Scenic Drives

by Jesse Speer

by Jim Osterberg

by Jesse Speer

The area of Rocky Mountain National Park, Roosevelt and Arapaho National Forests has a wide variety of spectacular drives. Drive up Trail Ridge Road to the alpine tundra and sample the air at 12,000 feet. Drive up Mount Evans and compare the air at 14,000 feet! Get off the beaten path and glimpse the backcountry from Old Fall River Road. Check out the Colorado River Headwaters to see the source of the water that carves the Grand Canyon. Enjoy the scenic Peak to Peak Highway that leads to Central City gaming or Eldora downhill skiing. Watch for bighorn sheep in the narrows of the Big Thompson Canyon.

Bear Lake Road

Second only to Trail Ridge Road in popularity, Bear Lake Road offers high mountain lakes, glacial moraines, rivers, trailheads and a museum.

Cache la Poudre Scenic Byway

Follow Colorado's only designated wild and scenic river.

Colorado River Headwaters National Scenic Byway

Follow the magnificent Colorado River as it begins its journey west to carve the Grand Canyon.

Glen Haven - Drake Scenic Drive

Drive along the North Fork of the Big Thompson River through Glen Haven, Roosevelt National Forest and Drake.

Mount Evans Scenic Drive

Drive to 14,264 feet to see bighorn sheep and mountain goats.

Old Fall River Road

The original road over the Continental Divide follows Indian hunting trails.

Peak to Peak Scenic Byway

A lovely drive, passing interesting sites and a golden-aspen marvel in the fall.

Trail Ridge Road

Scenic drive over Trail Ridge Road takes you to the arctic tundra.

What to Do

Learn about the thousands of ways to experience Rocky Mountain National Park.

High Country Driving Tips

• Cars used to operated at lower elevations may not perform ideally at higher elevations. Many experience vapor lock, a condition where the car stalls and/or overheats. Give it a rest and enjoy the scenery around you.
• "Keep your eyes on the road." It's may seem like an obvious statement, but driving Park roads can be hard with so much beautiful and eye-catching secenery.
• Use lower gears and do not "ride your brakes" as they will overheat easily.
• Do not stop in the middle of the road to view wildlife or scenery. Park and stop only in established pullouts or parking areas.
• Fill up the tank with gas before heading into the park.

Explore!

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