Best Scenic Stops Between Denver and Moab: A Road Trip Guide from Experience

Colorado River Gorge at Glenwood Canyon

Driving west from Denver, you’ll enter Glenwood Canyon just before Glenwood Springs—an imposing 12-mile gorge where I’ve paused countless times simply to revel in the canyon walls rising 1,300 feet above the river. Each pullover rest area felt like stepping into an amphitheater crafted by nature. The bridge views, with the Shimmering Colorado below, are unforgettable, and at Hanging Lake Rest Area, you get a rare chance to gaze directly into the canyon’s depths  . It’s the kind of place I’ve lingered when time wasn’t urgent—each view seems more dramatic than the last.

Grand Mesa Scenic Byway Detour

A bit south of I‑70 lies Colorado State Highway 65, climbing up onto the Grand Mesa—a unique pleasure that’s often overlooked by through‑traffic. I once made a spontaneous turn onto this byway for trout-fishing access, and wound up on top of a real alpine plateau dotted with aspen groves and over 300 lakes  . The landscape shifts dramatically from arid canyon to forested calm, opening up at Island Lake overlook, which is perfect for stretching your legs. It’s a more relaxed counterpoint to the dramatic cliffs of I‑70.

Colorado National Monument Near Fruita

After passing Grand Junction, I always remember driving by the Colorado National Monument. The winding rim road and sheer monoliths look like a miniature Grand Canyon, hugged by cactus and desert scrub  . I don’t stop every time, but when I do, the view makes me feel like I’m standing at the edge of some hidden desert empire—rock towers jutting skyward, golden light dropping into shadowed canyons. Even a quick photo stop leaves me wanting more.

Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway

Nearing Utah, I often weave onto parts of the Dinosaur Diamond Byway. This loop drops south from I‑70 and slices through prehistoric landscapes in both Colorado and Utah  . I’ve pulled off for roadside petroglyph panels, driven past the iconic Curecanti Needle spire along US‑50, and felt the sense of time shifting under my wheels. It’s like a scenic museum without walls—you don’t have to hike to feel connected to ancient eras.

Rolling Above Idaho Springs on Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway

Just west of Idaho Springs, the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway offers a dramatic ascent to nearly 12,000 feet above sea level. I’ve driven those winding turns at dawn, catching glimpses of Summit Lake shimmering below and thinking I might have stepped into the Alps. That view, where the road clings to ridge lines and the peaks stretch on forever, feels like an opening act to what Moab has in store.

This stretch once supported a lodge‑style Crest House, now gone, but the platform it leaves offers panoramic views that linger in memory long after the drive continues  . It’s a misty, high-alpine contrast to the desert landscapes ahead—one of those moments I recommend everyone experience, even if it adds ten extra minutes to the trip.

Skyline Drive’s Dramatic Drop into Canon City

A little detour off US‑50 brings you to Skyline Drive in Canon City—a three‑mile, one‑way ridge that plunges 800 feet on either side. I remember cresting the ridge and pausing at a lookout where fossils peeked from the sandstone and the city lights twinkled below.

It’s a brief but thrilling roller‑coaster of rock that’s easy to miss, but unforgettable if you stop. Cars appear infrequently, and the lack of guardrails feels wild in a way I rarely encounter. I’ve taken panoramic shots there that people still ask me about—it’s that striking of a viewpoint .

Colorado National Monument: Canyon Rim Just Before Moab

Not far from Grand Junction, I always take the time to cruise Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument. That 23‑mile canyon rim loop feels like a mini-Grand Canyon, complete with soaring monoliths and desert wildlife.

On one trip, I watched golden eagles rising on thermals above Independence Monument while sipping my morning coffee. The red-gold canyons stretched as far as you could see. I sometimes stop at Devil’s Kitchen or Corkscrew Trailhead to soak it in. The rock pillars stitch themselves into your mind, reminding you that the earth is always telling a story  .

Potash-Lower Colorado River Scenic Byway as You Approach Moab

As the Colorado River bends toward Utah, the Potash‑Lower Colorado River Scenic Byway (Utah‑279) provides a jaw-dropping final act before Moab. The road undulates against red cliff walls, often hugging the river edge for breathtaking drives.

Once, I timed my drive so that the late afternoon sun hit the canyon walls just right, lighting them in deep orange. One quirky moment? Even the outhouse at Fisher Towers trailhead offers one of the most surreal toilets views you’ll ever encounter  . When you need convenience, this is nature’s restroom with a million-dollar backdrop.

