Old Fall River Road

Old Fall River Road is Rocky Mountain National Park’s original auto route to the alpine zone, built in 1920 as America’s highest continuous automobile road. This narrow, winding dirt track climbs relentlessly for 11 miles from Horseshoe Park at 8,400 feet to the Alpine Visitor Center at 11,796 feet, passing Chasm Falls and offering unobstructed views of the Continental Divide. The road is strictly one-way uphill with no guardrails, drop-offs that’ll make your passenger grip the door handle, and switchbacks so tight they’ll test your three-point turning skills.

Any stock vehicle with decent ground clearance can handle this moderate route, though RVs and trailers are prohibited due to the narrow width and sharp curves. Open typically from July through October depending on snow conditions, no permits required. The road surface is well-maintained gravel with occasional rough patches. What makes this special isn’t the technical challenge—it’s the historical significance of following the same route Model T drivers took a century ago, ending at some of Colorado’s most spectacular high-country views.