Winding through the rugged heart of northern Colorado, the Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway offers 101 miles of breathtaking mountain scenery along one of the state’s most pristine river corridors. This National and State Scenic Byway follows the Cache la Poudre River—Colorado’s only nationally designated Wild and Scenic River—through a dramatic canyon carved over millions of years.

Travelers ascend from the foothills near Fort Collins into Roosevelt National Forest, where towering granite walls give way to alpine meadows and expansive views of the Medicine Bow Mountains. Watch for bighorn sheep navigating rocky outcrops, elk grazing in high mountain parks, and trout rising in crystal-clear pools. The route crosses Cameron Pass at 10,276 feet before descending into the wide-open grasslands of North Park, a hidden valley ringed by snow-capped peaks.

Key stops include Mishawaka Amphitheatre, numerous riverside picnic areas, and the historic mining town of Walden. Hiking trails branch off throughout the canyon, leading to waterfalls and alpine lakes.

The byway is most spectacular from late May through October, when wildflowers carpet the meadows and fall colors paint the aspen groves gold. Allow three to four hours for the drive, longer if you plan to hike, fish, or simply soak in the mountain air.

Explore Nearby

• North Sand Hills OHV Area — Public Land in Colorado
• Kremmling Recreation Management Area — Public Land in Colorado
• State Forest State Park — State Park in Colorado
• Pearrygin Lake State Park — State Park in Washington
• Roosevelt National Forest — National Forest in Colorado