United States, Colorado
Trail Ridge Road, Independence Pass and the Million Dollar Highway all start from here.
First instinct from Denver: head west into the Rockies.
Scored roads in range
6
Nearest great road
34 mi
Best rated nearby
9.3 / 10
Shortest full loop
2 hr 48 min
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Every road in the library carries a driving and scenery score set by the same method. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 20 April 2026
Under 60 km from the centre
Close enough for an evening run or a Sunday morning before the traffic wakes up.
Roughly 2 hr 48 min of driving if you string the lot together and come back the way you came.
60 to 150 km from the centre
Far enough to feel like a proper trip, close enough to be home for dinner.
Roughly 5 hr 48 min of driving if you string the lot together and come back the way you came.
62 mi away · Colorado
The highest continuous paved road in America, tundra above the treeline the whole way.
77 km · 47.8 mi · Atlas rating 9.3 / 10
61 mi away · Colorado
156 corners to 4302 metres on the hill climb road every driver knows by name.
31 km · 19.3 mi · Atlas rating 9.2 / 10
150 to 400 km from the centre
Leave early, take the long way back and make a day of it.
Roughly 17 hr 14 min of driving if you string the lot together and come back the way you came.
194 mi away · Colorado
A mining road cut into the San Juan cliffs with sheer drops and no barrier.
40 km · 24.9 mi · Atlas rating 9.5 / 10
94 mi away · Colorado
Narrow shelf tarmac to 3687 metres, tight, exposed and completely absorbing.
51 km · 31.7 mi · Atlas rating 9.3 / 10
193 mi away · Colorado
A full loop of the San Juans taking in Coal Bank, Molas and Lizard Head passes.
190 km · 118.1 mi · Atlas rating 9.3 / 10
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