Traverse Colorado’s magnificent high country on the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway, a 115-mile journey through some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in North America. This National and State Scenic Byway climbs through historic mining towns, past turquoise reservoirs, and over mountain passes that touch the sky.

The route winds through Leadville, America’s highest incorporated city, where Victorian architecture tells tales of silver boom days. Continue past the stunning Twin Lakes, where crystalline waters mirror the towering peaks of Mount Elbert and Mount Massive—Colorado’s two highest summits. The byway crosses Tennessee Pass and Independence Pass, offering breathtaking panoramas of snow-capped fourteeners, wildflower meadows, and dense evergreen forests.

Stop at the Camp Hale memorial, a World War II training site for the legendary 10th Mountain Division. Watch for wildlife including elk, mule deer, and mountain goats grazing on alpine tundra.

Best time to visit: Late June through September, when Independence Pass is open and wildflowers blanket the hillsides. Allow a full day to properly explore, with frequent stops for photographs and short hikes.

This drive delivers quintessential Rocky Mountain grandeur at every turn—an unforgettable Colorado experience.

Explore Nearby

• First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site — State Park in Missouri
• Bocco Mountain Recreation Area — Public Land in Colorado
• Hardscrabble Special Recreation Management Area — Public Land
• Sylvan Lake State Park — State Park in Colorado
• White River National Forest — National Forest in Colorado