Denver to Vail
105.6 miles: 2 hours, 11 minutes
The journey down curvy I-70 allows you to experience Colorado’s mining legacy as you pass tiny towns with old shafts dug into rocky crags. Pan for gold at Idaho Springs’ Phoenix Mine, take a stroll through Georgetown’s historic district and admire restored Victorians, or explore Frisco, another boom town that sprouted gold and silver mines in the late 1800s.
Vail to Aspen
98.4 miles: 2 hours, 25 minutes
Internationally revered for its extensive winter sports facilities, Bavarian-style Vail also offers year-round recreation in the surrounding White River National Forest. Your arrival at Leadville, America’s highest city, marks your approach into thin air—the town’s whopping 10,150-foot altitude rewards visitors with dramatic views from its lofty perch atop the Rockies.
Aspen to Glenwood Springs
52.6 miles: 1 hours, 22 minutes
Playground of the rich and famous, Aspen is celebrated for its legendary après ski parties, elegant shops, world-class people watching and exquisite restaurants. For more laid-back pursuits, relish the restorative powers of Glenwood Springs’ hot mineral springs and vapor caves—water sports of a more vigorous nature occur on the nearby Roaring Fork and Colorado rivers.