Alpine Loop

Odometer: 63 miles
Drive Time: 7 hours
Orientation Points: Lake City, Ouray, Silverton

Cache la Poudre/North Park

Odometer: 101 miles
Drive Time: 3 hours
Orientation Points: Fort Collins, Gould, Walden

Collegiate Peaks

Odometer: 57 miles
Drive Time: 2 hours
Orientation Points: Buena Vista, Granite, Nathrop, Poncha Springs, Salida

Colorado River Headwaters

Odometer: 80 miles
Drive Time: 2 hours
Orientation Points: Granby, Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling

Dinosaur Diamond

Odometer: 134 miles
Drive Time: 4 hours
Orientation Points: Dinosaur, Fruita, Grand Junction, Rangely

Flat Tops Trail

Odometer: 82 miles
Drive Time: 2 hours
Orientation Points: Meeker, Yampa

Frontier Pathways

Odometer: 103 miles
Drive Time: 4 hours
Orientation Points: Colorado City, Pueblo, Rye, Silver Cliff, Westcliffe

Gold Belt Tour

Odometer: 131 miles
Drive Time: 6 to 7 hours
Orientation Points: Brookside, Canon City, Cripple Creek, Florence, Florissant, Victor

Grand Mesa

Odometer: 63 miles
Drive Time: 2 hours
Orientation Points: Cedaredge, Mesa

Guanella Pass

Odometer: 22 miles
Drive Time: 1 to 2 hours
Orientation Points: Georgetown, Grant

Highway of Legends

Odometer: 110 miles
Drive Time: 4 to 5 hours
Orientation Points: Aguilar, Cokedale, La Veta, Trinidad, Walsenburg

Lariat Loop

Odometer: 40 miles
Drive Time: 2 hours
Orientation Points: Evergreen, Golden, Morrison

Los Caminos Antiguos

Odometer: 129 miles
Drive Time: 3 hours
Orientation Points: Alamosa, Antonito, Blanca, Conejos, Fort Garland, Manassa, Romeo, San Luis

Mount Evans

Odometer: 49 miles
Drive Time: 2 hours
Orientation Points: Idaho Springs

Pawnee Pioneer Trails

Odometer: 128 miles
Drive Time: 3 hours
Orientation Points: Ault, Briggsdale, Fort Morgan, Grover, Raymer, Sterling

Peak to Peak

Odometer: 55 miles
Drive Time: 2 hours
Orientation Points: Black Hawk, Central City, Estes Park, Nederland

San Juan Skyway

Odometer: 236 miles
Drive Time: 7 hours
Orientation Points: Cortez, Dolores, Durango, Mancos, Mountain Village, Ouray, Rico, Ridgway, Sawpit, Silverton, Telluride

Santa Fe Trail

Odometer: 188 miles
Drive Time: 4 hours
Orientation Points: La Junta, Las Animas, Lamar, Trinidad

Silver Thread

Odometer: 117 miles
Drive Time: 3 hours
Orientation Points: Creede, Lake City, South Fork

South Platte River Trail

Odometer: 19 miles
Drive Time: 1 hour
Orientation Points: Julesburg, Ovid

Top of the Rockies

Odometer: 115 miles
Drive Time: 4 to 5 hours
Orientation Points: Leadville, Minturn, Red Cliff

Tracks Across Borders

Odometer: 89 miles
Drive Time: 2.5 hours
Orientation Points: Arboles, Durango, Ignacio

Trail of the Ancients

Odometer: 116 miles
Drive Time: 3 hours
Orientation Points: Cortez, Dolores

Trail Ridge Road/RMNP

Odometer: 48 miles
Drive Time: 2 to 3 hours
Orientation Points: Estes Park, Grand Lake

Unaweep/Tabeguache

Odometer: 133 miles
Drive Time: 3 hours
Orientation Points: Gateway, Naturita, Norwood, Uravan, Whitewater

West Elk Loop

Odometer: 205 miles
Drive Time: 7 hours
Orientation Points: Carbondale, Crested Butte, Gunnison, Hotchkiss, Redstone

Source: Drive times and distances courtesy of the Colorado Department of Transportation


Loop de Loop

It follows that one gorgeous road might lead you to another. Here are four ways to extend your journey.

1. Colorado River Headwaters to Trail Ridge/RMNP to Peak to Peak to Mount Evans.

2. Top of the Rockies to Collegiate Peaks.

3. Highway of Legends to Santa Fe Trail.

4. West Elk Loop to Silver Thread to Alpine Loop to San Juan Skyway to Trail of the Ancients.

Natasha Gardner
Natasha Gardner
Natasha Gardner is a Denver-based writer and the former Articles Editor for 5280.