Best Drives to View Fall Color

Close to Denver

Colorado 14 through the Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins -- Take I-25 north and exit onto Colorado 14 heading west. (Exit # 269) to Poudre Canyon in the Roosevelt National Forest .  The Poudre River Canyon was designated Colorado's First National Wild and Scenic River in 1986. Drive to Cameron Pass in the Medicine Bow Mountains for great views.

 

Trail Ridge Road ( 34) through Rocky Mountain National Park -- Take the Boulder Turnpike ( 36) west to Rocky Mountain National Park via Estes Park . Once in the park, you will drive Trail Ridge Road to enjoy the scenery.  Be sure to visit the Alpine Visitor Center.  Exit the west side of the park and continue on US 34 down into Grand Lake .  From there, take 40 east through Fraser and Winter Park , eventually taking you back to I-70 at Empire.

 

Guanella Pass between Georgetown and Grant -- Take Highway 285 south from C470 through Conifer and Bailey.  At the town of Grant, head north up Guanella Pass to Georgetown , which eventually taking you back to I-70.  There are many aspens on the south side of Guanella Pass , which is just under 11,700 feet in elevation.  This twenty-three mile road will take you through the Pike and Arapahoe National Forests .  About 12 miles of this scenic road is a gravel surface, but it is maintained year-round.

 

Boreas Pass between Como and Breckenridge -- Take I-70 west and then Highway 9 south through Breckenridge.  Make a left at the stoplight on the south side of Breck onto Boreas Pass Road.  After 3 ½ miles the pavement ends, but you can continue another 11 miles to the town of Como .  From there, take Highway 285 back to Denver over Kenosha Pass.

 

Tennessee Pass, 24, From Leadville to Vail -- Take I-70 west to Vail and exit onto US 24 east to Leadville.  This route follows the Arkansas River and the Rio Grande Railroad.  On the west side of the pass, the railroad follows the Eagle River down to the mining towns of Minturn and Belden.

 

 

Central, South, and Western Colorado

 

Steamboat Springs, Elk River country north and Buffalo Pass east -- Take I-70 west to Empire and exit onto US 40 west.  This will take you through a scenic drive over many passes on your way to Steamboat Springs, including Berthoud Pass , Muddy Pass , and Rabbit Ears Pass.  North of Steamboat out of Strawberry Pass you will find Forest Road 60 which takes you over

Buffalo Pass Road

.  This scenic drive will take you across the Continental Divide into North Park where you will meet up with Highway 14.  You can take Highway 14 east to Fort Collins or go west back to Muddy Pass on US 40 east eventually taking you back to I-70.

 

Independence Pass, Colorado 82, Between Twin Lakes and Aspen -- Take I-70 to exit 171 just past Vail which is US 24 west.  This will take you to Twin Lakes , where you can take Highway 82 toward Aspen .  This drive takes you through the San Isabel National Forest and the Sawatch Range . From Aspen you can continue on Highway 82 to Glenwood Springs which will eventually taking you back to I-70.  Heading back toward Denver, you will drive through Glenwood Canyon where a hike to Hanging Lake and Spouting Rock on the east side of the canyon.

 

Flat Tops Country Between Buford and New Castle -- Take I-70 west to New Castle (Exit 105) and take Highway 13 toward Meeker.  You have two routes depending on how much time you have.  One is to take Highway 325 to Buford which will afford some beautiful views of the Flat Tops.  The second option is to stay on Highway 13 to Meeker and take the Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway.  This 82-mile trek will take you through the White River National Forest to Yampa . From Yampa , take Highway 131 south to Wolcott which takes you back to I-70.  

 

Grand Mesa, Colorado 65 East of Grand Junction and North of Delta -- Take I-70 west to Exit 49.  If you enter Clifton , you’ve gone to far!  Head south on Highway 65 (Grand Mesa Scenic Byway) to Delta.  This scenic drive will take you over 60 miles and up as high as 11,000 feet with incredible views.  Many lakes line the byway.  The West Elk Mountains will be visible to your east.

 

Maroon Bells Near Aspen -- Take I-70 west to Glenwood Springs to Highway 82 east.  Follow 82 to the Aspen Roundabout to the

Maroon Creek Road

exit.   Drive 9 ½ miles to the Maroon Lake parking area.  The Maroon Bells is one of Colorado's most photographed landmarks in Colorado .  The mirror-like reflective Maroon Lake will afford incredible views of the surrounding terrain and vegetation, which is full of Aspens.

 

Colorado 135 Between Crested Butte and Gunnison -- Take Highway 285 south to Salida down through the Arkansas River Valley .  Head west on Highway 50 to Gunnison, which will take you over Monarch Pass.  Once in Gunnison take Highway 135 north to Crested Butte, you can continue west over Kebler Pass or north to Schofield Pass.

 

Cottonwood Pass, Colorado 306 Between Buena Vista and Taylor Park --

Take Highway

285 south to Buena Vista to Highway 306. Head west over Cottonwood Pass.   West of the pass you will pass through Taylor Park and the Taylor Park Reservoir on your way to Almont.  Once in Almont, take Highway 135 south to Gunnison where Highway 50 east will take you to Highway 285 at Salida.

 

Monarch Pass, 50 from Salida to Gunnison Take Highway 285 south to Salida down through the Arkansas River Valley . Head west on Highway 50 to Gunnison, which will take you over Monarch Pass.

 

Cochetopa Pass Between Saguache and Gunnison -- Take Highway 285 south to Saguache where you will meet up with Highway 114.  Go north toward Gunnison in order to view the fall colors as well as some incredible geological formations.  Several calderas are located in this part of the San Juan Mountains .  Approaching Cochetopa Pass you will see some "columnar basalts" which formed in the same manner as Devil's Tower in Wyoming .

 

Lizard Head Pass, Colorado 145 Between Dolores and Telluride --

Take Highway

285 south to Salida, then Highway 50 west to Montrose.  From here take Highway 550 to Ridgeway where you then take Highway 62. Heading west, you will go over Dallas Divide on your way through the Uncompahgre National Forest . You will then take Highway 145, south toward Telluride, Lizard Head Pass , and Dolores.

 

Slumgullion Pass, Colorado 149, Between Lake City , Creede, and South Fork -- Head south on Highway 285 to Salida, then west on Highway 50 to just past Gunnison .  Take Highway 149 south and drive through the Gunnison, Rio Grande, and Uncompahgre National Forests .   Slumgullion Pass is at 11,361 feet followed by Spring Creek Pass at 10,901 feet.  Once in South Fork, take Highway 112 east to Highway 285 near Center.

 

160, Navajo Trail, Between Pagosa Springs and Cortez -- Take Highway 285 south to Monte Vista in the San Luis Valley to Highway 160 west.  Once over Wolf Creek Pass in the San Juans, you will descend into the beautiful town of Pagosa Springs.  Continue west to Cortez and Mesa Verde for more Aspens.

 

Platoro Reservoir, south of Del Norte and West of Conejos -- Take Highway 285 south to Monte Vista and then Colorado Highway 15 south 12 miles.  Take the Twelve Mile Road (it’s really 12 miles) west to the forest boundary where it becomes the Alamosa-Conejos River Road (Forest Road 250).  Then follow

Forest Road

250 17 miles over Stunner Pass to Mix Lake .

 

Cucharas Pass, Colorado 12, from Trinidad to Walsenburg -- Take I-25 south to Trinidad and then to Colorado 12 west.  You will drive through the San Isabel National Forest and over Cucharas Pass back to Walsenburg and I-25. Highway 165 will take you up to the Wet Mountains . You will intersect Highway 96 east eventually taking you back to Pueblo and I-25.