June 29, 2013 Guanella Pass Colorado

Just up the road a piece west of here, either via Highway 285 or Interstate 70, is Guanella pass.  You can get to it on highway 285 just past the town of Grant or you can take the interstate to the city of Georgetown.  Either way it is an awesome Sunday drive that you can take with pretty much any vehicle.

The wife and I were headed to Breckenridge to spend a romantic night and decided to make a scenic road trip of it.  We decided to take a loop to get to Breckenridge by taking Interstate 70 to Georgetown, cross over Guanella Pass into Grant, turn south on 285 and travel over Boreas pass into Breck.

Not too many years ago Guanella was a dirt road pretty much all the way over.  If you took the drive you could do it in pretty much anything but it was slow and bumpy and you usually didn't run into too many other people.

It has certainly changed since it was paved.  I honestly don't remember how many years ago that was done but I do remember that it was a big thing.  There was a lot of controversy between opposing sides.  The four wheel community thought it would destroy the fun of taking the pass.  The tourist community thought it would be good for the economy.  I was on the for wheeling community's side of the line.  I thought the pavement would ruin the experience.

Now that it is done though I'm really impressed.  They built  a very nice, beautiful road over the top and they did a great job.  I have to hand it too them.  What used to be a slow bumpy ride is now quite pleasant.  And I don't mind seeing all of the people there.  Cars, bicycles, motorcycles, hikers, the whole lot.

If you're ever in the Denver area and have an afternoon and want to take a nice road to 11,669 feet so you can experience the Rocky Mountains this little trip might be for you.  If you want to take on a '14er' then Mt. Bierstadt which rises to 14060 feet is just off of the summit of the pass.

This is a view into Georgetown as you head up the pass from the I70 end

 

 

Wild flowers are abundant all the way along the road during the spring.

 

A nice place to stop and take a look as you near the summit of the pass.

 

I actually took this photo of the Aspen when I took a drive up the pass last autumn.

 

If you want to explore some old gold mining relics there are a couple on some of the side roads that lead off of the main Guanella pass road.

 

Another photo of some autumn Aspen taken last year.