Peak to Peak Scenic and Historic Byway
Local Visitor Information
Discover more ways to experience this byway — photos and local partners.
Explore Resources
Find maps, guides, weather, and seasonal information for this byway.
Byway Overview
This route brings travelers up close and parallel with the Continental Divide for a tour of ghost towns and Victorian-era opulence, showcasing the Front Range. Less than an hour from Denver, Boulder, or Fort Collins, drivers can visit popular attractions along the way. Combine recreation with nature preservation and visit Rocky Mountain National Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, or Eldora Ski Resort. Visitors can also travel the gravel roads criss-crossing the main highway to high-country lakes, trailheads, campgrounds, the Moffat Tunnel's east portal, and ghost towns at Hesse and Apex.
Quick Facts
- Designation
- State Byway, Forest Service Byway (1989)
- Location
- CO
- Total Length
- 55 miles
Visitor Information & Byway Partners
Contact Details
For personalized travel assistance and local recommendations, please reach out to our regional visitor center.
Local Byway Partners
The Peak to Peak Highway begins as state highway 7 in Estes Park, passes the tiny town of Allenspark on state highway 72, then heads to Nederland. From Nederland, it goes south onto state highway 119 through Blackhawk, into Clear Creek Canyon, and ends at Interstate 70.
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Lily Mountain Trail
Check out scenic Lily Mountain Trail, just south of Estes Park. The trail is 3.8 miles round trip, and hiking is moderately challenging. The trail offers stunning views of the surrounding peaks, and isn’t as crowded as more well-known trails.
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Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles (265,807 acres) has a spectacular range of mountain environments -- meadows, pristine alpine lakes, and towering mountain peaks. Explore over 300 miles of hiking trails and incredible wildlife viewing.
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Indian Peaks Wilderness Area
Well-known wilderness area for camping and hiking, with scenic lakes & 7 peaks over 13,000 ft. high. Getting tickets in advance is recommended.
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Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Golden Gate Canyon State Park offers over 35 miles of trails, providing access to high mountain meadows, rocky peaks, verdant streamside corridors, and dense forest. Overnight accommodations range from tent and RV sites, to rustic backcountry sites with no amenities. Panorama Point Scenic Overlook offers amazing views of over 100 miles of Colorado’s Continental Divide throughout the year.
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Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
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 of protected parkland across five districts and are home to amazing outdoor adventures
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Eldorado Canyon State Park
Eldorado Canyon is a hidden treasure a short distance from Boulder. Opportunities abound for hiking amidst towering sandstone cliffs, picnicking along scenic South Boulder Creek, or climbing Eldorado's sheer walls!
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Gilpin History Museum/Historical Society
The Gilpin Historical Society endeavors to discover, procure, preserve and display whatever information may be related to the civil, social and economic history of the county of Gilpin.