Day Trips from Denver

Day Trips from Denver

Getting into the High Country is quick from Denver. Two scenic roads will even take you far above the timberline to the 11,000-foot-plus alpine tundra. Mount Evans Scenic Byway, the state's most impressive high-altitude drive, is a 14-mi toll road that climbs more than 7,000 feet in 28 mi and tops out at 14,134 feet, 130 feet shy of the summit, which is a ¼-mi stroll from the parking lot. Take I-70 west to Exit 240 and then follow Highway 103 south to the Forest Service's check-in station at Echo Lake. From Denver, it takes about 90 minutes to this point, and then another hour to the summit. Guanella Pass is a lesser-traveled (and free) 22-mi dirt and asphalt road running from Georgetown to Grant. Along the way—while negotiating some tight curves, especially as you head down to Grant—you'll get close views of Mount Evans as well as Grays and Torrey's peaks—two Fourteeners. From I-70 west, take Exit 228 in Georgetown and follow the signs to the pass. It takes about 45 minutes to reach the start of the pass, and another 40 minutes to cross it.