If you just want to enjoy the scenery at your own pace with lots of stops or none at all, hit the Peak-to-Peak Byway between Estes Park and Blackhawk. The 55-mile designated scenic byway lies along the eastern flank of the Continental Divide and includes glimpses of several peaks: Mount Meeker (13,911 feet), Longs Peak 14,256 feet), Ouzel Peak (12,716 feet), and Pawnee Peak (12,943 feet). You get the idea: You’re driving from peak to peak, or at least in their long shadows.

The most popular time of year to do this drive is in the fall, in mid- to late September when the leaves of the many aspen trees are turning bright gold, orange, and red. It’s a picturesque drive or ride on a bike as the road’s wide shoulders have room for both cars and bicycles.

From Denver take Highway 6 to Highway 119, which merges with Highway 72 (and becomes Highway 72) until it becomes Highway 7 before entering Estes Park. You will drive through Blackhawk, Nederland, and Allenspark before reaching Rocky Mountain National Park. The drive takes at least two hours, but you can always return on a different, more direct route.