Trail Ridge Road, Colorado – America’s Highest Road

Officially known as Trail Ridge Road / Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway, this phenomenal pass through the Rocky Mountains is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. It’s as scenic a road as you’ll find anywhere in the country on your motorhome or campervan rental holiday. Heavily trafficked, the road offers jaw-dropping views of the Rockies in every direction.

Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park

Trail Ridge Road is a 48-mile section of U.S. Highway 34, which crosses Rocky Mountain National Park, connecting the towns of Estes Park in the east and Grand Lake in the west. With its steep ascent and descent, it climbs past numerous pullouts, viewpoints and trailheads to Fall River Pass, where it reaches an elevation of 12,183 feet. Wherever you start your RV vacation drive, you’ll climb about 4,000 feet in just a few minutes.

This makes it the highest point in the entire United States you can reach by motorhome or campervan rental. This unique feature attracts thousands upon thousands of visitors a day in the high season. (The road is closed in winter and well into spring, until the snow melts.)

Even before it was constructed in 1931, the Trail Ridge Road’s very concept was so exciting that the director of the National Park Service, Horace Albright, said that “it is hard to describe what a sensation this new road is going to make. You will have the whole sweep of the Rockies before you in all directions.”

World-Class Views and Abundant Wildlife

And indeed, following an ancient path used by the Ute and other Native Americans across the mountains, the road boasts 11 miles of undisturbed above-the-treeline views. The views are so far-reaching and wide that you can see Wyoming to the north, the Great Plains to the east and the rest of the Rocky Mountains to the south and west.

The beauty of Trail Ridge Road not only lies in its panoramic vistas; there’s also lots of natural diversity to enjoy on the way up and down. You’ll pass through various biotopes and ecosystems, from woods dominated by aspen and Ponderosa pine to subalpine spruce and fir forests to alpine tundra above the treeline.

Many animals thrive in the Rockies as well. Don’t be surprised if you spot pikas, marmots, mountain goats or bighorn sheep going about their day. Other exciting wildlife you might glimpse, if you’re lucky, includes elk, moose and black bears.

Exploring Rocky Mountain National Park

Note that Trail Ridge Road is only one linear section in what it a huge national park. Rocky Mountain National Park has more to offer than this one scenic drive, although it is definitely a major highlight. Set aside at least half a day for this drive, but also take the time to go for a couple of hikes, visit a visitor center and simply enjoy some downtime at your campsite. That’s what RVing is all about, after all. You can pick up a variety of rental RVs in Denver, which lies basically at the footstep of the park.