Schomp Honda’s Top Five Drives for Viewing Colorado’s Fall Foliage

With fall in full swing, there’s no better time to ride along Colorado’s scenic mountain byways. Fall colors, crisp air and tasty seasonal harvests flood our state with hints of frostier times ahead. While you still can, get your Honda up into the hills and experience these five perfect drives for viewing Colorado’s fall foliage.

Photo credit: www.estes-park.com

Denver Metro: Peak-To-Peak Scenic and Historic Byway
Conveniently located between Boulder and the Central City/Blackhawk area, Colorado’s oldest byway is a perfect, close-to-home place for viewing Colorado’s fall foliage. Travel through Rocky Mountain National Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and more, with plenty of places to stop and take photos.

Drive Length: 55 miles; appx. 2 hours

Perfect Car: 2016 Honda Fit. The Fit’s athletic handling and excellent panoramic visibility lend well to a close-to-home drive on curvy roads. Its capacious cargo area and rear seat allow you to bring friends and gear along, too!

Photo credit: Charlie Borland

If you’re feeling more adventurous, head to southwestern Colorado and take this 236-mile loop for some of the most beautiful sights in our state, fall foliage aside. Amidst the route is a 70-mile stretch known as the “Million Dollar Highway,” alongside the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Drive Length: 236 miles; appx. 7 hours

Perfect Car: 2016 Honda CR-V. Excellent fuel mileage, cargo space and rear-seat room lend themselves perfectly to the ultimate road trip SUV. Pile everyone in and enjoy the view as real-time AWD manages traction needs as they arise.

Photo credit: www.colorado.com

Rocky Mountains: Trail Ridge Road

Known as the highest continuous paved road in North America, Trail Ridge Road (while it’s open!) is part of Rocky Mountain National Park – leading from Estes Park to Grand Lake. Much of the road is above 11,000 feet in elevation, so be sure to bring plenty of water and stay prepared for rapid weather changes and road closures.

Drive Length: 48 miles; appx. 2-3 hours

Perfect Car: 2016 Honda Pilot. The new Pilot’s i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system adapts seamlessly to mud, sand and snow, offering the ultimate in traction and confidence across all conditions. Bring the whole family along with the Pilot’s eight-seat capacity, optional heated rear seats and BluRay player, too!

Photo credit: www.stanroseimages.com

Southern: La Veta Pass

Heading south in our state brings you to La Veta Pass – one of the most amazingly picturesque ways to capture fall foliage in Colorado. Plenty of aspens and pines line the pass as you travel alongside Spanish Peaks and the Sangre de Cristo range. Break off and head further south to Taos, Santa Fe or Albuquerque and catch the end of Hatch Chile season, or beginning of the Pinon harvest.

Drive Length: Varies; allow 3-4 hours

Perfect Car: 2017 Honda Ridgeline. With its i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system, dual-action tailgate, optional in-bed audio system and roomy cabin, the new Ridgeline is a perfect companion for extended trips. Plus, its in-bed trunk can hold all the Pinon and chiles you can dream of fitting!

Photo credit: www.st-owners.com

Western: Grand Mesa and Wine Country

Drivers heading past Glenwood Springs on I-70 notice the gradient of mountain colors changing from browns and grays to oranges and reds. The same holds true for fall foliage, as Colorado’s wine country, including Grand Junction and Palisade, brings with it shimmering aspen trees, vibrant scrub oaks and more; especially along the Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway.

Drive Length: Varies; allow 3-4 hours, or make it a weekend!

Perfect Car: 2016 Honda Accord. Its capacious rear-seat legroom and cargo area mean you and your friends can easily bring a weekend’s worth of gear along. Plus, its optional Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto integration keep your eyes on the road (and the leaves), while an optional V-6 engine ensures plenty of mountain power.

Visit schompHonda.com for a full selection of leaf- and winter-exploring cars today!