1 day / 31 miles / 49 minutes
This is the highest paved road in North America, climbing more than 7,000 feet in just 28 miles and finally reaching an altitude of 14,270 feet. The Front Range sprawls below along with 100 miles of Rocky Mountain peaks.
Day 1
9:00 - 6.3 miles / 10 minutes - 9:10
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland
Located in north central Colorado and one of the most-visited National Forests in the country, the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland encompass 1.5 million acres across five districts.
9:15 - 0.6 miles / 1 minute - 9:16
9:21 - 0.3 miles / 1 minute - 9:21
9:26 - 0.5 miles / 1 minute - 9:27
The Chicago Forks Picnic Area is located in the Arapaho National Forest south of Idaho Springs and Georgetown. The picnic area is open year-round however accumulated snow during the winter and early spring may limit parking and hinder access.
9:32 - 1.8 miles / 2 minutes - 9:35
9:40 - 0.1 miles / 1 minute - 9:40
The Ponder Point Picnic Site is located along Highway 103 in a spruce and fir forest setting. There are five sites with picnic tables and fire grates.
9:45 - 0.6 miles / 1 minute - 9:46
9:51 - 2.2 miles / 3 minutes - 9:55
Echo Lake sits at about 10,600 feet in a valley below Goliath Peak and is known for its scenic setting and fishing opportunities. On its eastern shore is the historic Municipal Lodge, a 1927 log building now used as a restaurant and gift shop, along with nearby stone structures built in 1924. The surrounding parkland features spruce-fir forest and wetlands that provide strong wildlife viewing and natural habitat.
10:00 - 1.8 miles / 2 minutes - 10:02
10:07 - 0.3 miles / 1 minute - 10:08
This target range sits at 11,000 feet in elevation, providing a unique and beautiful shooting experience. Devils Nose has three shooting galleries with benches for 25, 50-75 and 100-yard shooting opportunities for a total of 24 lanes with shade cover. The unstaffed facility has 20 parking spots, an informational kiosk and a vault toilet. Be sure to pack in and pack out your trash and spent casings. Please follow all signage at the site related to rules and regulations. You may encounter short-term closures a couple times a week while the site is being cleaned and maintained.
10:13 - 0.3 miles / 1 minute - 10:13
Juniper Pass Picnic Site is located along Highway 103 in a spruce and fir forest setting. There are four sites with picnic tables and fire grates.
10:18 - 0.5 miles / 1 minute - 10:19
10:24 - 1.5 miles / 2 minutes - 10:27
This picnic site is located along Highway 103 in a spruce and fir forest setting with scenic views. There is parking and 11 sites with tables and fire grates.
10:32 - 1.6 miles / 2 minutes - 10:34
Begin at the Chief Mountain Trailhead. The trail passes through a spruce and fir forest and quickly reaches treeline. The last stretch of the trail offers an overlook of the Bear Creek Basin, including Mount Goliath, Rogers Peak and Roslin Peak. The trail is 1.4 miles one way.
10:39 - 0.5 miles / 1 minute - 10:40
Echo Mountain has evolved through several chapters of Colorado skiing history, beginning as a public ski area in the 1960s before serving as a terrain park and later a private ski training center. Today, it operates as the closest and one of the most affordable ski areas to the Denver metropolitan area, offering convenient access to winter recreation.
10:45 - 1.3 miles / 2 minutes - 10:47
Arapaho Springs was developed in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps as a springhouse and picnic area along the original road between Bergen Park and Echo Lake. Fresh spring water supplied both travelers and the radiators of early automobiles climbing into the mountains. After the road was relocated, the site gradually fell out of regular use, but it remains a reminder of Colorado's early mountain travel history. The relics are accessed by a high clearance vehicle or an easy hike.
10:52 - 1.9 miles / 3 minutes - 10:55
The high point of the Colorado State Highway 103 renamed in the 2023 from Squaw Pass Road to Mestaa’ėhehe Road to honor Mestaa’Ėhehe, a Native woman who lived between 1810 and 1847 and was widely respected for her role as an interpreter and mediator between Indigenous peoples and early settlers.
11:00 - 0.0 miles / 1 minute - 11:00
Little Bear Creek Road (FS 151) is a 6.2-mile scenic dirt road that provides a practical and picturesque alternative to paved routes between the CO-103 corridor and Idaho Springs. Well maintained and generally accessible to most vehicles, it winds through mountain terrain with wide views and only minor rough sections near a few hairpin turns. The road serves as a connector between Soda Creek Road and the junction of CO-103 and CO-422, typically taking about 30 minutes to drive.
11:05 - 2.0 miles / 3 minutes - 11:09
11:14 - 5.9 miles / 9 minutes - 11:23
11:28 - 0.7 miles / 1 minute - 11:29