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Aspen's Best Day Driving Trips

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The drives around Aspen highlight some of the most beautiful areas in Colorado--heck, some of the most gorgeous scenery in North America--and you won't need a 4x4 to see them all. Trademark Aspen trees turn to gold in the autumn and the air is filled with the sweet scent of fallen leaves in the crisp mountain air. Amazing vistas and plenty of places to stop make these drives incredible destinations any time of year (though most passes are opened from mid-June-September due to snow closures).

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Author: James Dziezynski

Day 1 - Aspen, Carbondale

The drives around Aspen highlight some of the most beautiful areas in Colorado—heck, some of the most gorgeous scenery in North America—and you won’t need a 4x4 to see them all. Trademark Aspen trees turn to gold in the autumn and the air is filled with the sweet scent of fallen leaves in the crisp mountain air. Amazing vistas and plenty of places to stop make these drives incredible destinations any time of year (though most passes are opened from mid-June-September due to snow closures). Start your day with a great breakfast in Aspen. Jacob’s Corner is affordable and has good food and service. Depending on your goals for the day, you may want to pack lunch before you start or drive to the nearby town of Crested Butte and grab a bite there. Before you start your drive, note that there are three main options you can take when traveling the scenic passes into Aspen. Independence Pass is a paved road that is accessible by all cars and connects Aspen with Hwy. 24 near the town of Buena Vista to the east. Kebler Pass is a well-maintained dirt road that starts south of the town of Aspen and connects to Crested Butte. While a little bumpy at times, Kebler Pass is passable by passenger cars in normal conditions. Finally, Schofield Pass is moderate 4x4 road that direct links Aspen and Crested Butte. From the Crested Butte side, passenger cars can drive to the top of the pass but that’s as far as they can go—you’ll need a high clearance 4x4 vehicle to drive the pass from the top to Aspen (I’ve seen Honda CRVs and Subaru Outbacks make it up the road in the past). If you are beginning your day outside of Aspen, take Independence Pass from the east for breath taking views of Colorado’s highest mountains. This paved road has some exposure but there are pull offs to take a break and snap some photos. On the western (Aspen) side of the pass you can make a visit to the Independence Ghost Town for a look at Colorado’s mining history. Once in Aspen, head south out of town on CR 133 to the well-marked Kebler Pass (also known as GCR 12) near the small town of Somerset. Kebler Pass is roughly 31 miles and reaches an elevation of over 10,000 ft. and is well-maintained dirt passable by cars (and not a lot of exposure). As Kebler Pass winds towards its summit, the views of mountains and aspen trees are unbelievable—arguably the most scenic area in all of Colorado. There are dozens of pull-outs to stop and take pictures or breathe the mountain air. As you descend the pass, you’ll wind down directly into the heart of Crested Butte. Crested Butte is a fun mountain town with lots of good restaurants. Brick Oven Pizza has great pizza while the Avalanche Bar and Grill is a cool place to sit and take a break from the long drive. The Wooden Nickel is advised if you’re craving a big juicy steak. There is a nice public park in Crested Butte to take in the local scenery. From Crested Butte, drive up to the resort town of Mt. Crested Butte and continue up to Schofield Pass for more amazing scenery. Schofield Pass is a maintained dirt road and passenger cars can make it to the top with some bumps here and there. Along the way, you’ll pass the eerie town of Gothic, a research based facility out of a b-grade horror movie. Once you’ve passed that, prepare for more amazing mountain views. At the top of the pass, passenger cars will have to turn around and return via Kebler Pass (or you can take a 2-3 hour detour by driving from Crested Butte to Gunnison, over to Buena Vista then back over Independence Pass, a nice but long drive). 4x4s can continue down the road to Aspen via Schofield Pass. The road is generally not too rocky but tends to be washed out in places with the occasional river crossing. Once you’re back in Aspen, finish off the day and share your pictures at a good restaurant. Cooper St Pier and Boogie’s Diner are lively places with robust food while Hickory House and Bentley’s are good options for hearty meals in a quieter atmosphere.

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