CO Road Trip: The West Elk Loop Scenic Byway
Over 205 miles driving the West Elk Loop in Colorado, you’ll pass by the twin summits of Mount Sopris, explore one of the most underrated national parks in the United States, and drive through Colorado’s Central Rocky Mountains.
You’ll have the opportunity to photograph one of Colorado’s most photogenic sites, stroll through the state’s Wildflower Capitol, and even swim in its largest body of water.
But here’s the best thing about roadtripping in Colorado and driving a scenic byway like the West Elk Loop: It’s not just about the stops you make along the way. Yes, they’re amazing, but when you’re driving through the Centennial State, the roads themselves are also an adventure.
Along the West Elk Loop, you’ll pass dramatic cliffs, towering mountains, and golden aspen trees from one of the world’s largest aspen groves.
Roadtripping is one of the best things to do in Colorado, so hop in your car for the day or pack your bag for a long weekend and let’s drive the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway!
The West Elk Loop Scenic Byway
With no hikes or stops, allow for about 7 hours to drive the West Elk Loop. For shorter stops, including lunch in Crested Butte and time driving the North Rim in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, plan for at least 9 hours.
To add stops in Marble and Glenwood Springs, allow for at least 12 hours or turn this drive into a full weekend road trip.
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The Best Time of Year to Drive the West Elk Loop
The best time of year to drive the West Elk Loop in Colorado is from April through October.
Visit in the summer to take advantage of long days and extra daylight. If you’re planning to drive the West Elk Loop in one day, this is probably your best bet since driving this route can take anywhere from 7 to 12 hours, depending on stops.
To soak up Colorado’s fall foliage, or enjoy hikes in cooler temperatures along the way, consider planning your road trip for early October and making it a full weekend trip.
Just be careful about planning your road trip too late in the year. Kebler Pass, a 31-mile stretch of gravel road on the way to Crested Butte, is typically closed from November to May.
Where to Stay Along the West Elk Loop
If you plan to drive the West Elk Loop in one day, we recommend staying in Carbondale. This is the perfect place to start and end your road trip. (Start early!)
Otherwise, consider overnight stays in Carbondale and near the Black Canyon of the Gunnison if you’re turning this drive into a long weekend road trip.
Day Drive vs. Weekend Road Trip
Day Drive: To drive the West Elk Loop in one day, start early from Carbondale, CO. Head clockwise to the Kebler Pass, to Crested Butte, to Blue Mesa Reservoir, to Black Canyon of the Gunnison North Rim, to Big B’s Orchard, back to Carbondale. This will take you anywhere from 7 to 12 hours, depending on stops.
2-Day Road Trip: Drive the West Elk Loop over two days. On Day 1, stop to photograph Crystal Mill in Marble, enjoy breakfast or lunch in Crested Butte, and explore the Black Canyon of the Gunnison South Rim. Spend the night camping in Black Canyon South Rim or in the nearby town of Montrose (or even Telluride). On Day 2, explore the North Rim, then Orchard Country as you continue on the West Elk Loop.
3 or 4-Day Road Trip: To take advantage of all Carbondale has to offer, we recommend turning the West Elk Loop into a 3 or 4-day trip! Make Carbondale your home base, or stay one night in each of the following towns.
Spend Day 1 hiking Hanging Lake in Glenwood Springs (reservations required), then spend your evening soaking in Iron Mountain Hot Springs.
On Day 2, get reservations for nearby Maroon Bells, hike Crater Lake, and explore downtown Aspen and Snowmass. If you have time, consider driving Independence Pass.
On Day 3, drive the West Elk Loop from Carbondale to Carbondale. Stop to photograph Crystal Mill in Marble, enjoy breakfast or lunch in Crested Butte, and explore the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
If you can add a fourth day to your trip, drive the West Elk Loop over two days. Explore the South Rim of Black Canyon at the end of Day 3, then spend the night camping in Black Canyon South Rim or in the nearby town of Montrose (or Telluride). Explore the North Rim, the Orchard Country, on your way back to Carbondale via the West Elk Loop the following day.
