I-70 to Leadville, CO - 91 or 24
 

We are taking a long weekend and first visit to Aspen.

The two options to get to Leadville enroute to Aspen are CO 91 or US 24. CO 91 is shorter by almost an hour of driving. We are enjoying the route as much as the destination, so is the scenery along US 24 better than CO 91? Is the width, quality of US 24 better than CO 91?

We may return to Denver via the pass and could choose the other route on return or we may go up to I-70 and Glenwood Canyon (we have driven through before) for the return. Just depends on my husband's (driver) preferences and weather.

<<We may return to Denver via the pass>>

I'm confused. Do you mean Independence Pass? If you are starting in Denver, both routes will take you to Leadville and over Independence Pass to Aspen.

I usually take 91 from Copper Mountain, so I haven't been on 24 for a while but don't remember any big differences in road conditions.

CO 24 is also known as the 10th Mountain Division Memorial Highway. There is a monument as well as interpretive signs where Camp Hale was located during WW2.

www.leadvilletwinlakes.com/camp_hale

I meant we can either return to Denver via Glenwood or return to Denver over Independence Pass. If we return over the pass, we could take 91 in one direction and 24 in the other.

All the construction on i-70 may be a consideration.

We will be looking for scenic pullouts for views and perhaps short hikes enroute.

An excellent place for a pullout with amazing views and a short (or long) hike is Mayflower Gulch. It's on 91 about 6 miles from Copper Mountain. I've climbed in there a few times, it's spectacular.

Here's a link, but Google "Mayflower Gulch" for more info and photos.
http://www.summitdaily.com/exploresu...the-pilgrimage

Either return route (Glenwood or back over Independence Pass) has benefits. Your call depending on how you are feeling, can't go wrong!

Are you recent locals in Denver? If you have not been through Glenwood canyon, you really should do so. If go through Leadville, then come home via Glenwood Springs.

Opps, missed the comment that you had been through Glenwood canyon. I don't think there is a lot of difference between 91 and 24. You could always continue south on 24 from Leadville and come home via 285. The south park is very scenic but in a different way.

I second the suggestion to stop at Mayflower Gulch for a hike.

Such wisdom. Thanks.

We drove via 91 and stopped for a hike up Mayflower Gulch. It was very nice with the option to turn around whenever we wanted, trading off more views versus the drive ahead of us. We picniced at Twin Lakes. Nice scenery and very quiet (only one motorboat in an hour). I think there were people down on the shore, but we stayed in isolation at a picnic table near parking.

The drive over Independence Pass was pretty with a small crowd at the top. Traffic not bad. Weather good.

We stopped at the grottos close to Aspen. We arrived in Snowmass tired and hot, but enjoyed the route.

Because of the construction on I-70, the driver opted to return over Independence Pass and try 24/285 into Denver as we had plenty of time and could see new area. The amount of traffic was less on weekday, but we did meet a large truck right at a pullout (good timing) and some crazy drivers. I think the views were nicer driving west to east.

I liked the drive along the Collegiates to Buena Vista--the mountains seem to rise from the high plain with no foothills, so get a better feel for their height.

Little construction delay on 24. Crazy speeding drivers. Lovely high plains. Glad we took a different route on return to see totally different scenery, imaging life there in winter.

Thanks for reporting back, glad you had a good trip. Beautiful country for sure! No known remedy for crazy speeding drivers. Maybe when Google's car takes over the planet...