Denver Aspen Three Day Round Trip
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 27-06-2025
Route Summary It is a combination of several scenic Byways, Interstates and Highways. Lots of things to see and do.
You will visit historical and sporting sights. You will drive over beautiful mountain passes and through beautiful valleys along lakes and fast-flowing rivers.
There are several villages and towns you can visit, where you can eat, drink and stretch your legs.
I rate this tour 5 stars because it combines so many beautiful roads, scenery and interesting activities.
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
24h 59m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
947.65 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review It is a combination of Interstates, freeways and several scenic Byways in North Central Colorado such as;
• Independence Pass (closed October to May)
• Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway
• Trail Ridge Road
• Peak to Peak
• Lariat Loop
The ride starts in Denver at the Quality Inn Hotel near the airport. There is a Harley-Davidson dealership near the hotel that rents motorcycles.
The roads are of good quality, but can be muddy. The panoramas along the route are breathtaking, you have a beautiful view of the snow-capped mountains and you will drive along several rivers, such as the Colorado River and beautiful lakes. You will see a lot of beautiful nature and there are interesting stops possible, some are indicated in the review and are marked with a waypoint.
The ride is 590 miles (950 km) in total and planned as a three-day Roadtrip with two nights in hotels. You can adjust the route to your own preferences, and take longer, you can also choose to stay overnight at campsites, there are several accommodations along the route.
At the end of day one or the beginning of day two, you can choose to visit AVA Rafting & Zipline, a premier outdoor adventure company offering guided whitewater rafting excursions on the Colorado River, plus zip lining, rock climbing, fly fishing and more. Cabins and campsites are available onsite for an additional fee, and you can also stay overnight at a hotel. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time, as this will take half a day.
Between Twin Lakes and Aspen you will drive the famous Independence Pass. This is a beautiful mountain pass with some nice hairpin turns, the elevation is 12,095 ft (3,687 m). Take the time to stop at the overlooks, where you can admire the view and take some pictures.
Stop at Ghost Town Independence, this town served as a mining town in the 1880's. Due to the harsh and long winters and the failure of good mining opportunities, the town was eventually abandoned, with many seeking better mining opportunities in Aspen and elsewhere.
Next stop is The Devils Punchbowl and the Grottos, a popular spot for cliff jumping. It is a large rock formation where water pools along the Roaring Fork River. If you are brave enough, you can jump or dive off the cliffs into the Punchbowl. The Grottos Trail is a 0.7 mile trail with a waterfall and is good for all levels. The trail offers a number of activities.
We drive to Aspen, where we stop to stretch our legs for some sightseeing and lunch. Aspen is a small, charming town that has been one of the world's top winter sports destinations for many years. It is also beautiful in other seasons. In the spring, thousands of wildflowers bloom, in the summer you can hike near the beautiful Maroon Bells and in the fall the trees color the area golden yellow. Aspen is truly a place for active tourists. In addition to hiking, you can go mountain biking, kayaking, rafting and rock climbing.
After Aspen, the drive continues along the Roaring Fork River to Glenwood Springs, where you can plan a quick stop for refreshments and fuel if needed. Glenwood Springs is rich in history and culture, and is home to a vibrant restaurant scene, boutique shopping, scenic golf courses, and an endless list of outdoor activities.
From Glenwood Springs we take Interstate 70 to Wolcott. It is about 50 ml (70 km) through great scenery. Make a quick stop at Grizzly Creek, if you have time you can take a walk here. Grizzly Creek is one of the many tributaries of the Colorado River. The out and back trail winds along the creek for several miles of spectacular, towering cliffs. Easily one of the best hikes in Colorado, picnic areas and plenty of places to enjoy the river views make this a popular choice for a summer outing.
In Wolcott we turn onto Colorado State Highway 131, which is another beautiful drive through the Colorado Mountains with some nice curves and beautiful views.
You can visit the 4 Eagle Ranch where you can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. It is an authentic ranch experience filled with fun family activities. They offer a unique mix of outdoor activities such as zip lining, horseback riding, 4x4 jeep and ATV tours, wine tastings and more. The drive continues through the Rocky Mountains and Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest to Kremmling where we spend the night.
The last day of this three-day road trip continues on Highway 40, the 16 ml (26 km) stretch is also called the Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway because it follows the banks of the Colorado River with fantastic views, so plan enough time to stop every now and then and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
The drive continues on the Trail Ridge Road, another scenic Byway, through the Rocky Mountains, with a stop at the Forest Canyon Overlook, where you can enjoy the amazing panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains.
You can stop at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center to watch the short orientation film. Information about the park and interpretive activities, maps, and books are also available. The central reservations office is accessible via a footpath to a small building just east of the main office.
On the way back we drive the scenic Peak To Peak Highway, established in 1918, this is the oldest Scenic Byway in Colorado. We have lunch in the town of Nederland. Originally Breed's Caribou Mill in Middle Boulder, it became known to miners as “Nederland”, meaning “lowland” (which it is, compared to the town of Caribou at 10,000 feet above sea level). In 1874, when the town became a municipality, the residents chose “Nederland” as its new name.
