Colorado’s Scenic Drives In 2WD & 4WD! Part One: 2WD
We are so lucky to be able to enjoy the wonders of this beautiful state. You know how much we love camping, hiking, biking, skiing, and rafting, but maybe you didn’t know how much we love driving!
Sure, just like backpacking is a more intense experience than camping in the campground, there are a lot of 4WD trails out there that are going to take you deep into the wilderness. However, there are also plenty of 2WD-friendly, scenic drives that will take your breath away.
In this two-part series, we list our favorite scenic drives. Take the kids, take your parents, or take a tent and hop out along the way for a weekend getaway. And if you need a Denver adventure rental to help you on your trip, you know who to call!
2WD-Friendly Scenic Drives In Colorado
Let’s start with our 2WD-friendly scenic drives, which are considered Colorado Scenic Byways. These roads “connect the dots between historic sites and acres of majestic scenery.” You’ll find history and recreation, as well as dining, arts, and attractions along these roadways. A little something for everyone!
Kebler Pass
31-miles
Crested Butte to CO-133 East of Paonia/Somerset
10,007-ft. summit
Open May to early November; Best in July for wildflowers and late September for fall colors
This beautiful trail near Crested Butte is a marvelous way to see the aspens change. In fact, “It’s home to one of the largest aspen groves in the United States,” according to Uncover Colorado. The drive, straight-through, will only take a couple of hours, winding through thousands of aspen trees and evergreen forests. However, Gunnison National Forest provides tons of recreation possibilities so you’ll definitely want to take your time. Hiking, biking, and fishing are popular activities, and campground or dispersed camping are readily available. Make a weekend of it!
Photo credit @troytdesigns
Guanella Pass
22-miles
Georgetown to Grant
11,669-ft. summit
Open May to early November;
While this scenic byway is only a little over an hour of drive time, you’ll want to make several stops along the way, turning this into a day trip or even a weekend excursion. Considered one of the most scenic byways in Colorado, you’ll have amazing views of two 14ers (Mount Bierstadt & Mount Evans), as well as “alpine tundra wildlife, wildflowers, spruce, lodgepole pine and aspen forests.” Start with a bit of history in the old mining town of Georgetown with its Victorian architecture and vibrant community. Then camp and hike along the way, enjoying changing aspens, waterfalls, and ghost towns, just to name a few.
Trail Ridge Road
48-miles
Estes Park to Grand Lake
12,183-ft. summit
Best late May through October; closed in winter
Trail Ridge Road is the “highest continuous paved road in the United States,” according to Outside Magazine. Winding through some of the most beautiful parts of Rocky Mountain National Park, you’ll see alpine tundra, towering peaks, and breathtaking views as you cross the Continental Divide. Start in Estes Park, where you can enjoy a little shopping or history, then camp and hike your way through the park, stopping to see wildflowers or changing aspens, and plenty of elk and moose. Once you land in Grand Lake (anywhere from 2 hours to several days later), take advantage of the water sports and the delightful village.
Flat Tops Byway
82-miles
Yampa to Meeker
10,373-ft. summit
Best year round; closed past Lost Creek in winter
This beautiful drive takes you high and low through forests and tundra, cliffs and river valleys. Starting and ending in the historic Colorado towns of Yampa and Meeker, visit the Yampa-Egeria Museum and the White River Museum respectively, for some history. Then escape into the White River National Forest for stunning views and birding, as well as hiking and camping. Dunkley Pass Scenic Overlook is an excellent spot to stop for a picnic! Even though part of the byway is closed in winter, it is still a magical area for winter activities. Don’t forget to grab gas before you head out, you won’t see a gas station for at least two and a half hours!
Grand Mesa Byway
63-miles
Cedaredge to I-70 near Palisade
10,500-ft. summit
Best year round; Land’s End Road is closed in winter
This scenic byway is a mixture of history, shopping, lakes, wineries, hiking, and views. Save at least a couple of hours, but ideally, spend the day exploring! In Cedaredge, do a wine tasting and “stroll on the wooden boardwalks of Old Main Street.” Stop to take in breathtaking views at the Land Of Lakes Overlook and Land’s End Observatory. For recreation, spend some time in the Grand Mesa National Forest. After that, enjoy a little shopping, wine, and dining, and explore the tiny towns of Mesa and Palisade. Be sure to get gas before you get on the road because it is few and far between!
San Juan Skyway
236-mile loop
Durango to Durango
11,018-ft. summit
Best year round; some winter closures, check road conditions
Save at least seven hours for this incredible journey that takes you through iconic Colorado towns like Durango, Telluride, Ouray, and Silverton. There is so much to do, you might want to take the week! Head out on the “road to the sky” to see wildflowers in summer, waterfalls in spring, and changing leaves in the fall. In the winter, alpine sports abound! And in addition to the breathtaking views of 14ers and ample opportunities to hike, bike, swim, fish, camp, etc., there are also idyllic towns to explore. There is so much to do and see that we can’t list here, so take a look at this guide from Bearfoot Theory to help you plan your trip!
Cottonwood Pass
57-miles
Buena Vista to Almont
12,126-ft. summit
Best May through October; closed in winter
Though it should only take 2.5–3 hours straight through, save more time for this gorgeous drive that crosses the continental divide. You’ll spend ample time above the tree line with 360° views. It’s suggested that the best time to make this drive is to see the fall colors change. There is ample hiking, mountain biking, and camping along the way, but be sure to stop at Taylor Park Reservoir for fishing, boating, swimming, etc. And don’t forget, Buena Vista is home to two hot springs if you need a soak after a long day!
Independence Pass
36-miles
Near Aspen to near Twin Lakes
12,095-ft. Summit
Best Memorial Day through October; closed in winter
The second-highest paved road in Colorado (behind Cottonwood), this drive offers a beautiful alternative route out of Aspen (because the views are best heading east!). This is an incredible viewpoint for leaf-peeping as you follow along the Roaring Fork River, but it isn’t just the aspens that make this drive a must. The ghost towns of Independence and Twin Lakes, many hiking trails with grottos, ice caves & waterfalls, wildlife, Continental Divide, camping (dispersed & campground), cliff-jumping in Devil’s punchbowl, and boating at Twin Lakes all draw you to this road that traverses both the San Isabel and White River National Forests. Save at least 45-90 minutes for your journey or stay awhile!
And then there was 4WD…
We’ve started you off with the easy (yet utterly breathtaking) scenic drives, now get out there and road trip your way through our beautiful state of Colorado! Next time, we list our favorite 4WD adventures! Some of them can be challenging, and some might get downright scary, but they are always an experience worth having.
Get Your Adventure Rentals Here!
You know that Titus Adventure Company is the one-stop shop for adventure, right? If you need help getting to any of these scenic drives we’ve got the 4WD camping adventure rental for you, right here in Denver, Colorado!
Our Denver camping rentals include campervans, 4WD trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps with rooftop tents allowing you to camp in serious comfort and style. Not to mention, vehicle rentals come with all the gear for a camping trip (and our expert suggestions, like when to camp in Colorado and to always book your campsites ahead of time), taking care of the details so that you can enjoy yourself!
Contact us today to schedule an adventure rental for your Colorado road trip, or to check on the availability of our 4WD rental vehicles.
For more from Titus Adventure Company on camping and recreation, check out our blog!