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Scenic Byways and Drives Scenic Byways and Drives

Colorado Scenic Byways Map
Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway

Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway, Colorado Vacation Directory
 
 

Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway Map, Colorado Click here to go to the Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway Click here to go to the Buckeye's Cabin page Click here to go to the map legend

Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway near Aspen, Basalt, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Dillon, Frisco, Granite, Green Mountain Reservoir, Heeney, Keystone, Leadville, Silverthorne, Snowmass Village, Twin Lakes

In the 19th Century, millions of dollars in gold and silver were mined in central Colorado. The Leadville area was home to many of the big names of mining, such as Horace Tabor and his wife "Baby Doe," and J.J. and (the Unsinkable) Molly Brown. Though fire or other natural disasters have destroyed many of the once booming mining towns, both Leadville and Twin Lakes still stand today as centers of mining. The Top of the Rockies Byway travels 75 miles starting in Aspen, traveling through Leadville to either Minturn or Copper Mountain, literally at the Top of the Rockies. Be sure to give two and a half hours to one day to see everything this byway offers.

Buffalo Mountain and Lake Dillon in Colorado
Buffalo Mountain with Lake Dillon at it's Base
Baby Doe Cabin near Leadville, Colorado
Leadville is Home to the Historic Baby Doe Cabin

 

The road seldom drops below 9,000' along the Top of the Rockies byway. Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive, each over 14,000' and the two highest points in Colorado, are visible from the byway. You can also drive over Tennessee Pass or Freemont Pass, each over 10,000'. This is truly the Top of the Rockies! There are many clear mountain lakes and streams to enjoy as well.

The Top of the Rockies byway also runs through three National Forests. You can visit Pike National Forest, San Isabel National Forest or White River National Forest. Each of these sites provides beautiful scenery and many recreational activities. The Camp Hale Memorial is also along the byway. Here, soldiers trained on skis to fight in the Apennine Mountains of Italy during World War II. Standing there now is a memorial commemorating their service. Nearby, the Tabor Opera House stands as a memory of the mining boom. Horace Tabor built the theater in 1879 in 100 days for $40,000. The house has welcomed many well known personalities over the years including Houdini, John Philip Sousa, Oscar Wilde, and Anna Held. Today, visitors can enjoy the preserved Opera House.

The mountainous terrain also provides many recreational activities such as biking, four wheel driving, camping, hunting, and horseback riding. During the winter, don't miss backcountry skiing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling and downhill skiing at Copper Mountain Resort or Ski Cooper. Be sure to visit the "top" golf course in the nation, Mount Massive Golf Course. Just don't miss the fairway... it's a long way down!

Places to Stay & Fun Things to Do

A Liquid Descent Whitewater Rafting Web page link icon Photos on page icon
Enjoy relaxing float trip or extreme whitewater with Liquid Descent. Rafting trips near Summit County, Winter Park and the Denver Area. Highlights: riverside hot springs, abundant wildlife, gorgeous scenery.
Buckeye Cabins - Leadville Vacation Rentals Web page link icon Photos on page icon
Romantic, charming, log cabins at Buckeye's with woodstoves. Vacation Rentals border National Forest. Near: Historical mining town of Leadville, Mt Elbert - Colorado's highest peak, and Ski Copper Mountain.
Grand West Village Resort Photos on page icon
Vacation along the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway in the mountains near the resort villages of Summit County, historic Leadville, Ski Cooper. Grand West has modern attached-cabins. Fish Turquoise Lake.
Leadville Railroad Email link icon Web page link icon Photos on page icon
Spectacular railroad trip in Leadville CO. Ride into the untamed wilderness along the Southern rail line: view Colorado's two highest peaks, summer wildflowers and majestic aspen groves that turn gold in fall.
National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum | Matchless Mine Tours Web page link icon Photos on page icon
Discover the colorful history of Mining at this Smithsonian Museum of the Rockies in Leadville! Summer tours of the famous Matchless Mine and Baby Doe Tabor Cabin. A National Hall of Fame of our mining past.
Roadhouse Lodge and Vacation Home Rental in Twin Lakes Colorado Web page link icon Photos on page icon
Experience the unspoiled natural beauty of ancient Twin Lakes, between Buena Vista and Leadville at the base of Mount Elbert. Roadhouse Lodge Rentals: vacation home, cabin, suite, rooms all with WiFi!

More Activities & Information

Aspen & Snowmass Village, Colorado includes: Basalt, Snowmass Village

Leadville & Twin Lakes Area, Colorado includes: Granite, Twin Lakes

Summit County, Colorado includes: Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Dillon, Frisco, Green Mountain Reservoir, Heeney, Keystone, Silverthorne

Vail Area, Colorado includes: Avon, Beaver Creek, Dotsero, Eagle, Edwards, Minturn, Red Cliff, Wolcott

Scenic Byways in Colorado


Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway • Cache la Poudre - North Park Scenic Byway • Church Park Road Scenic Drive • Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway • Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway • Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway • Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway • Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway • Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway • Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway • Grand Mesa Scenic Byway • Guanella Pass Scenic Byway • Gunnison Taylor Park Loop Scenic Drive • High Road to Taos Scenic Byway • Highway of Legends Scenic Byway • Jemez Mountain Trail Scenic Byway

Click to return to main Colorado Scenic Byway Map

• Lariat Loop Scenic Byway • Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic Byway • Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway • Pawnee Pioneer Trails Scenic Byway • Peak to Peak Scenic Byway • Pikes Peak Highway Scenic Drive • San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway • Santa Fe Trail Scenic Byway • Silver Thread Scenic and Historic Byway • South Platte River Trail Scenic Byway • Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway • Tracks Across Borders Scenic Byway • Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway • Trail Ridge Road Scenic Byway • Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway • West Elk Loop Scenic Byway
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