Driving Roads in Colorado

Explore scenic and exciting driving roads across Colorado.

Alpine Loop

United States

76 /100

108 kmUS

Cache La Poudre North Park

Colorado River Headwaters Byway

Grand Mesa National Scenic Byway

United States

64 /100

96 kmUS

Million Dollar Highway

Driving in Colorado

Colorado combines dramatic elevation changes with an unusually broad range of scenic driving environments. In the central Rockies, routes climb from broad valleys into alpine terrain, with roads such as Independence Pass linking the Aspen area with the upper Arkansas Valley. Rocky Mountain National Park’s Trail Ridge Road crosses open tundra above the tree line, while farther south the San Juan Mountains provide sustained mountain driving around Ouray, Silverton, and Durango; US 550 over Red Mountain Pass is a prominent example. Other areas range from the forested curves of Guanella Pass to western Colorado’s mesas, canyons, and high-desert landscapes. Road character varies considerably: major highways through the mountains may operate throughout winter, while smaller high passes and park roads can be seasonal. Narrow lanes, steep grades, sharp curves, rockfall, wildlife, and rapidly changing weather are common considerations on higher routes.