Trail Ridge Road Drive from Denver, Colorado
Trail Ridge Road is one of Colorado’s less traveled wonders in the Rocky Mountain National Park. It is the highest continuous highway in the United States. The views are stupendous and there are small towns to visit including an abandoned mining village. After you pick up your campervan hire or motorhome rental in Denver, the trail head is at the Kawuneeche Valley Visitor Centre some two hours northwest of the city.
Heading Out of Kawuneeche Valley Up Trail Ridge Road
The 77 kilometre / 48 mile route follows the north fork of the Colorado River along sweeping hills and glorious curves from Kawuneeche at 3,000 metres / 10,000 feet. It rises sharply to cross the Continental Divide at Milner Pass (3,250 metres / 10750 feet) before reaching 3,650 feet / 12,000 feet at the highest point, Lava Cliffs.
From there, you have a choice: follow the steep descent of Trail Ridge Road to Fall River, or return to Denver taking in romantic Lulu City on the Continental Divide. Here pioneers discovered gold and silver in the 1870’s, attracting hundreds of miners to this lovely spot. In its heyday, there were ten mines. Nowadays, the main attraction is a pleasant family hike among crumbling log cabins.
A Few Interesting Snippets about the Route We Followed
The Trail Ridge Road closes in winter through to spring, and even early summer depending on the ice pack. Nonetheless, it is a great improvement over the first wagon trail dug out in 1880, to reach Lulu City and other mining towns. This followed an ancient Arapahoe Indian trail so steep they called it ‘Taienbaa’ – Where the Children Walked. Because it was too steep to carry them between their western and eastern hunting grounds.
The mountains became the secret preserve of hunters and campers after the silver and gold gave out. Then in 1920, Denver City opened the Fall Road as part of a drive to attract tourists to nearby natural attractions. However, its occasional 16% gradients and tight curves proved unsuitable for early automobiles, and they completed the current route as far as Great Lake by 1938.
Much effort down the years produced what is arguably one of North America’s finest short leisure drives. A modern camper van or motorhome handles the Trail Ridge Road with ease. Moreover, you have your home with you everywhere you go, and can stop over in towns few folk may ever see.
We returned via Denver before continuing on our journey to Salt Lake City in Utah. Next time, we are going to Google a map to find out what lies beyond the Fall River exit at the east end of the Trail Ridge Road. Then who knows what we might find, out there on another great American highway.