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From Peaks to Canyons:
A Scenic Colorado Road Trip
Explore history, nature, scenic views and small towns in southwestern Colorado.
Colorado’s landscapes tell stories in every curve of the road—whispering through evergreen forests dotted with aspens, echoing in deep canyons and shimmering across mountain rivers. This road trip loops from Denver through the state’s wild southwest, where the scenery shifts dramatically—from wide valleys to jagged peaks, from lively towns to quiet stretches of wilderness. It’s a journey that blends history and nature, inviting travelers to slow down, look closer and experience this part of the state’s beauty in all its rugged, ever-changing forms.
Denver to Salida
Beautiful scenery along a Colorado road
ADOBE STOCK
Start your drive from Denver to Salida by traveling west on U.S. 285 toward Kenosha Pass. This route offers scenic views of the Front Range (the eastern side of the Southern Rocky Mountains) as you brake and accelerate through switchbacks curling up and around jagged summits. Between Bailey and Fairplay lies Lost Creek Wilderness, appreciated for its spectacular panoramas of granite domes, red rock arches, and unusual knobs and spires. Keep an eye out for deer, elk, bighorn sheep and maybe even a bear.
Aerial view of Salida’s Riverwalk along the Arkansas River
The town of Salida was settled along the Arkansas River. Originally known as South Arkansas, this quaint settlement began taking shape in 1880 when the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad connected the town to a growing network of trade and travel. Recognizing its unique position where the Arkansas flows out of the canyon, the town was aptly renamed Salida, meaning “exit” in Spanish. This new name captured its significance as both a gateway and a meeting point of opportunity and exploration.
Today, Salida provides a laid-back, mountain town experience with plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure, artistic exploration, and a chance to connect with a friendly and welcoming community.
Fun Fact:
Salida is a prime location for whitewater rafting. The Arkansas River flows right through town, and various rafting experiences are available—from gentle floats to more adventurous rapids. You can find trips suitable for families and beginners, as well as more challenging options for experienced rafters.
Salida to Cañon City
Aerial view of Cañon City
adobe stock
En route to Cañon City, be prepared for more sightseeing, notably of the Royal Gorge, a deep, narrow canyon carved by the Arkansas River. One of the most convenient places to stand in awe of this natural wonder is at The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. The Royal Gorge Bridge, America’s highest suspension bridge, was once open to vehicles (now allowed only during special events) but today serves as a pedestrian walkway. Crossing takes anywhere from five to 30 minutes, depending on your pace and stops. A National Historic Landmark, the bridge offers sweeping views of the steep gorge walls and the Arkansas River far below.
The Royal Gorge Bridge suspended over the Royal Gorge
Beyond the bridge, Royal Gorge Bridge and Park features gondola rides, thrill attractions like the Skycoaster and a high-speed zip line across the gorge, as well as hiking and biking trails that showcase the area’s natural beauty.
Royal Gorge Route Railroad travels beside the Arkansas River
ROYAL GORGE ROUTE RAILROAD
A top attraction in Cañon City is the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, where visitors can ride a train alongside the Arkansas River through the Royal Gorge. It’s the opposite view of what the bridge presents. Here, from beside the river, you can observe its ripples and splashes as it winds through the canyon, continuing to carve granite walls that already rise roughly 1,000 feet high. See the jaw-dropping scene from one of the train’s picture windows or from an open-air railcar. The railroad offers daily departures year-round.
Two visitors stop for a walk along Skyline Drive.
VISIT COLORADO
Another type of thrill in Cañon City is Skyline Drive. It's a unique, one-way, scenic drive that offers a memorable and "hair-raising" experience for those who aren't afraid of heights. The road offers spectacular panoramic views and the thrill driving of a narrow, high-altitude road with steep drop-offs and no guardrails. You can see dinosaur tracks by looking at the cliff faces to your left as you drive up the ridge. The tracks are visible in the Dakota Sandstone formations and are the result of footprints filled with mud that then fossilized, forming casts of the original prints. There is also an interpretive display near the top of the drive that will help you identify the fossilized tracks in the rock formations. Once you exit Skyline Drive, you can take U.S. 50 to Cañon City and other points of interest.
View of Downtown Historic District, Cañon City
Cañon City got its unique name in 1861 when a reporter mistakenly used the Spanish word "cañón," meaning "canyon." The accidental tilde turned this error into a distinctive feature, and the name Cañon City was officially embraced. It is one of the few U.S. cities to have the Spanish ñ in its name.
Cañon City to Cripple Creek
Phantom Canyon Road tunnel
For an interesting and scenic route from Cañon City to Cripple Creek, take the Gold Belt Scenic Byway, which includes Shelf Road and Phantom Canyon Road. This path offers a glimpse into the area's mining history and features dramatic landscapes with twists, turns and canyon walls. Phantom Canyon Road is narrow and winding with a 20 mph speed limit. Some of it is dirt and gravel, so a four-wheel-drive car tackles it best. If you can get past the primitive conditions of the “gold belt tour,” then the riches of Cripple Creek and the town’s rich history as a gold mining boomtown are yours to discover. The town retains its Old West charm and offers narrow-gauge railway rides on historic tracks, plus attractions including a nearby mine and casinos. Cripple Creek is also known for its annual Ice Castles event, which transforms the town into a winter wonderland with ice sculptures, ice slides and winter-themed beverages.
Cripple Creek is a historic mining town known for its gold rush history.
Adelaide Bridge (Bridge No. 10) on Phantom Canyon Road is the only remaining bridge from the original Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad that operated through the canyon from the 1890s to 1912. The bridge features a multispan trestle with a built-up steel deck girder and is a remnant of a bygone era when the canyon was a bustling hub for mining activity.
Cripple Creek to Denver
You can travel along Pikes Peak Highway to reach the summit of Pikes Peak.
Heading back to Denver, pass through the heart of Pike National Forest, which includes more than 1 million acres and encompasses a wide range of recreational opportunities and landscapes, including iconic Pikes Peak. A detour to Pikes Peak is worth doing, but its 162 turns aren’t for the faint of heart. Consider pausing in Deckers to fly fish, or stop in Manitou Springs to ride the Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the top of the famous mountain that inspired the song “America the Beautiful.” The roundtrip rail journey takes approximately three hours, including about 40 minutes at the summit.
After you are finished exploring the Pike National Forest by way of whatever activity suits you, continue your drive to Denver—the Mile High City and a hub of urban life that is vastly different from the mountain drive just concluded.
For more Denver information, check out the AAA Denver Guide.
Denver skyline at sunset
Ready to plan your Colorado road trip? Reserve your Hertz rental through AAA and save up to 20% off the base rate, 10% on prepaid fuel and more—for stackable savings.
Learn more at AAA.com/CarRental.
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