1. Carbondale
We recommend starting the West Elk Loop from Carbondale, but like every road trip at Road Trip Locals, you can pick any point along this route to begin and then make a full loop to return home.
Carbondale is the start of the West Elk Loop and a small mountain town with great access to the central Colorado Rockies.
We spent two months in Colorado in 2021 and road-tripped between various towns, spending 10 days in Carbondale, two weeks in Durango, one month in Winter Park, one week in Trinidad, a long weekend in Denver, and taking day trips to towns like Vail, Aspen, and Boulder.
We originally planned to stay in the more popular towns of Aspen or Snowmass, but a quick peek at rental prices had us looking slightly further away from these well-known ski areas, and we’re glad it did. Carbondale has a vibrant restaurant scene (with downtown streets that close for in-street dining on some evenings and weekends) and is centrally located between Aspen (and the Maroon Bells) and Glenwood Springs (and Hanging Lake).
If you’re driving the West Elk Loop in one day, consider stretching your legs before you drive by hiking Mushroom Rock. You’ll get an incredible view of Carbondale at the top. After your drive, grab dinner at Brass Anvil, Allegria, Peppino’s Pizza, or Fatbelly Burgers. Then grab a drink at Marble Distilling Co.
(Fun Fact: During our 10 days in Carbondale, we stayed in a short-term rental adjacent to Fatbelly Burgers. We were just 43 steps to burgers & fries, and it was a phenomenal location, ha!)
If you’re in town for brunch, consider Village Smithy Restaurant. Try Bonfire Coffee if you’re looking for coffee or a quick breakfast.
Can you tell how much we loved our time in Carbondale? We spent 10 days here and fully immersed ourselves in walking to restaurants before and after our days of exploring. We HIGHLY recommend staying on Main Street in Downtown Carbondale if you can.
RTL Tip: If you’re in town on Wednesday during the summer months, visit the Carbondale Farmers Market. Make sure to grab mini donuts from Aspen Mini Donuts- amazing!!!
If you’ve turned your drive into a long weekend road trip, see the note above about turning the West Elk Loop into a 3 or 4-Day Road Trip. You can do this by adding day trips to Glenwood Springs (hike Hanging Lake & soak in the Iron Mountain Hot Springs), Aspen (hike Maroon Bells and grab breakfast in town at Paradise Bakery), or go ATVing to Crystal Mills (and grab lunch afterward at Slow Groovin BBQ).
Dog-Friendly? Carbondale is a dog-friendly town. The patios of Allegria, Brass Anvil, Bonfire Coffee, Peppino’s Pizza, and Fatbelly Burgers were dog-friendly while we were visiting in 2021. Mushroom Rock is a dog-friendly hike. So is the nearby Thomas Lakes Trail.
Note: From Carbondale, you can drive the West Elk Loop clockwise or counter-clockwise. We’re sharing this itinerary clockwise. If you’re visiting on a warm day and want to see + hike the Black Canyon of the Gunnison first thing in the morning, consider driving counter-clockwise.
View of Carbondale from Mushroom Rock hike.
Outdoor restaurant patio in Downtown Carbondale.
Aspen Mini Donuts (which were absolutely incredible) from the Carbondale Farmers Market.
Bonus: Marble & Crystal Mill
On your way from Carbondale to the Kebler Pass and Crested Butte, you’ll pass Redstone, CO, a great short stop for history buffs who’d like to see the Redstone Coke Ovens. You’ll also come to a fork in the road where you can either continue straight on CO-133 or turn left onto CO Rd 3 toward Marble, CO.
The West Elk Loop continues straight, but turning left is also an option. Photographers especially might want to turn left because about 20 minutes from the town of Marble is Crystal Mill, one of the most photographed sites in Colorado.
As Marble Tourism says, “Its perch on an outcropping of rock just above the Crystal River, framed by beautiful aspens and a backdrop of stunning mountains, gives it an undeniable visual appeal.” (We agree!) Learn more about the history of Crystal Mill here.
