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The Peak to Peak Scenic Byway connects Denver and Estes Park. This 55-mile (88.5 kilometer) route features several attractions along the way.
Overview of the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway
The Peak to Peak Scenic Byway runs along a former narrow-gauge railway route that used to connect several small mining towns. It winds through the stunning scenery of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and a portion of Rocky Mountain National Park. Established in 1918, it’s the oldest scenic byway in Colorado.
Although there are lots of great stops along the road, I’ve only written about the ones we experienced.
Black Hawk, Colorado
We started the drive early in the morning in the mining town of Black Hawk, which looked nice but didn’t seem to have much more than casinos. It was founded in 1859 and incorporated on June 12, 1886. Several historic buildings in town were restored after the arrival of casinos in 1991.
Nederland, Colorado
The road continues north through Rollinsville and on to Nederland, where we made our first stop. We spent about an hour in the town, and it seems like a fun and quirky place. The town originated in the 1850s as a trading post between Ute Indians and European settlers. It was originally called Dayton, then Brown’s Crossing, and in 1871 changed to Middle Boulder. It was incorporated as Nederland in 1874.
It was still too early for most of the shops to be open, but we were able to browse through a geode and fossil store, Nature’s Own, before wandering around the small downtown. There’s a visitor’s center with public restrooms right in the center of town. It sits across from a couple of cafés and the Nederland Town Hall.
We all enjoyed the covered bridge. It’s decorated with murals painted on the inside and flower boxes lining the outside.
Nederland also has a small mining museum but it was closed during our early morning visit. It’s typically open June through October and admission is free (as of March 2025).
Longs Peak Pullout
We continued on past Ward, Allenspark, and Meeker Park, driving through beautiful pine forests before stopping at a pullout to admire majestic Longs Peak and the surrounding scenery. Longs Peak is the highest mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park at 14,259 feet (4,346 meters).
Enos Mills Homestead
The pullout features a plaque commemorating the homestead of Enos A. Mills (1870–1922) on the site in 1885. Mills was a naturalist and author considered the “Father of Rocky Mountain National Park”. His cabin nearby is open to the public as a museum. The Enos Mills Cabin Museum is open by appointment only and costs $20 per adult (as of March 2023). Tours last about an hour.
Lily Lake
Lily Lake is further up the road. Located within Rocky Mountain National Park, it features a couple of good hiking trails around the lake.
Estes Park, Colorado
The drive ends in Estes Park, where we did a little sightseeing and geared up for camping in Rocky Mountain National Park.
