Colorado River Headwaters Byway
Visitor Services

The Kawuneeche Visitor Center at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, has a large facility with rest rooms and information for Tour Groups and hosts several Tour Groups each year. This end...[more]

Service	Description	Service	Description
	Camping Camping services are available through Rocky Mountain National Park, Arapaho National Recreation Area, and Pioneer Park in Hot Sulphur Springs.		Food There are places to buy food along the byway.
	Gasoline Gasoline is available.		Information Visitors can obtain byway information at the Grand Lake, Granby and Kremmling Chambers of Commerce, as well as at the Kaufmann House... [more]
	Lodging Overnight lodging is available along the byway.		Phone Public phones are available along the byway.
	Restrooms There are toilet facilities along the byway.		Retail There are places to shop along the byway.

NOTE: The America's Byways® website is federally funded and cannot promote commercial businesses. This data may not be complete or up to date. The National Scenic Byways Program is not responsible for the quality of your travel experience. See the right column on the Byway Overview page for local contact information.

Special Considerations

The road between Kremmling and State Bridge is a gravel road and offers limited visitor services. This road is not suitable for buses or large RVs.

A fishing license is required for people 16 years or older.

Do not feed or try to touch any wild creature.

Always watch for animals crossing the road. Deer and elk are seldom alone; if you see one animal cross the road, look out for others that may follow.

From the lower boundary of Byers Canyon to Troublesome Creek (5 miles west of Kremmling), fishers may use flies and lures, catch and release only, meaning all trout must be returned to the water immediately upon the catch.

Fishing is allowed on public water, and even if the access is from public waters, permission must be obtained in order to fish on private waters.

The entire route is accessible year-round. US Highways 34, 40 and 9 are well-maintained two-lane highways, offering safe road conditions in all but the worst winter storms. The Trough Road, also known as Grand County Road 1, is a wide, graded gravel road that is well-maintained and open year around. It will accommodate all vehicles at reductions from normal highway speeds averaging 45 mph. Drivers in large RVs lacking experience on winding, steeper graded roads will need to exercise caution and travel at a slower rate of speed while traveling this 35-mile stretch of the byway.

The entire byway accommodates handicapped travelers, with numerous locations offering accessible restrooms and interpretive information. Pioneer Park in Hot Sulphur Springs provides handicapped fishing access. Three museums along the route provide staff assistance for visually-impaired guests. BLM managed sites along the Trough Road offer facilites for those with physical disabilities. Information is also available at U.S. Forest Service and BLM offices on the route.

Seasons

Best Time to Drive

Summer and fall provide the best opportunities to enjoy outdoor historic resources, but three museums provide information during winter months.

Fall

Fall is a gorgeous time to drive the byway, as it is filled with changing aspen leaves and fall colors.

High Season

During the summer, traffic on Highway 34 may be slower than normal in the Grand Lake area, as this route continues into Rocky Mountain National Park.

Winter

During the winter there are many activities to enjoy along the Byway, such as skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and snowshoeing.

Road Conditions

To find up to date information about the road conditions along Colorado River Headwaters Byway, please visit the FHWA listing of web sites for more information.

Colorado