6 scenic drives near Denver to take this fall

DENVER ( KDVR ) – Colorado is full of breathtaking natural scenery, and one of the best times to take it in is during the fall season.

Some of these sights can only be enjoyed after a long hike, but there are more than enough scenes to take in from the comfort of a vehicle.

FOX31 compiled a list of six scenic drives to take this fall that you can get to from Denver in under an hour and a half.

Scenic fall drives near Denver

The distance is calculated based on how long it would take to get to or from the drive from downtown Denver.

With the fall leaves expected to peak at different times in different areas, each scenic drive also includes an estimated peak viewing time, based on the most recent estimate by the Pinpoint Weather team .

Lariat Loop

• Length : 40 miles
• Time to drive : Around 2 hours
• Distance from Denver : 30 minutes or less
• Peak fall viewing : Mid-to-late September

As its name suggests, Lariat Loop is a loop that connects the towns of Golden, Morrison and Evergreen . Because of this, there is easy access to many activities beyond leaf-peeping, with spots like Red Rocks and Dinosaur Ridge located just off the road.

Guanella Pass

• Length : 22 miles
• Time to drive : Around 1 hour
• Distance from Denver : 1 hour or less
• Peak fall viewing : Mid-to-late September

Guanella Pass connects the mountain towns of Georgetown and Grant. The road closes for the winter season at the end of November.

Peak to Peak

• Length : 55 miles
• Time to drive : 80 minutes
• Distance from Denver : 1 hour or less
• Peak fall viewing : Mid-to-late September

The Peak to Peak scenic byway runs parallel to the northern Denver metro area and Boulder and connects several mountain towns.

The closest end to Denver is in Black Hawk, and the route goes north from there until it reaches Estes Park.

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Trail Ridge Road

• Length : 48 miles
• Time to drive : Around 2 hours
• Distance from Denver : 90 minutes or less
• Peak fall viewing : Mid-to-late September

Trail Ridge Road is located in Rocky Mountain National Park and directly connects the two sides of the park.

You will need a timed entry permit reservation until Oct. 14 to access most of the park, including Trail Ridge Road. Most of Trail Ridge Road closes for the winter season around mid-October, depending on conditions. For example, in 2023, it closed on Oct. 18.

Cache la Poudre – North Park

• Length : 101 miles
• Time to drive : Around 3 hours
• Distance from Denver : 90 minutes or less
• Peak fall viewing : Mid-to-late September

This scenic drive starts in Fort Collins and goes west through the Cache la Poudre River canyon . The whole byway is over 100 miles from start to finish – not including the trip back – so it could be perfect for someone looking for a long drive.

Boreas Pass

• Length : 21.5 miles
• Time to drive : Around an hour
• Distance from Denver : 90 minutes or less
• Peak fall viewing : Late September to early October

Boreas Pass, which connects the town of Como on U.S. Highway 285 and the famous ski town of Breckenridge, is known for its beautiful fall scenery. However, that comes at a cost: The road is not paved and may be difficult to drive.

The pass also closes for the winter.

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