Scenic road trips and drives offer adventurous travelers the opportunity to explore breathtaking landscapes, remote wilderness, and iconic natural wonders across the United States. From the rugged Dalton Highway in Alaska to the dramatic switchbacks of Black Bear Pass in Colorado, these essential drives promise unforgettable adventures for those willing to tackle the challenges. Whether you’re navigating steep grades, hairpin turns, or unpredictable weather, the payoff of witnessing stunning vistas, unique geological formations, and diverse wildlife makes these scenic routes a must for every intrepid explorer. Proper preparation, a capable vehicle, and a spirit of adventure are key to safely enjoying these remarkable driving experiences.
Key Takeaways
- Scenic road trips and drives offer the chance to explore remote wilderness and iconic natural wonders.
- Adventurous travelers can experience breathtaking landscapes, unique geological formations, and diverse wildlife.
- Proper preparation, a capable vehicle, and a spirit of adventure are essential for safely navigating these scenic routes.
- These essential drives promise unforgettable adventures for those willing to tackle the challenges.
- From Alaska to Colorado, these scenic drives are a must for every intrepid explorer.
Introduction
The allure of scenic road trips lies in the opportunity to immerse oneself in breathtaking natural landscapes, far from the crowds and noise of everyday life. These drives offer adventurous travelers the chance to explore remote wilderness, access hidden trails and campsites, and witness natural wonders that can only be reached by vehicle. For many, the thrill of navigating challenging terrain, encountering diverse wildlife, and discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations is a major draw of these scenic driving experiences.
The Allure of Scenic Road Trips
The allure of scenic road trips lies in the opportunity to immerse oneself in breathtaking natural landscapes, far from the crowds and noise of everyday life. These drives offer adventurous travelers the chance to explore remote wilderness, access hidden trails and campsites, and witness natural wonders that can only be reached by vehicle. For many, the thrill of navigating challenging terrain, encountering diverse wildlife, and discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations is a major draw of these scenic driving experiences.
Personal Anecdote: Learning the Hard Way
The author shares a personal experience of navigating the scenic roads of Colorado in a subcompact Honda Fit, a vehicle ill-equipped for the demanding terrain. Pushing the limits of the small car on dirt tracks and narrow mountain passes, the author ultimately realized the importance of having the proper vehicle, gear, and skills to safely undertake these types of scenic road trips. The harrowing experience of nearly grazing a guardrail on Loveland Pass during a blizzard served as a wake-up call, leading the author to trade in the Fit for an SUV with all-wheel drive and higher clearance.
Importance of Proper Preparation
Undertaking scenic road trips and drives in remote and challenging environments requires thorough preparation to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Proper vehicle selection, with features like all-wheel drive, high clearance, and snow tires, is crucial. Drivers should also equip themselves with essential gear such as spare tires, tools, first-aid kits, and emergency supplies. Additionally, developing the necessary driving skills to navigate steep grades, hairpin turns, and unpredictable weather conditions is vital. Failure to properly prepare can lead to life-threatening situations, as the author’s personal experience has demonstrated.
Dalton Highway, Alaska
The Dalton Highway in Alaska is a 414-mile route that crosses the Arctic Circle, taking travelers further north than any other major roadway in the United States. The highway winds through birch woodlands, spruce forests, and the rugged Brooks Mountain Range, climbing over 3,000 feet to the summit of Atigun Pass. Originally constructed to support the trans-Alaska oil pipeline in the 1970s, the Dalton Highway is known for its remote and challenging nature.
Overview and Location
Along the Dalton Highway, travelers are rewarded with the opportunity to witness remarkable natural wonders, including the Yukon River, the Arctic Circle, and the Brooks Mountain Range. The highway’s high point at Atigun Pass marks the Continental Divide, where rivers flowing north empty into the Arctic Ocean, and those flowing south drain into the Bering Sea. The route also offers the chance to spot a variety of Arctic wildlife, such as muskox, caribou, bears, wolves, and moose.
Highlights and Attractions
The Dalton Highway’s remote and unforgiving nature is also its main attraction, offering adventurous travelers a true wilderness experience. The highway’s high point at Atigun Pass provides stunning views of the Brooks Mountain Range, while the opportunity to spot Arctic wildlife, including muskox, caribou, bears, wolves, and moose, adds to the allure of this remote Alaskan road.
Safety Tips and Precautions
The Dalton Highway is renowned for its extreme weather conditions and lack of emergency services, making it a challenging route for even the most experienced drivers. Jeff Russell, the Dalton district superintendent for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, warns that winter storms have the potential to bury vehicles and close the road for days. He advises against traveling during the colder months and cautions drivers to be wary of caribou herds that can cross the road without warning. The bottom line is that travelers must understand the Dalton Highway’s remote and unforgiving nature and be fully prepared with the proper equipment and skills to navigate its hazards.
