Going to Steamboat Springs and trying to decide which route to take once I hit I-25 at Raton. Been many years since I drove to CO. and I've never been to Steamboat Springs.

I have driven the possible routes to reach I-70 beginning with hwy 69 from Walsenburg to 50 and up, 50 from Pueblo to Canon City and up and Colorado Springs over 24 to Salida and up. I'm looking for scenery and not speed so not going to Denver and west on I-70.

I have not driven hwy 9 from Canon City to Hartsel to Fairplay to Frisco.

I'm not in a hurry but looking for a scenic route with good roads as it has been 40 years since I drove any of the above routes.

What suggestions do you have?

Thanks in advance.

Just pick one of those routes to drive up there and another to drive back. It`s all pretty country. I`ve never driven to SBS but been there several time when we flew into Hayden to ski. Started to drive there when we were in Grand Lake Colorado several years ago (we went thru Denver and hit 70 west), but the route we were taking had so many dead pines from Pine Beatles I turned around and went back. It was depressing with all the dead trees.

Only route I took up there was just the interstate. Done the Breckenridge to Pueblo via Canon City several times and a nice drive. If going during ski season just keep an eye on the app for road conditions.

Big road work project on I-70 West of Denver just started, that traffic will be a nightmare.

Check road conditions on COTRIP, it will show construction. Wet weather may have lots of rock scaling projects and the like.

Might as well take the 2 1/2 hr drive over and come see part of Wyoming.
When are you coming up?
Pretty fun little brewfest in Saratoga, Wy this coming weekend. I'll pour you a beer if you show.

Your best bet is staying on 25 North until you get near Denver and then work your way over to 70 W.

Thanks for the suggestions.

We came up to Colorado Springs then took 24 west over to Hartsel and then hwy 9 up to Breckenridge and then Kremmling. Took 40 from Kremmling to Steamboat. Very nice drive.

There was a major detour on 24 west of Divide. 24 was completely closed and we went south on some road with lots of hills and twists and turns. All traffic-including loaded cement mixers, 18 wheeler rock trucks and everyone else made it a fun drive. It rejoined 24 at Florissant.

We plan to run up to Laramie when we leave Steamboat. Not sure which route back to Texas from Laramie.

Not sure on your timing but there is a farmers market Friday afternoon downtown, affects parking downtown.
Open container all over downtown so you can get a drink to go and walk around.
Stop by the Library if you have time, we'll be back from Saratoga on Sunday but will be there this Friday afternoon. Next week we'll hit the happy hours.


We always take 287 down to Ft Collins then hit I-25 to the toll road, E-470 and go around Denver and get on 287 and go down.
You can hit I-70 too and go to Kansas and then down I-35.
Traffic is bad on I-25 Ft Collins to Denver with construction, avoid rush hours and they are usual times.
You can go west on I-80 from Laramie to Cheyenne and down I-25 too, not a bad drive and avoid Ft Collins.

You can go, and I would but it is a long drive, up to Highway 130 from Walden, CO. You could hit up food in Saratoga then go back to 130 just south of town and come over the top of Snowy Range. It is a beautiful drive. You'll come out at Centennial then 130 right into Laramie.

Went to Laramie from Steamboat and passed thru Walden. First time to visit. Cool little town and "The moose capital of Colorado"! A lady at the store told me the state stocked them in the area in the 70's and they now have a herd of 600 animals. She said Walden is known for elk, bear and mountain lion hunting.

We had a pronghorn cross the road in front of us on the way to Walden. It jumped the fence and then turned and posed while my wife took several pictures.

A lot of good looking fishing water all along highways 14 /125 from 40 to Walden. Apparently Walden is also a major fishing town, too.

I really enjoyed Craig, Kremmling and Walden more than Steamboat but it's kind of like comparing apples to oranges. All are great places to visit and you have to be going there on purpose to get there!

We spent a week near Walden in St Forest this summer. I saw a moose! It was a young bull that came out of the thicket I was about to go into to get to a creek. Fishing was great! btw From Walden all the way to Pagosa I saw LOTS of Moose sign all over the state. We really enjoyed St Forest and will be back next year.

Sounds like you had a great trip and I understand why after passing through that area. I would have loved to have done some fishing but we were heading home and had a long way to go.