Not surprisingly, I first saw a picture of Crystal Mill on Instagram. A friend of mine who is a Colorado photographer had posted both summer and fall pictures at the mill, and as tends to happen, I couldn’t get the images out of my mind. Realizing Crystal Mill was close to Maroon Bells, another one of Colorado’s most photographed sites, we put it on our list to visit while in Carbondale.
If you have a high-clearance vehicle, you can drive to Crystal Mill. This is the easiest way to access Crystal Mill and the fastest way if you’re driving the West Elk Loop in one day.
If you don’t want to drive, you can also mountain bike, hike, book a guided jeep tour, or rent an ATV. (This is what we did - we rented an ATV to drive to Crystal Mill from Marble - and it was one of our favorite days in Carbondale. We’re almost always driving or hiking, so it was a ton of fun to switch things up and do something different. We felt like big kids traversing the rocky terrain up to Crystal Mill and highly recommend renting from RPS Rentals if you’re visiting Marble for the day!)
Dog-Friendly? Yes. You can bring your dog with you. If you’re hiking, be sure to keep your dog on a leash, as vehicles will be passing the road alongside you.
Note: There is a $10 per person fee to walk to the bottom of the Crystal Mill river. In the summer, people swim here. You can get great pictures and view the mill well from the road, but if you’re interested in photography, we recommend paying the fee to access the river.
Likely, the only way to visit Crystal Mill while driving the West Elk Loop in one day is by personal vehicle. If you want to ATV, hike, or mountain bike, we recommend separate day trips for the West Elk Loop and Crystal Mill.
Hungry? Grab lunch in Marble at Slow Groovin BBQ.
The road to Crystal Mill is rocky and uneven. If you don’t want to drive your own car to the mill, you can rent an ATV, ride a mountain bike, take a guided jeep tour, or hike. (Note: If you hike, you’re walking next to vehicles on this road.)
An example of the view you’ll get of Crystal Mill from the top (without paying a fee).
An example of the view from the river. You can also walk along the river and swim, spending as much time here as you’d like.
2. Kebler Pass & Crested Butte
If you go straight on CO-133 from Carbondale (or when you get back on CO-133 after your detour to Crystal Mill), you’ll get to another fork in the road where you can continue straight or turn left onto CO Rd 12.
This is the start of the loop that makes up West Elk Loop. We recommend turning left to drive clockwise, starting with the Kebler Pass, a gorgeous 21-mile stretch of gravel road that is especially picturesque in the fall.
Kebler Pass is home to one of the largest aspen groves in the United States, making it one of the best places to view fall foliage in Colorado.
At the end of Kebler Pass, you’ll find the mountain town of Crested Butte.
In the winter, Crested Butte is a well-known ski and snowboarding town, with some of the most challenging trails in Colorado. But in the summer, Crested Butte transforms into the Wildflower Capitol of Colorado, making it a gorgeous summer destination for photographers, mountain bikers, and hikers alike. (If you’re visiting in July, you can even attend Crested Butte’s Wildflower Festival.)
Dog-Friendly? Yes! Crested Butte is a dog-friendly town. If you’re looking for somewhere to stretch your and your pup’s legs, consider the Lower Loop Wildflower Trail.
Note: Kebler Pass is typically closed from November to May. If you’re visiting during these months, you’ll need to drive counter-clockwise to Crested Butte and back.
West Elk Loop Scenic Byway sign.
Driving Kebler Pass to Crested Butte.
Quick stop to stroll and eat lunch in Crested Butte.
3. Blue Mesa Reservoir
The next stop on your Colorado Road Trip of the West Elk Loop will take you about 45 minutes from Crested Butte to the Blue Mesa Reservoir. The Blue Mesa Reservoir, part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area, is the largest body of water in Colorado.
If you’re driving the West Elk Loop in one day, stop at Wilson’s Landing, Dillon Pinnacles Vista Point, and other overlooks or pull-offs that catch your eye along the way.
If you’re turning this drive into a long weekend road trip, consider finding a place to park and swim. Check out Bay of Chickens (Windsurf Beach) or Old Highway 50 beach (next to the Elk Creek Campground). Or you could go to the Elk Creek Marina, where you can enjoy the view while grabbing a bite to eat at Pappy’s Restaurant or rent a boat, kayak, canoe, or paddleboard to get out on the water.
