The Peak to Peak Byway is the old high road through the mountain towns

If you want to understand how Boulder County’s mountain towns connect, drive the Peak to Peak Scenic and Historic Byway. It is the ridge-level route that ties them together rather than the steep canyon roads that climb to it.

The byway runs along the Front Range using Colorado Highways 7, 72, and 119, threading past mountain communities such as Allenspark, Ward, and Nederland on its way between the Estes Park area and Black Hawk to the south. The Colorado Department of Transportation describes it as the state’s first designated scenic byway, dating to 1918, and the drive passes old mine sites, high-country lakes, and views toward the Continental Divide. Side roads off the main route lead to trailheads, campgrounds, and ghost-town sites.

It is worth remembering this is a mountain drive, not a quick shortcut. The highways are narrow in places, weather can change with elevation, and winter brings snow and ice that linger in shaded curves. Fall color draws heavy traffic. Leave extra time and check conditions before a trip, especially in the cold months.

To trace the full route, the towns it links, and its history, start with the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Peak to Peak byway page and the national forest’s byway information.