Enjoy a road among the clouds to Guanella Pass in Colorado
Usa, north-america
38.3 km
3,562 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: Guanella Pass, a ridiculously scenic byway nestled in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, clocking in at a sky-high 11,686 feet. You'll find it southwest of Clear Creek County, hanging out west of Denver.
This used to be an old burro trail, can you believe it? They named it after a local road supervisor, Byron Guanella. The road itself? Completely paved and smooth enough for any vehicle.
We're talking about a 23.8-mile beauty, connecting the charming historic town of Georgetown on I-70 to Grant on Highway 285, weaving through Arapaho and Pike National Forests. But hey, it's the mountains – altitude and crazy weather are always a possibility. The pass is usually closed from late October to late June between Naylor Lake and Burning Bear Campground, so check before you go!
The climb can be steep, reaching up to 11% gradient in places.
This drive is seriously Instagrammable, so plan at least an hour without stops, but honestly, you'll want more time to soak it all in. The road, aka County Road 381, lets you get up close and personal with Colorado's incredible nature.
Speaking of views – Mount Evans and Mount Bierstadt are definitely camera-worthy. Weekends and peak fall foliage season can get crowded, so weekdays are your best bet. The landscape changes dramatically as you climb, and the views are stunning year-round. Keep an eye out for wildlife! You might spot bighorn sheep or mountain goats. In the fall, the foliage is unreal.
Basically, Guanella Pass is a detour from Highway 285 that's like a Rocky Mountain greatest-hits album.
Where is it?
Enjoy a road among the clouds to Guanella Pass in Colorado is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 40.5087, -97.9461
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 38.3 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,562 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 40.5087, -97.9461
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