Deer Creek and Hanging Lake: Nature’s Alpine Oases

Not far off I‑70, I often pull into the Deer Creek Rest Area, which serves as the gateway to Hanging Lake. Though technically a hike, even catching a glimpse of the suspended boardwalk is worth stretching your legs. The crisp mountain air, crystal water color, and waterfall whispers always surprise me. Even without descending, just stepping onto the viewing platform gives a taste of alpine wonder before you descend back into the canyon. It’s an early reminder that this route offers more than dry landscapes—a layered journey through ecosystems.

Fault-Line Gorge Overlook Near Parachute

As you cruise west past Parachute, a small turnout reveals a dramatic view of Fault-Line Gorge. I remember that moment when the geological fault dropped the riverbed sharply, forming a narrow canyon of twisted, sharp rock. From the overlook, the Colorado River threads its way through tabletops like veins. There’s a serene solitude here—no crowds, no frills—just stark rock art and the steady flow of water. It feels like stumbling upon something secret, and I’ve sat there watching clouds cast moving shadows for at least 20 minutes before continuing.

The Eye-Catching Spires at Fruita’s Wrinkle Butte

After Grand Junction, I sometimes veer south to catch Wrinkle Butte Road. It rewards with panoramic views across the sprawling western valleys before ending near a ridge of freestanding spires rising dramatically from the terrain. On one late spring evening, I arrived just in time to watch the spires glow in pink light at dusk. Though the access road is a bit rough, the solitude and visual payoff always draw me back—especially as the winding road snakes beneath the growing moonscape skyline.

Vintage Mining Town: Staying at Cisco, Utah

About 10 miles outside of Moab lies Cisco, a ghost town oasis with antique appeal. I’ve paused for gas and stayed a night under the deserted structures where old storefronts whisper tales of mining days gone by. The lack of light pollution there makes for intense stargazing—one night I watched the Milky Way arch directly above an abandoned gas pump. It’s not a scenic stop in the classic sense, but it’s an atmospheric bookend to your desert journey—one that feels cinematic and strangely comforting.

Fisher Towers Viewpoint Before Moab

There’s something deeply cinematic about Fisher Towers. The first time I saw them, it was late afternoon—the sun low, casting long shadows across the sculpted red rock. I pulled over on instinct. Cut the engine. Stepped out. The silence was stunning.

The towers stretch upward like fingers of flame, surreal and otherworldly. I remember standing there thinking: this doesn’t feel like Earth. It’s quiet except for the wind slicing through narrow rock crevices. That stop, brief as it was, turned into one of the most emotionally grounding moments of the trip. If you’re coming into Moab from the east, don’t miss it. It’ll slow your pulse and sharpen your senses.

La Sal Mountain View Pull-Off

Just before the descent into Moab, I found this unmarked pull-off with a perfect panoramic view of the La Sal Mountains. I only stopped because I needed to stretch my legs, but what I found made me sit on the hood of the car for 30 straight minutes. The snowcapped peaks loomed over rust-red desert valleys—like two completely different climates having a quiet conversation.

There was still snow melting up top while the desert below shimmered in the heat. That contrast—the alpine purity above and the sun-scorched stone below—felt like a metaphor for the entire Denver-to-Moab drive. Unexpected. Layered. And deeply beautiful.

Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracks

Just outside Moab, Mill Canyon looks like any other dusty side road—until you take the short walk out and see the ground beneath your feet etched with actual dinosaur footprints. I’m talking about real tracks, embedded in ancient rock like signatures from another era.

I crouched down beside one, brushing away dust, tracing the clawed impression with my fingers. The stillness of the canyon only added to the magic. It’s not just a scenic stop—it’s a moment that transports you millions of years back. No fences. No hype. Just the pure thrill of discovering something prehistoric, hidden in plain sight.

Moab’s La Sal Loop Road Finale

If there’s a perfect way to end the drive, it’s by looping into the forested elevation of the La Sal Mountains. After the sunbaked landscapes and canyons, the shift to pine forests and cool alpine air feels almost dreamlike. I’ve driven this loop during late summer, windows down, the smell of fir trees replacing the scent of sandstone.

There’s a point in the loop where you pull over and see the whole Moab valley stretched out below you. I remember chasing the last rays of sunlight as they spilled down the mountain ridge. It felt like saying goodbye to something sacred. If your timing’s right, you’ll drive straight into twilight, and it’ll be a drive you’ll never forget.

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