Top of the Rockies

Colorado

National Scenic Byway

Map

Byway Details

Designation
National Scenic Byway
Length
114 mi in Colorado

About Top of the Rockies

Top of the Rockies is a 114.2-mile scenic drive in Colorado that carries both National Scenic Byway and Colorado State Scenic Byway designations. The route links a string of mountain towns: Aspen, Twin Lakes, Leadville, Leadville North, Red Cliff and Minturn, so it works as a way to travel between them or as a full day of driving with stops along the way. Summer is the most comfortable time to make the drive. Typical July averages from a nearby weather station near Aspen, at about 8,175 feet, run around 76°F for the high and 48°F for the low. Temperatures on the higher stretches of the byway run cooler. Plenty of recreation sits right off the road. Lost Man Campground and Twin Peaks Campground offer places to camp, Grouse Lake is there for fishing, and hikers can head out on the Hay Meadow trail, all within easy reach of the route.

Scenic byway data: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration

Facts about this place

When to go

Best time to go: May–Sep. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 60–76°F and lows of 35–48°F.

Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Aspen 1sw, CO weather station, 1.3 mi away. High / low in °F.

  1. Jan32° high10° low
  2. Feb35° high13° low
  3. Mar43° high20° low
  4. Apr50° high27° low
  5. May60° high35° low
  6. Jun71° high42° low
  7. Jul76° high48° low
  8. Aug73° high47° low
  9. Sep67° high40° low
  10. Oct55° high30° low
  11. Nov42° high19° low
  12. Dec32° high10° low

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020

Where it is

Towns along the route
Aspen · Twin Lakes · Leadville · Leadville North · Red Cliff · Minturn

Source: USGS GNIS populated places

Nearby

Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 2 miles of the route, PostGIS distance)