorado Tourism Office.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Colorado\u2019s Scenic & Historic Byways are designated driving routes that take you to some of the Centennial State\u2019s most stunning scenery.<\/p>\n

The byways cover over 2,000 miles from corner to corner in Colorado, weaving from red rock canyons to alpine passes and from pristine grasslands to ancient archaeological sites.<\/p>\n

Visionaries with the National Forest Service created the National Scenic Byway program<\/a> back in 1988, and southwestern Colorado\u2019s famous San Juan Skyway became one of the first nationally designated routes. The first scenic byway in Colorado was the Peak to Peak<\/a> route, which earned its designation back in 1918, not long after nearby Rocky Mountain National Park opened in 1915<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Today, Colorado boasts 26 designated Scenic & Historic Byways<\/a>. Most are beautiful year-round (except, of course, for the roads that are closed in the winter). And\u00a0fall is a particularly beautiful time of year to pack a picnic or venture out on a drive that will take you past shimmering, golden aspen trees<\/a> and snow-capped peaks.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the best Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways to visit<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Two
Fall colors with Longs Peak in the background. Two Colorado Scenic Byways travel near Longs Peak: Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park and the Peak to Peak Highway. Photo courtesy of The Colorado Tourism Office.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Trail Ridge Road, a Colorado Scenic Byway<\/b> and one of <\/b>America\u2019s Byways<\/b><\/h2>\n

This 48-mile route from Estes Park to Grand Lake<\/a> through the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park may be the most famous of Colorado\u2019s Byways since it\u2019s also the highest continuous paved highway in the continental U.S. The road tops out at 12,183 feet above sea level and leads to jaw-dropping views of alpine tundra, wildlife, sweeping valleys covered with aspen and pine forests and tip-top stargazing at night.<\/p>\n

Be sure to check the weather before you venture out on this drive. Trail Ridge Road closes periodically for snow in the fall and typically closes for the winter from mid-October through late May.<\/p>\n

You will also need a permit to enter Rocky Mountain National Park<\/a> during the peak seasons in the summer and fall.<\/p>\n

Guanella Pass Scenic Byway<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Guanella is the rockstar of fall drives<\/a>. Count on this route to be crowded on fall weekends, but when you see entire hillsides covered in yellow and orange aspen trees, you\u2019ll understand why. To avoid fall congestion, consider driving on a weekday if possible.<\/p>\n

The route began as a burro trail. It passes by some of Colorado\u2019s best-known and most easily accessible 14,000-foot peaks, including Mount Bierstadt and Mount Blue Sky.<\/a> (Mount Blue Sky <\/a>has its own byway, but the road to the summit is closed for repairs through 2025. It is expected to reopen around Memorial Day in 2026.)<\/p>\n

\"Mountain
Visitors to Colorado’s mountains can sometimes see mountain goats. Photo by Matt Inden\/Miles, courtesy of The Colorado Tourism Office.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nearby are two of Colorado\u2019s best-preserved Victorian logging and mining towns, Georgetown and Silver Plume.<\/p>\n

The area is also home to the Georgetown Loop Railroad<\/a>, a narrow-gauge train offering great views of fall colors. (Read more about train trips you can also take in Colorado.<\/a>)<\/p>\n

You can drive up to the top of Guanella Pass and back the same way or do a big loop.<\/p>\n

One fun area to explore is the Silverdale Interpretive Site area, which features a former townsite and several trails<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Always wanted to visit Princeton, Yale and Harvard? You don\u2019t need to head to the famous Ivy League colleges on the East Coast. Instead, you can enjoy the Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway<\/a>, where loftily named peaks jut into the sky.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A
A hay bale near Buena Vista with 14-ers in the background along the Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway. Photo by Matt Inden\/Miles, courtesy of The Colorado Tourism Office.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mount Harvard is Colorado\u2019s third-highest 14-er, topping out at 14,420 feet above sea level. Mount Princeton and Mount Yale are slightly lower in elevation, but no less majestic. Some climbers of Mount Antero are lucky enough to find the gemstone, aquamarine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Altogether, there are 12 14-ers in this area<\/a>, giving <\/span>Chaffee County bragging rights for the highest concentration of 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado.<\/p>\n

