14 Scenic Drives in Colorado That Belong on Your Bucket List
Colorado offers some of the most varied terrain in the country, and its highways are a direct invitation to explore it all. If you enjoy the slow rhythm of the road paired with sweeping views and sharp switchbacks, you’ll find plenty to love behind the wheel.
Each drive on this list reveals something different: alpine valleys, dense forests, desert cliffs, or endless skies. Let’s see them.
Rim Rock Drive
In Colorado National Monument, Rim Rock Drive threads along red rock cliffs that plunge into deep canyons. The curves are tight, the tunnels narrow, and the views expansive. At every turn, the contrast of desert rock against a blue sky is striking. This road feels as though it has been carved, not built.
Trail Ridge Road
Climbing above 12,000 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park, Trail Ridge Road gives you uninterrupted views of jagged peaks and rolling tundra. Snow often lingers well into summer, and the road closes seasonally, adding to its sense of drama. As you drive, elk graze nearby, and the air is thin, sharp, and cold even in July. It’s a place where the road seems to float above the world.
San Juan Skyway
Looping through the southwest part of the state, the San Juan Skyway connects historic mining towns like Silverton and Ouray with high mountain passes and golden aspens in the fall. The Million Dollar Highway portion is especially tight and winding, with cliffs just inches away. It’s not for speed but for slow, deliberate movement through dramatic terrain. Every curve reveals something new.
Independence Pass
Connecting Twin Lakes and Aspen, Independence Pass climbs to over 12,000 feet with no guardrails and plenty of hairpin turns. It’s only open during warmer months and offers sharp contrasts between dense pine forests and barren alpine tundra. As you climb, the air cools, and the road narrows until you feel completely immersed in the mountains. You’ll want to stop often, and you should.
Guanella Pass
Easily accessible from Denver, Guanella Pass delivers quick elevation gain with quiet meadows and high-alpine views. In the fall, it becomes a corridor of golden aspens that glow in the afternoon light. Wildlife is common, especially near the beaver ponds scattered near the summit. It’s a calm drive that feels far from the city, even when you’re only an hour away.
Cottonwood Pass
Recently paved and reopened, Cottonwood Pass offers a smooth route across the Continental Divide between Buena Vista and Taylor Park. It’s lined with thick forest and high ridgelines, and you’ll find plenty of pull-offs for short hikes or quiet breaks. At the summit, expansive views stretch toward the Collegiate Peaks.
Kebler Pass
Unpaved but well-graded, Kebler Pass winds through one of the largest aspen groves in North America. This drive is especially rewarding in late September when the leaves shift into glowing shades of gold and orange. The road is gentle, and each mile gives a better view than the last. It’s the kind of route that feels like a secret, even though it’s known.
Mount Evans Scenic Byway
This is the highest paved road in North America, and it climbs to over 14,000 feet. The drive to the summit is steep, and the views stretch far beyond the Front Range. Along the way, you’ll pass alpine lakes, marmot colonies, and twisted trees clinging to rocky slopes. It ends just shy of the summit, where the air is thin and the silence deep.
Peak to Peak Highway
This drive runs between Estes Park and Black Hawk, offering a quieter alternative to the busier national park roads. It winds through towns and past trailheads that lead into the high country. Aspen groves flash in the fall, and the peaks stay snow-tipped well into spring. It’s an ideal route if you like a mix of forests, towns, and wide-open views.
Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway
Far less traveled than Colorado’s other scenic roads, this one cuts through canyon country near Grand Junction. Red cliffs rise on either side, and the road passes ranches, riverbeds, and old homesteads. It feels removed, with long stretches of quiet. You drive not to get somewhere but to let time slow down.
La Veta Pass
La Veta Pass is gentle but packed with character, linking the San Luis Valley to the rest of southern Colorado. You’ll drive through rolling hills, pine forests, and open prairie. Views of the Spanish Peaks dominate the horizon, standing tall and unmistakable. This is a good route for those who enjoy quiet, uninterrupted space.
Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway
This lesser-known route runs between Meeker and Yampa, climbing through thick forests and open plateaus. The Flat Tops themselves are unique; not jagged, but broad and layered. As you ascend, the road passes lakes, creeks, and wide meadows filled with wildflowers in summer. It’s long, calm, and full of quiet beauty.
Lizard Head Pass
Located near Telluride, Lizard Head Pass cuts through remote forests and open meadows. The pass gets its name from a jagged spire visible in the distance. It’s less dramatic than some others in elevation, but the surrounding San Juan Mountains give the drive a dramatic feel. Wildflowers often line the road in summer.
Boulder Canyon Drive
This short but striking route links Boulder to Nederland, cutting through steep canyons and rushing creeks. The rock walls feel close, and the drive feels more intimate than expansive. Ice climbs form on the cliff faces in winter, drawing climbers and photographers. It’s a local favorite for good reason.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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