Fall Drives: 5 Color-Drenched Colorado Scenic Byways

These leafy routes not only get you so close to gorgeous fall foliage that you can smell the trees turning, but they also reveal significant pages in the state’s historic and cultural storybook.

Pro Tip: It's easy to get caught up in the moment when viewing fall colors on a scenic drive. For the best photos, Do Colorado Right by choosing a spot in a safe, designated parking area to really bask in fall's beauty. Keep in mind that these destinations are popular for leaf peeping, especially during peak weekends. Try visiting during lesser traveled times on weekdays to enjoy more of the colorful vistas. And while you're keeping an eye out for the golds, ambers and reds, don't forget to also look for pedestrians that may be taking in the scenery as well.

Top of the Rockies

The drive: Bookended by two ski resorts, this sky-high trip takes you from Copper Mountain to Leadville and west to Aspen. With the majority of the byway winding above 9,000 feet, you’ll cross the Continental Divide three times. Take in golden aspen groves, vibrant red maples and sweeping views of towering peaks like Mount Elbert and Mount Massive. As you follow the Arkansas River, make stops at old mining camps, high-country lakes and historical landmarks. It’s a great way to see the highlights of the popular Rockies Playground region.

Mileage: 82 miles

Pull over for: Downtown Leadville. The country’s highest-elevation incorporated city is a National Historic Landmark full of mining museums, antique shops and Victorian-era architecture.

Stretch your legs at: The Independence Ghost Town Site. Between Twin Lakes and Aspen, Independence Pass twists around stunning groves of aspen to the former gold rush tent city.

West Elk Loop

The drive: This byway circles the West Elk Mountains on a journey through Paonia, Gunnison, Crested Butte and Carbondale. Touching three national forests, the drive crosses diverse landscapes of meadows, rivers, canyons and enormous aspen stands lit up in gold and orange. Along the way, Kebler Pass is home to what is said to be the world’s largest aspen grove, making the area a favorite for photographers, hikers and nature lovers.

Mileage: 205 miles

Pull over for: Photos at McClure Pass. Views to either side of the high mountain corridor spill out into a green, yellow and auburn canvas sprinkled with striking red-scrub oaks.

Stretch your legs in: Curecanti National Recreation Area. The intersection of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park with Morrow Point, Blue Mesa and Crystal lakes is an unbeatable spot for picnicking and sightseeing.

Cache la Poudre-North Park

The drive: From Fort Collins, the route winds through the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest ascending to Cameron Pass at 10,276 feet before reaching the secluded valley of North Park. The byway follows alongside the Cache la Poudre River — the only Wild and Scenic River in Colorado — as it carves through the rugged landscape. Keep an eye out for deer, elk and moose grazing amid quaking aspen and massive forests of pine.

Mileage: 101 miles

Pull over for: East Sand Dunes Natural Area. Rare cold-climate dunes rise and fall in the Medicine Bow Range.

Stretch your legs in: Red Feather Lakes. Set in the mountainous Roosevelt National Forest, the remote village is known for its hiking and biking trails.

Peak to Peak

The drive: Established in 1918, Colorado’s oldest scenic byway affords sweeping views of aspen-cloaked valleys and the Continental Divide. Easily accessible from the Front Range, start in the mining-belt casino towns of Black Hawk and Central City. The byway then works its way up through Nederland, a popular basecamp for outdoor adventure, passing by Rocky Mountain National Park and finishing in Estes Park.

Mileage: 55 miles

Pull over for: Central City Opera House. This Victorian-era gem is one of the oldest professional opera companies in the country and is known for its summer festival.

Stretch your legs in: Rocky Mountain National Park. The pot of gold at the end of the byway provides a gorgeous encore of vibrant fall foliage.

San Juan Skyway

The drive: Jaw-dropping cliffs, dramatic scenery, cultural wonders and autumn appearances of amber, bronze and gold define the “Road to the Sky.” Passing through the desert and the 5-million-acre San Juan and Uncompahgre national forests, the changing scenery will keep you on your toes. The 25-mile stretch between the mountain towns of Silverton and Ouray (known as The Million Dollar Highway) is particularly notable for its picturesque views around every hairpin turn.

Mileage: 236 miles

Pull over for: Mesa Verde National Park. Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings reside in the only national park dedicated solely to the works of man.

Stretch your legs in: Old West favorite Durango. Take a trip on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad or relax in the nearby hot springs.

Want More?

Find a Quick Guide to All 26 Scenic & Historic Byways and More Drives Perfect for Fall. For maps and more scenic and historic byways, visit check out our byways microsite.