This 57-mile route from Granite to Salida is spectacular in the fall, so, as with other byways, you can expect to run into some crowds. But the dazzling scenery makes the trip more than worthwhile.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you start this byway in <\/span>Salida<\/a>,<\/strong> you\u2019ll be in the heart of Colorado\u2019s rafting mecca. Located along the Arkansas River, Salida and <\/span>nearby Buena Vista<\/a> boast hot springs and river parks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The byway ends in Granite, <\/span>a tiny alpine town located about halfway between Buena Vista and Leadville along Highway 24. Though it has few residents these days, the scenic area features roots in Colorado\u2019s Gold Rush <\/span>history<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This 101-mile route<\/a> from Fort Collins to Walden passes through a valley that is also home to Colorado\u2019s only Wild & Scenic River, the Cache La Poudre<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The free-flowing river earned its designation because of its unique scenic and hydrologic features.<\/p>\n

The unusual name dates back to 1836 when a group of French fur trappers from the Hudson\u2019s Bay Company ran into heavy snow and had to lighten their loads. They stashed some of their belongings and intended to pick them up again in the spring. In French, \u201ccache la poudre,\u201d meaning \u201chide the powder.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, the canyon is popular for hiking and water sports. You will also see remnants of recent forest fires.<\/p>\n

\"A
From the Cache La Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway, you’ll see plenty of rafters and kayakers in the rivers. Photo by Matt Inden\/Miles, courtesy of The Colorado Tourism Office.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you want to stop for a hike during your drive, there are several trailheads in the canyon.<\/p>\n

For an easy hike, consider stopping at the Gateway Natural Area, owned by the City of Fort Collins. The park has picnic and play areas and is a great place to enjoy the fall in Colorado. The wide-maintained trail leads you along the river to Seaman Reservoir, about a mile back. It\u2019s accessible for strollers and a great walk or bike ride for kids. There is a steep, 100-yard incline up to the reservoir that may be difficult for some. There are also trails off the main trail leading to overlooks. Get\u00a0more details on the trails on the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you drive all the way to Walden, don\u2019t miss the wonderful North Park Pioneer Museum<\/a>, which includes unique items like horse-drawn sleds that locals used to get around the cold, isolated valley back before automobile transportation.<\/p>\n

Peak to Peak Scenic Byway<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"St.
St. Catherine’s stone church is a beautiful landmark along the Peak to Peak Highway. Photo courtesy of Camp St. Malo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Peak to Peak is Colorado\u2019s oldest byway<\/a>, and it\u2019s another showstopper when it comes to views of fall colors. This 55-mile route leads from Central City and Blackhawk to Estes Park. To the west are iconic Colorado mountains, including Longs Peak and its sheer, vertical face, known as \u201cthe Diamond,\u201d that\u2019s a mecca for rock climbers. Sweeping up to the peaks are aspen and pine forests.<\/p>\n

Since the aspens paint entire hillsides yellow in the fall, this byway gets very crowded in September. So, it\u2019s another route that you\u2019ll want to try doing on a weekday to avoid crowded fall weekends.<\/p>\n

An ideal spot to stop for a photo is near Allenspark. At the Catholic retreat center, Camp St. Malo, the charming stone chapel, St. Catherine of Siena, sits on an iconic stone perch, hence the nickname, \u201cchapel on the rock.\u201d In the background, you\u2019ll see Mt. Meeker, a neighbor of the much more famous Longs Peak.<\/p>\n

Flat Tops Trail and Scenic Byway<\/b><\/h2>\n

This 82-mile stretch of road<\/a> in northern Colorado near Steamboat Springs takes you through the aptly named Flat Tops Mountains.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll start in picturesque Yampa and will wind along the <\/span>Yampa River<\/span><\/a>, the longest free-flowing, dam-free river in the state. This byway cuts through the heart of the original <\/span>White River Plateau Timberland Reserve<\/span><\/a>, set aside in the late 19th century as the second unit of what eventually became the <\/span>White River National Forest<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and the <\/span>Flat Tops Wilderness<\/span><\/a>. This area is popular among bird watchers and is part of the <\/span>Colorado Birding Trail<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are common in Colorado’s mountains. Photo by Matt Inden\/Miles, courtesy of The Colorado Tourism Office.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a place to take a hike, pull over on <\/span>Dunckley Pass<\/span><\/a> and hike to its <\/span>scenic overlook<\/span>, which provides great views of fall colors.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the west side of the byway, you\u2019ll find the 10,343-foot <\/span>Ripple Creek Pass<\/span><\/a>. From here, you can take an 8-mile detour to <\/span>Trappers Lake<\/span>, nicknamed \u201cthe cradle of the wilderness.\u201d In 1919, a man named Arthur Carhart was surveying a site for a cabin resort development. So inspired by the lake\u2019s placid beauty, he instead promoted the idea of preserving the land in its raw state, and the modern movement to preserve land as wilderness was born.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grand Mesa Scenic Byway <\/b>is one of <\/b>America\u2019s Byways<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n