We continue our journey via a beautiful winding road to Black Hawk, one of Colorado's top destinations with many casinos, a dozen hotels and countless restaurants.
Next interesting stop for some pictures, and if you want to take a short walk, is the Cleer Creek Greenway. The drive continues along a portion of the Lariat Loop Scenic & Historic Byway. You can make a short stop to take a picture of Evergreen Lake. You can stop for dinner at the end of the Lariat Loop in Morrison or continue the drive and plan a dinner at one of the many restaurants in Down Town Denver, our final destination.
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
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Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Colorado
About this region
Colorado is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains. Colorado is the eighth most extensive and 21st most populous U.S. state. The 2020 United States Census enumerated the population of Colorado at 5,773,714, an increase of 14.80% since the 2010 United States Census.
The region has been inhabited by Native Americans for more than 13,000 years, with the Lindenmeier Site containing artifacts dating from approximately 9200 BC to 1000 BC; the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains was a major migration route for early peoples who spread throughout the Americas. "Colorado" is the Spanish adjective meaning "ruddy," the color of red sandstone. The Territory of Colorado was organized on February 28, 1861, and on August 1, 1876, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed Proclamation 230 admitting Colorado to the Union as the 38th state. Colorado is nicknamed the "Centennial State" because it became a state one century after the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Colorado is bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas to the east, Oklahoma to the southeast, New Mexico to the south, Utah to the west, and touches Arizona to the southwest at the Four Corners. Colorado is noted for its vivid landscape of mountains, forests, high plains, mesas, canyons, plateaus, rivers, and desert lands. Colorado is one of the Mountain States and is a part of the western and southwestern United States.
Denver is the capital and most populous city in Colorado. Residents of the state are known as Coloradans, although the antiquated "Coloradoan" is occasionally used. Colorado is a comparatively wealthy state, ranking eighth in household income in 2016, and 11th in per capita income in 2010. It also ranks highly in the nation's standard of living index. Major parts of the economy include government and defense, mining, agriculture, tourism, and increasingly other kinds of manufacturing. With increasing temperatures and decreasing water availability, Colorado's agriculture, forestry and tourism economies are expected to be heavily affected by climate change.
Read more on Wikipedia
The region has been inhabited by Native Americans for more than 13,000 years, with the Lindenmeier Site containing artifacts dating from approximately 9200 BC to 1000 BC; the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains was a major migration route for early peoples who spread throughout the Americas. "Colorado" is the Spanish adjective meaning "ruddy," the color of red sandstone. The Territory of Colorado was organized on February 28, 1861, and on August 1, 1876, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed Proclamation 230 admitting Colorado to the Union as the 38th state. Colorado is nicknamed the "Centennial State" because it became a state one century after the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Colorado is bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas to the east, Oklahoma to the southeast, New Mexico to the south, Utah to the west, and touches Arizona to the southwest at the Four Corners. Colorado is noted for its vivid landscape of mountains, forests, high plains, mesas, canyons, plateaus, rivers, and desert lands. Colorado is one of the Mountain States and is a part of the western and southwestern United States.
Denver is the capital and most populous city in Colorado. Residents of the state are known as Coloradans, although the antiquated "Coloradoan" is occasionally used. Colorado is a comparatively wealthy state, ranking eighth in household income in 2016, and 11th in per capita income in 2010. It also ranks highly in the nation's standard of living index. Major parts of the economy include government and defense, mining, agriculture, tourism, and increasingly other kinds of manufacturing. With increasing temperatures and decreasing water availability, Colorado's agriculture, forestry and tourism economies are expected to be heavily affected by climate change.
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Statistics 
20Amount of RX reviews (Colorado)
15552Amount of visitors (Colorado)
336Amount of downloads (Colorado)
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Through 14 days you will visit New Orleans, Memphis, Tulsa, Colorado Springs, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. See the sights of Monument and Death Valley, the Hoover Dam. Ride across 12 US States for 4267 miles of adventure before ending the trip on Santa Monica Pier, Los Angeles on the Pacific Coast
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Hello and welcome to this collection of the Top 10 MyRoute app downloaded routes in USA.
There will be a great new event to be announced soon, where all these routes can be driven.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder, so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as these will come in handy.
Create a travelogue of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your mail.
The 10 routes are:
1. D13 Estes Park Denver
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10.R13 San Francisco Monterey
There will be a great new event to be announced soon, where all these routes can be driven.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder, so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as these will come in handy.
Create a travelogue of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your mail.
The 10 routes are:
1. D13 Estes Park Denver
2. D03 Chadron Custer
3. D01 Pigeon Forge round trip through the Smokey Mountains
4. D08 Kalispell Sandpoint
5. D10 Colville Wenatchee
6. D09 Sandpoint Colville
7. D04 Custer Wall
8. D11 Wenatchee Seattle
9. D08 Cody Yellowstone NP
10.R13 San Francisco Monterey
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