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Colorado River Headwaters Byway, Grand Lake, CO

Photo: Missvain, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sightseeing

Colorado River Headwaters Byway

A roughly 80-mile scenic drive following the young Colorado River from Grand Lake toward State Bridge in northwest Colorado.

Grand Lake, CO

About Colorado River Headwaters Byway

This designated scenic byway traces the upper reaches of the Colorado River, where the waterway is still a narrow mountain stream winding through meadows and red rock canyons. The route runs about 80 miles and takes roughly two hours to drive. It starts in the old resort town of Grand Lake, near the state's largest natural lake, and finishes on a gravel road through Upper Gore Canyon. Along the way visitors find good fishing, canoeing, and rafting, plus quiet riverbanks for relaxing. The byway received National Scenic Byway status in 2005 and is one of 13 America's Byways in Colorado.

  • #scenic byway
  • #driving route
  • #river
  • #fishing
  • #canoeing

What's around here?

The closest stops to Colorado River Headwaters Byway, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

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  • Tours
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