Colorado · United States
Trail Ridge Road
US 34Estes Park to Grand Lake
The highest continuous paved road in the US, over Rocky Mountain National Park.
US 34 climbs over the spine of Rocky Mountain National Park between Estes Park and Grand Lake, cresting above 12,000 ft on a long stretch held above the treeline among the tundra and the high peaks. Open only in the warmer months; mind the altitude, the abrupt weather, and the elk and stopping sightseers.
It climbs out of the pines onto open alpine tundra, ridgelines falling away on both sides. Snow shuts it half the year, which only sharpens the brief, luminous window.
Why we picked it
Scenery
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Where it runs47.2 mi · point to point
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Character
Higher than 9 in 10 roads in the catalogue.
Corners
busiest around mile 33Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%2,307.2 – 3,712.6 mFrom the road
Points of interest3 stops
- Many Parks CurveViewpoint12 mi in
- Rock CutViewpoint21 mi in
- Farview Curve OverlookViewpoint32 mi in
Hazards
- High altitude and thin air
- Sudden mountain storms
- Elk and stopping sightseers
- Closed by snow, roughly mid-October to late May
Is Trail Ridge Road open? Typical season and live summit weather ›
Sources
“Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
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