If fruit orchards, vineyards and fall colors inspire you, then head to Colorado\u2019s Grand Mesa Scenic Byway.<\/span><\/p>\n

This 63-mile route<\/a> will take you from alpine lakes to <\/span>farm <\/span>country, where you can stock up on peaches, apples and other harvest treats.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you drive west to east, you\u2019ll first visit Cedaredge, <\/span>near Grand Mesa, the largest flat-top mountain in the world<\/span><\/a>. Forget the pointy mountains that you drew as a kid. This mountain is unusual and distinctive. It features a giant, flat top, encircled by steep, rugged cliffs. The giant feature covers hundreds of miles. Because it\u2019s so large, the mesa offers a great diversity of geological features and boasts 300 stream-fed alpine lakes at elevations over 11,000 feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other highlights on this byway include the <\/span>Lands End Overlook<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>Lands End Observatory<\/span><\/a>, which offers great views of the San Juan Mountains and the <\/span>Colorado National Monument<\/span><\/a>, along with the lovely <\/span>Grand Mesa Lakes<\/span><\/a>. Around the lakes, you can follow the <\/span>Colorado Birding Trail<\/span><\/a>. Look for American three-toed woodpeckers, gray and Steller\u2019s jays, Clark\u2019s nutcracker and maybe even a white-winged crossbill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The journey ends in Colorado\u2019s peach capital: Palisade.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cherries
Cherries are among the locally-grown fruit that visitors to western Colorado can enjoy. Photo by Denise Chambers\/Miles, courtesy of The Colorado Tourism Office.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

San Juan Skyway<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Part of this very famous route in southwestern Colorado<\/a> is known as \u201cthe Million Dollar Highway,\u201d and you\u2019ll feel like you won the lottery when you see the breathtaking views of the San Juan Mountains. Historians aren\u2019t sure how the road got its name. Maybe it cost a fortune to build. Maybe it\u2019s a reference to the mining towns nearby. Or, maybe an early traveler was overcome with vertigo on some of the steep, winding stretches<\/a> that he vowed never to take the road again, even if he was paid a million dollars.<\/p>\n

Regardless of the origin of the nickname, you\u2019ll want to someday enjoy this drive that is designated as both a Colorado and a national byway.<\/p>\n

If you do the whole route, you can do a 236-mile loop that begins and ends in Durango. If you want a break from your car, you can also take a train ride on the famous Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Kids
The Ouray Town Hot Springs is a great stop along the San Juan Skyway. Photo by Matt Inden\/Miles, courtesy of The Colorado Tourism Board.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The stretch of the byway from Silverton to Ouray is the part known as the Million Dollar Highway. Ouray is a charming Victorian town that bills itself as the \u201cSwitzerland of Colorado.\u201d Ouray is popular among 4-wheelers and ice climbers. And, the town boasts an easily accessible waterfall and the relaxing Ouray Hot Springs Pool.<\/a><\/p>\n

The byway then heads to Ridgway, which boasts glorious views of another Colorado 14-er, Mount Sneffels<\/a>, and neighboring peaks known as the Dallas Divide.<\/p>\n

From Ridgway, the byway delivers you to Telluride<\/a>, another of Colorado\u2019s most picturesque former mining towns. Telluride is located in a box canyon and is surrounded by tall peaks and waterfalls. What\u2019s not to love?<\/p>\n

From Telluride, head to Rico along Highway 145 and delve into its mining-boom relics and lively nightlife scene. The byway continues to loop south and visits Dolores along with Mesa Verde National Park<\/a>, home to the Ancestral Puebloans\u2019 famed cliff dwellings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Colorado\u2019s Scenic & Historic Byways are designated driving routes that take you to some of the Centennial State\u2019s most stunning scenery. The byways cover over 2,000 miles from corner to corner in Colorado, weaving from red rock canyons to alpine passes and from pristine grasslands to ancient archaeological sites. Visionaries with the National Forest Service […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2123,"featured_media":41882,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[9187,4792],"class_list":["post-41824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-live-colorado","tag-readysetco","tag-to-do-in-colorado"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nColorado Scenic Byways to explore now - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The first Colorado Scenic Byway was the Peak to Peak route, named in 1918. 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