Shutterstock.com/Ryan DeBerardinis
162.2 miles:
4 hours,
38 minutes
City meets snow country during this tour, as steel-and-glass skyscrapers give way to towering Rocky Mountain monoliths. Whether you care to poke around big-city museums, hike through wildflower-filled meadows, gaze at storybook vistas of snowy crests or shop in cutting-edge boutiques, the contrast of man vs. nature artfully blends to create an amazing adventure.
RiverNorthPhotography/iStockphoto.com
1
Denver to Estes Park
68.6 miles:
1 hours,
43 minutes
A picture-postcard view of snowcapped peaks stretching skyward in the distance captivates visitors to the Mile High City, nicknamed so due to its 5,280-foot altitude. Heading toward Estes Park, elevations rise dramatically on US 36 as it skirts past the Roosevelt National Forest. Rocky bluffs jutting as high as 14,000 feet accent shimmering lakes and aspen woodlands.
flickr/Carl Hancock
2
Estes Park to Nederland
58.8 miles:
1 hours,
38 minutes
With valleys about 8,000 feet above sea level and peaks soaring thousands of feet higher, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the country’s highest regions. Seventy-eight named mounts rise at least 12,000 feet. From Estes Park to Nederland, you’ll travel the Peak to Peak Highway, encountering Lily Mountain, Twin Sisters and other stunning scenery.
AAA Photo
3
Nederland to Boulder
34.8 miles:
1 hours,
16 minutes
The picturesque Rocky Mountain town of Nederland is known for its rich mining heritage, lively music scene and varied recreational pursuits. Pearl Street, a prettily landscaped pedestrian-only outdoor mall in Boulder’s downtown historic area, features a good selection of restaurants, coffeehouses, quaint art galleries and fashionable boutiques.