Black Bear Pass Road, Colorado
Colorado’s Black Bear Pass Road, located in the San Juan Mountains, is infamous for its extreme terrain and the challenges it presents to even the most experienced off-road drivers. The 11.1-mile route starts at Red Mountain Pass and climbs 1,822 feet to its high point on Black Bear Pass, where most drivers turn around. Those who choose to continue face even more daunting obstacles, including a series of steep, technical rock ledges known as the “Steps,” which have led to numerous vehicle rollovers and emergency rescues. Sheriff Bill Masters has described unprepared drivers who attempt this route as “complete ass clowns,” underscoring the inherent dangers of this treacherous mountain road.
Extreme Terrain and Challenges
Despite its fearsome reputation, the Black Bear Pass Road rewards those who are up to the challenge with breathtaking scenic vistas. From the high point on the pass, drivers are treated to awe-inspiring views of the box canyon below, with the town of Telluride nestled hundreds of vertical feet below. As the road descends, it offers close-up views of the powerful Bridal Veil Falls, a 400-foot waterfall that cascades over a cliff overlooking the Telluride valley. The stunning natural beauty that surrounds this technical driving route is a major draw for adventurous travelers.
Stunning Vistas and Waterfalls
Beartooth Highway, Montana and Wyoming
The Beartooth Highway, which connects the towns of Red Lodge, Montana, and Cooke City, Wyoming, traverses the rugged Absaroka and Beartooth mountain ranges, offering drivers stunning alpine landscapes. The completely paved road ascends 4,000 feet over 10 miles to reach the 10,947-foot Beartooth Pass, the highest highway in the Northern Rockies. Along the way, travelers are treated to panoramic views of lodgepole pine forests, alpine lakes and meadows, showcasing the breathtaking beauty of this region.
Weather Hazards and Wildlife Encounters
Despite its picturesque setting, the Beartooth Highway is known for its unpredictable and treacherous weather conditions. Sudden snowstorms, fog banks, high winds, and severe lightning can quickly turn a pleasant drive into a life-threatening situation, even during the summer months when the road is typically open. In addition to the volatile weather, drivers must also be cautious of the abundant wildlife, including grizzly bears, bison, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep, that can be found along the route.
Hidden Gems and Pit Stops
While the Beartooth Highway is renowned for its dramatic vistas, the route also offers some lesser-known but equally captivating sights. One such gem is the quick 200-yard hike to Lake Creek Falls, an unmarked waterfall tucked away just 1.5 miles east from the junction of the Beartooth and Chief Joseph Scenic Byways. Additionally, the highway features numerous scenic viewpoints and pullouts that allow travelers to stretch their legs and take in the breathtaking alpine landscapes.
Scenic Road Trips and Drives
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile scenic drive that winds between Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks, offering travelers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the beauty of the Appalachian mountain views. Designed for leisurely sightseeing, the parkway features a 45 mph speed limit and numerous overlooks and picnic areas strategically placed to showcase the region’s stunning forest and mountain vistas. Key highlights along the route include the Waterrock Knob overlook, which provides long-range Appalachian views, and the historic Mabry Mill, a glimpse into early 20th-century working life.
Park Loop Road, Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park’s Park Loop Road is a 27-mile scenic drive that packs a punch, linking the park’s most iconic sights and landscapes. Envisioned by park benefactor John D. Rockefeller Jr. and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., the road offers stunning views of creeks, forests, mountains, sea cliffs, and even a rare sandy beach. One of the route’s highlights is the drive to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the park’s highest point at 1,530 feet, which offers panoramic vistas (vehicle reservation required May to October). Visitors can also enjoy a stop at the venerable Jordan Pond House for traditional popovers and tea.
Newfound Gap Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a 31-mile drive that showcases the park’s incredible biodiversity, cutting through four distinct forest ecosystems. As the road winds through the Appalachians, it offers impressive views of seemingly endless ridgelines, best enjoyed from overlooks like Campbell Overlook and the Chimney Tops Overlook. Travelers can also take a side trip to Clingmans Dome, the park’s highest point at 6,643 feet, for panoramic vistas of the surrounding mountains.
Badlands Loop Road, South Dakota
In Badlands National Park, the Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) is the primary way for visitors to experience the park’s unique geological wonders. This 22-mile route links the park’s hiking trails and overlooks, each revealing a different aspect of the rugged, exposed sedimentary landscape. Carved by rainfall and runoff, the Badlands are a visual feast of fantastical pinnacles, canyons, and buttes, showcasing the power of erosion to create these awe-inspiring landforms.
Rugged Geological Wonders
The Badlands Loop Road not only offers stunning geological sights but also provides insight into the region’s human history. One notable stop is the Ancient Hunters Overlook, which interprets the Lakota people’s practice of stampeding bison off the cliffs, a testament to their ingenuity and connection to the land. Throughout the drive, travelers can gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural and historical significance of this unique landscape.
Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Big Bend National Park
The Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive in Big Bend National Park offers a quintessential experience of the park’s remote and rugged character. This 30-mile route in the western heart of the park distills the essence of Big Bend, providing a tangible sense of what early travelers and pioneers must have encountered in this vast and isolated desert landscape. As the drive winds through the wild Chisos Mountains, visitors can soak in the feeling of remoteness and immerse themselves in the park’s stunning natural beauty.
