By Car in Rockies Near Denver

The most convenient place to rent a car is at Denver International Airport.

The hardest part about driving in the High Rockies is keeping your eyes on the road, what with canyons, mountain ridges, and animals to distract your attention. Some of the most scenic routes aren't necessarily the most direct, like the spectacular Loveland Pass.

Although it is often severely overcrowded, I-70 is still the quickest and most direct route from Denver to the High Rockies. It slices through the state, separating it into northern and southern halves. Idaho Springs is along I-70. Winter Park is north of I-70, on U.S. 40 and over Berthoud Pass, which is has gorgeous views but also has several hairpin turns. Berthoud Pass can be treacherous when a winter storm blows in.

Gasoline is readily available along I-70 and its arteries, but not so in more-remote areas like Mount Evans and Guanella Pass. Blinding snowstorms can appear out of nowhere on the high passes at any time of the year. It's a good idea to bring chains and a shovel along. Road reports and signage on the highways will indicate if chains or four-wheel-drive vehicles are required. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, especially along the stretch of I-70 from Idaho Springs to the Eisenhower Tunnel. Bighorn sheep, elk, and deer frequently graze along the north side of the highway.

Information

Colorado Road Condition Hotline (303/639-1111 statewide). Colorado State Patrol (303/239-4500. www.csp.state.co.us).