Top 10 Viewpoints in Colorado
Colorado has more high country than any other US state: fifty-eight peaks rise above 4,267 metres (the famous "fourteeners"), and paved roads climb to alpine tundra that elsewhere requires days of trekking. Beyond the Rockies, the state holds red-rock canyons, the deepest gorges and high desert mesas. Its viewpoints span this range, from drive-up summits to dramatic canyon rims. These ten capture Colorado at its most spectacular.
Maroon Bells, near Aspen
The twin Maroon Bells, rising over 4,300 metres above Maroon Lake, are among the most photographed mountains in North America. The classic reflection view across the lake is finest at sunrise, when alpenglow lights the layered red peaks and the water is still. Autumn brings golden aspens. Vehicle access is restricted in peak season; reserve a shuttle in advance.
Pikes Peak
The 4,302-metre summit of Pikes Peak above Colorado Springs is reached by cog railway, toll highway or a long hike. The view sweeps from the Great Plains in the east to the Sawatch Range in the west, and the summit complex sits in true alpine conditions. The vista from the top inspired the lyrics to "America the Beautiful" in 1893.
Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park
The highest continuous paved road in the US climbs to 3,713 metres through alpine tundra. Pullouts such as Forest Canyon Overlook and the Alpine Visitor Center frame the Continental Divide and the park's high peaks. Marmots and elk are common sights. The road is open only roughly late May to October because of heavy snow.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
The Black Canyon is one of the steepest and deepest gorges in North America, its narrow walls dropping over 600 metres to the Gunnison River, which is rarely lit by direct sun. Rim drives on both the south and north sides give vertiginous overlooks, such as the Painted Wall view of Colorado's tallest cliff at 685 metres. The depth and darkness give the canyon its name and its power.
Mount Blue Sky (Mount Evans)
The Mount Blue Sky road near Denver is the highest paved road in North America, climbing to 4,307 metres. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep roam the summit, and the view spans the Front Range and the plains. Timed reservations are required in summer to protect the fragile alpine tundra; the road is seasonal.
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs
The Garden of the Gods is a park of dramatic red sandstone fins and spires rising from the plain at the foot of Pikes Peak. Viewpoints along the loop road and the central trails frame the towering rock formations against the snow-capped peak behind. It is free, accessible and especially striking at sunrise when the red rock glows.
Independence Pass
At 3,687 metres, Independence Pass on the Continental Divide east of Aspen is one of the highest paved crossings in the Rockies. The summit pullout opens onto bare tundra and a panorama of the Sawatch Range. The narrow road is closed by snow from roughly November to late May, but in summer it is a spectacular high drive.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
The tallest sand dunes in North America rise up to 230 metres against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado. Viewpoints from the dune field and the surrounding road frame the improbable contrast of golden dunes, the seasonal Medano Creek and the snow-capped peaks behind. Climbing the High Dune gives a sweeping view across the whole dune sea.
Dallas Divide, near Ridgway
The Dallas Divide on Highway 62 gives one of Colorado's classic mountain panoramas: the jagged peaks of the Sneffels Range rising above ranchland and aspen groves. In late September the aspens turn brilliant gold, and the divide becomes one of the most photographed autumn scenes in the state, especially in the soft light of early morning.
Bridal Veil Falls, Telluride
At the head of the box canyon above Telluride, Bridal Veil Falls drops 110 metres, the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado, with a historic power station perched at its brink. The viewpoint from the valley and the switchback road up the cliff frame the falls and the surrounding peaks. The box canyon setting is among the most dramatic in the San Juan Mountains.
Explore on the map
From the drive-up summits of Pikes Peak and Mount Blue Sky to the depths of the Black Canyon and the dunes of the San Luis Valley, every viewpoint above is plotted on the interactive map. Use it to see which require a seasonal alpine road, which are canyon rims or red-rock parks, and plan a route across high Colorado.