Remote Wilderness Experience
The Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive takes visitors through the remote and rugged terrain of Big Bend National Park, offering a glimpse into the park’s desert landscapes and the sense of isolation that early explorers must have experienced. As the road winds through the Chisos Mountains, travelers can fully immerse themselves in the park’s stunning natural beauty, with opportunities to spot diverse wildlife and take in the breathtaking vistas.
Santa Elena Canyon Highlight
The pinnacle of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is the breathtaking Santa Elena Canyon, where 1,500-foot cliffs tower above the Rio Grande. This iconic viewpoint is the culmination of the drive, showcasing the park’s dramatic geological features and underscoring the sense of remote wilderness that pervades Big Bend National Park. After admiring the canyon’s grandeur, travelers can return the same way, experiencing the drive as an entirely new journey through the park’s diverse landscapes.
Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park
Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is an engineering marvel, representing the country’s highest continuous paved road at an impressive 12,183 feet in elevation. Despite its lofty height, the road is a pleasure to drive, with broad, sweeping curves and gradients never exceeding 7%. As travelers ascend from ponderosa pine forests to the treeless alpine tundra, they are rewarded with stunning panoramic views of the Rockies, showcasing the park’s scenic grandeur.
Engineering Marvel and Scenic Grandeur
Trail Ridge Road is a testament to the incredible engineering feats that have made it possible to access the high-altitude landscapes of Rocky Mountain National Park. The road’s gentle gradients and sweeping curves allow drivers to comfortably navigate the challenging terrain, providing an unparalleled driving experience. As travelers climb through the diverse ecosystems, they are treated to breathtaking vistas of the Rockies, with the treeless alpine tundra serving as a dramatic backdrop to the park’s scenic grandeur.
Alpine Tundra and Wildlife
In addition to its engineering prowess, Trail Ridge Road provides a unique opportunity to experience Rocky Mountain National Park’s high-elevation ecosystems. As the road climbs, it transitions from ponderosa pine forests to subalpine spruce-fir forests and finally to the treeless alpine tundra. Along the way, travelers may spot elk, moose, and other wildlife that thrive in these harsh, wind-swept environments. The drive also offers a chance to observe rare alpine wildflowers and the stunted, wind-worn trees that mark the edge of the tree line, offering a glimpse into the park’s high-elevation ecosystems.
Scenic Byway 12, Utah
Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 links the iconic Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks, slicing through the heart of the state’s stunning red-rock country. While Byway 12 itself is a 123-mile route, the drive offers the opportunity to explore the dramatic precipices of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in Bryce Canyon, where the park’s famous hoodoos and erosion-carved amphitheaters are on full display. The route also provides access to the unique geological wonders of Capitol Reef National Park, allowing travelers to witness the region’s vibrant red-rock landscapes.
Red Rock Country Landscapes
The Scenic Byway 12 in Utah’s red-rock country showcases some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the American West. As the road winds through this dramatic terrain, travelers are treated to panoramic vistas of towering cliffs, sweeping canyons, and intricately carved hoodoos, all bathed in the region’s signature vibrant red and orange hues. The sheer geological diversity on display along this scenic byway is a testament to the power of erosion to sculpt the earth’s surface into fantastical, otherworldly formations.
Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks
In addition to the breathtaking scenery of the Byway 12 route, the drive also offers the chance to visit two of Utah’s premier national parks. In Bryce Canyon National Park, travelers can marvel at the park’s iconic hoodoos and erosional features from viewpoints like Sunset Point, which offers a stunning vista of the Thor’s Hammer formation. Further along the route, Capitol Reef National Park provides a glimpse into the region’s geological history, with its dramatic cliffs, canyons, and unique sandstone formations.
Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park
Completed in 1933, Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park is a masterpiece of engineering that reveals the park’s dramatic mountain scenery. As the road winds its way from Lake McDonald up and over the Rockies at Logan Pass, travelers are treated to a succession of breathtaking vistas, including rivers, waterfalls, and forests. The road’s most iconic feature is the sharp 180-degree switchback known as the Loop, which offers a thrilling view of the sheer cliffs of the Garden Wall.
Dramatic Mountain Scenery
Along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, visitors are immersed in Glacier National Park’s stunning mountain landscapes. Towering peaks, glistening glaciers, and cascading waterfalls create a visual symphony that captivates the senses. The road’s strategic vantage points offer panoramic views of the park’s diverse ecosystems, from alpine meadows to dense forests, showcasing the remarkable natural beauty of this iconic destination.
Engineering Feats and Switchbacks
The construction of Going-to-the-Sun Road was an impressive engineering feat, with crews navigating steep slopes, narrow passages, and treacherous conditions to create this scenic route. The road’s most challenging section is the Logan Pass, where the highway climbs nearly 3,500 feet in just 20 miles, featuring a series of dramatic switchbacks and tunnels that allowed the road to ascend the rugged terrain. These engineering marvels have become an integral part of the Going-to-the-Sun Road experience, offering thrill-seekers a chance to witness the road’s technical mastery firsthand.
