Best Front Range Scenic Drives

[DenverAztec]

Originally Posted by ab14asos

I was looking at a map trying to decide which scenic drives we might take while we are there. What does anyone know about driving Highway 285 past Conifer to Fairplay and then jumping down to Highway 24 and taking it East into Colorado Springs? If we take this route we are thinking about maybe stopping at Eleven Mile Canyon/Reservoir and Crystal Creek Reservoir near Woodlawn Park. Then will probably stop by the Garden of the Gods before heading back North to Denver. Does anyone know anything about this drive? Would it be worth checking out?

This is a great drive. I would add Manitou Springs to the drive and when you get the Garden of the Gods, the Air Force Academy is well worth a visit as well. There is no other chapel in the country like it. I will dig up some pictures.

[DenverAztec]

Garden of the Gods:









Air Force Academy (built in the late 60's to resemble jet fighters lined up and headed toward the sky):







Manitou Springs:

[ab14asos]

Thanks for all of the replies and suggestions that everyone has sent. We are really debating between two drives.

1: Highway 285 to Fairplay and then taking Highway 24 over through Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs, or

2: I-70 West, stopping in Frisco then driving out to Minturn and taking Highway 91 south to Buena Vista making a few stops on the way. Then after leaving Buena Vista, drive up to Fairplay and back to Denver on Highway 285.

Which of these drives would be a more beautiful drive with more scenic areas to take pictures. We know that the I-70 drive is longer. Does anyone know if the I-70 drive is mostly clear of snow during the last week of May? We see that you cross a couple high mountain passes on that drive. What interests us about it more than the highway 285 drive is that there are many more lakes to stop at and that we would pass by many Fourteeners throughout the drive.

Thanks again

[ajr1995]

I'll second the highway 93 drive from golden to boulder. It's an easy one and the back drop to the west is awesome. When you are in boulder you can drive up flagstaff road to gross reservoir or you can take boulder canyon drive to Nederland and those small towns. Gross is nice but it can get pretty cold around this time of year.

[Good Red Road]

Originally Posted by ajr1995

I'll second the highway 93 drive from golden to boulder. It's an easy one and the back drop to the west is awesome. When you are in boulder you can drive up flagstaff road to gross reservoir or you can take boulder canyon drive to Nederland and those small towns. Gross is nice but it can get pretty cold around this time of year.

I'm fairly sure the OP has finished their trip by now.

[ajr1995]

Originally Posted by Good Red Road

I'm fairly sure the OP has finished their trip by now.

ha didn't even notice the date. I wonder why it showed up then?