Dog-friendly? Yes!
Blue Mesa Reservoir
Elk Creek Marina
5. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Shortly after you pass the village of Sapinero, which sits on the shore of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, you’ll turn right onto CO-92 W to continue driving the West Elk Loop toward Crawford and the North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
If you’re driving the West Elk Loop in one day, this is your recommended route. Stop at the Pioneer Point Overlook and Hermans Rest Vista Overlook as you follow the Gunnison River toward Crawford.
From there, you’ll follow Black Canyon Road to the Chasm View Nature Trail in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Walk this short trail to a stunning overlook, then hop back in your car to drive North Rim Road, stopping at all 5 overlooks along the way.
If you’re making a weekend out of driving the West Elk Loop and have more time to explore, consider camping in the park or staying in the nearby town of Montrose (or even Telluride), so you can explore the South Rim of Black Canyon as well. If you do this, stay straight on US-50 after passing Sapinero and head towards Montrose. Turn right onto CO-347 N to head toward the South Rim Visitor Center.
From here, you can drive the South Rim and East Portal Roads. Spend the night camping inside the park or in the nearby town of Montrose, then continue driving the West Elk Loop the following day by driving back towards Sapinero and then up to Crawford. On your way, explore the North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Note: We think this has to be one of the more underrated national parks in the United States. There’s a lot to do and see if you have time. Don’t underestimate this stop!
West Elk Loop: From Crested Butte, head towards Sapinero (the dot to the left of the Blue Mesa Reservoir) and keep right towards Crawford. You’ll have access to the North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Add the South Rim: To see both the North and South Rims, keep left towards Montrose and explore the Black Canyon of the Gunnison South Rim. Then retrace your steps back to Sapinero and up towards Crawford to continue on the West Elk Loop and visit the North Rim. Adds about 1.5 hours for the drive to and back from South Rim alone.
Overlook along the North Rim Road.
From the Chasm View Nature Trail.
Overlook along the North Rim Road.
6. Hotchkiss Orchard Country
As you make your way from Black Canyon of the Gunnison back towards Carbondale, you’ll pass Hotchkiss and Paonia, two towns in the North Fork Valley of Colorado, which is home to more organic farmers and orchards per capita than anywhere else in the state.
To soak up Orchard Country, we recommend you make one final pitstop along the West Elk Loop at Big B’s Orchard. There, you’ll find live music, juice & hard cider, and pick-your-own apples, peaches, pears, and plums.
Plus, if you’re looking for a unique place to camp, you’ll also find that at Big B’s… alongside glamping tents and even a two-bedroom cabin. Spend a few minutes or a few hours here. What a great place to enjoy a slow summer evening after a day of adventure!
Dog-Friendly? Yes!
Bonus: Glenwood Springs
If it’s not too late or you have another day to explore, consider driving about 25 minutes past Carbondale to the town of Glenwood Springs. End your day with a relaxing soak in the Iron Mountain Hot Springs.
RTL Tip: Book your hot springs ticket for about an hour before sundown so you can enjoy both sunset and evening at the hot springs. If you’re a pina-colada-on-the-beach fan, grab one at the on-site Sopris Cafe. Consider booking a reservation for the following day to hike Hanging Lake (about 15 minutes from Glenwood Springs and 35 minutes from Carbondale).
Dog-Friendly? No.
West Elk Loop Sneak Peak
Curious about what’s ahead driving the West Elk Loop? Click play on the video below for a short look at some of the drives and views along the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway.
Keep planning your road trip to Colorado
View our suggestions for road-tripping the San Juan Skyway in Colorado next. Or check out our Ultimate Colorado Road Trip Itinerary.
Headed to Utah next? Click here for a Mighty 5 National Park Itinerary.
You can view all of our road trip itineraries here.
Please leave us a comment below!
We’re always looking for inspiration and would love to hear about your adventures too! What’s your favorite thing to do in Colorado, or which of these stops along the West Elk Loop sounds the best to you? Please share with us in the comments below!
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