3 mountain drives that leave your jaw on the floorboard
I-70 west in Colorado tunnels through the walls of Glenwood Canyon.
Let’s face it, being on the road can get a little, well, mundane. At least at times.
The snooze-fest scenery. The same-old, same-old fast food exits. The right-lane-closed-ahead slowdown.
Or, maybe your audio book is just dragging.
But, every now and then, the world on the other side of the windshield puts a spell on you.
Majestically tall evergreens that make you giddy. Rock formations from Mars. Clouds that paint the sky a masterpiece.
These are the moments you remember. Not the mundane. Not the gut-bomb burger. Not the lane closure.
In 3+ years of camper van trips, we’ve been spellbound by mother nature many a times.
We want you to experience the awe, too. So, we’re sharing three of our most memorable mountain drives, from shortest to longest.
1 Glenwood Canyon Scenic Drive
Rocky Mountains, Colorado
I-70 between Dotsero and Glenwood Springs
Distance: 19 miles
Most scenic stretch: 12.5 miles (starting about 7.5 miles east of Dotsero)
Start: Dotsero — elevation of 6,145 feet
End: Glenwood Springs — elevation of 5,761 feet
Just west of Dotsero, I-70 transforms from your typical freeway into one of the most incredible stretches of interstate in the entire U.S.
At some points, the walls of Glenwood Canyon tower more than 1,000 feet above the pavement. Making you feel like a little ant in a big, big world.
You’ll glimpse rock formations, semi-arid terrain (not dry enough to be a desert; not wet enough to be a forest) and the Colorado River along the way.
Leaving from Dotsero puts you on the higher side of the freeway for better views. On the other hand, leaving from Glenwood Springs puts you closer to one of America’s greatest rivers.
Canyon walls tower above I-70 in Colorado.
Highlights
Colorado River
4,000-foot-long Hanging Lake Tunnel
Amtrak’s California Zephyr train
White River National Forest
Hiking
Pull-offs
Four rest areas with bathrooms, picnic areas and hiking. No staying overnight.
Bair Ranch fits 21 standard vehicles and 5 large ones.
Hanging Lake (at the marker on the map above) fits 90 vehicles — no vehicles longer than 25 feet.
Grizzly Creek fits 46 standard vehicles and 12 large ones.
No Name fits 49 standard vehicles and 10 large ones.
Avoid
During adverse weather, including snow, ice and heavy rain.
In vehicles taller than 16 feet, 6 inches.
If the thought of driving through a mountain tunnel gives you the heebie-jeebies.
Extend your drive
Continue west to get to Grand Junction, Colorado. Beyond that is Utah, where I-70 ends.
2 Cullasaja Gorge
Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina
U.S. Highway 64 between Franklin and Highlands
Distance: 19.5 miles
Most scenic stretch: 7.5 miles on the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway (starting about 12 miles southeast of Franklin)
Start: Franklin, North Carolina — elevation of 2,047 feet
End: Highlands — elevation of 4,118 feet
This forested drive treats you to views of the Cullasaja River for much of the way as you ascend through the gorge.
Leaving from Franklin puts you on the outer side of the road, giving your passengers a better view of the stunning scenery. Driver, keep your eyes on the pavement.
There are plenty of blind curves on this narrow, shoulder-less road.
The Cullasaja River rushes alongside U.S. 64 in North Carolina.
Highlights
Cullasaja River
Cullasaja Falls (at the marker on the map above) and other waterfalls
Lake Sequoyah
Nantahala National Forest
Hiking
Pull-offs
Cullasaja Falls parking area fits 2-4 vehicles.
Dry Falls parking fits 25 vehicles.
Avoid
During adverse weather, including snow, ice and heavy rain.
In vehicles longer than 20ish feet.
If curvy roads make you sick or the thought of a rusty guardrail being all that separates you from the road and a sheer drop-off gives you the heebie-jeebies.
Extend your drive
Continue on U.S. Highway 64 past Highlands. There are 53.5 more miles of the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway to explore, including the Nantahala River Gorge.
3 Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
Wallowa Mountains, Oregon
Oregon State Road 82, National Forest Service Road 39 and Oregon State Road 86 between La Grande and Baker City
Distance: 218 miles
Most scenic stretch: 71.7 miles on National Forest Service Road 39, between Halfway and Joseph
Start: La Grande — elevation of 2,772 feet
End: Baker City — elevation of 3,451 feet
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway takes you from La Grande on I-84, deep into the Wallowa Mountains and then back to I-84 at Baker City.
It’s by far the longest drive on our list, and we’ve yet to complete the entire thing. In fact, we’ve only driven the 20 miles on Oregon State Road 82 between La Grande and Elgin.
We had planned to drive another 54 miles to Wallowa State Park (at the marker on the map above) in mid-May 2021, but it was snowing farther along the route.
Given that this was our very first camper van trip and very first night staying in the van, we weren’t quite ready for snowy mountain roads. In fact, we still aren’t. But, we’ll be back some day — in the summer.
We may skip the Forest Service Road section, however, due to our low ground clearance.
A road sign denotes Hells Canyon Oregon Scenic Byway.
Highlights
Grande Ronde, Wallowa and Snake rivers
Wallowa Lake Tramway
Hells Canyon
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Hiking
National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
Pull-offs
The communities of Elgin, Enterprise, Joseph and others
Multiple roadside viewpoints
Hells Canyon Overlook
Avoid
During adverse weather, including snow, ice, heavy rain and wildfires.
If steep, sometimes narrow and curvy roads aren’t your thing. National Forest Service Road 39 is paved, but it’s recommended only for passenger vehicles.
If being deep in the mountain wilderness gives you the heebie-jeebies.
Extend your drive
There are numerous side-trips you can take from Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. Hat Point Overlook and Five Mile Overlook are both near Imnaha.
A viewpoint on Hells Canyon Scenic Byway overlooks the Grande Ronde River.
With three major (Rocky, Appalachian, Sierra Nevada) and hundreds of minor mountain ranges across the U.S., we know our list of favorite mountain drives will continue to grow in the miles and years ahead.
As it does, we’ll continue to share about them. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss a thing.
Tip: Stop and clean your windshield before you start a scenic drive so your passenger-seat pictures come out clearer. And, if you’re headed to a remote area, fill up the gas tank, too.
