Crossing into Colorado near Limon feels like unlocking a new level of a video game. The air gets thin, the sky gets deeper, and the exits start promising things like “whitewater rafting” and “hot springs.” Suddenly, your playlist feels too small for the moment.
You’ll hit Denver eventually, but the real magic is the approach. The highway starts to dance—slight curves, gentle uphill pulls. Your car feels it. You feel it. It’s the difference between a flat sidewalk and a wooden roller coaster clicking up the first hill.
Pro tip: Take the “scenic” exit
If you have an extra hour, skip I-70 through Denver proper and take the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway (Highway 7 or 72). It’s slower, but you’ll drive through little mountain towns like Estes Park and Nederland. You’ll see elk, maybe a moose, and definitely a few locals with dogs riding in pickup trucks.
It’s the unfiltered Colorado—chipmunks crossing the road, tiny cabins tucked into pine groves, and a silence that only high altitude can bring. Plus, you get to say you took the “back way” in. Cool points, right?
Heading West, Part 1: Colorado | Wherever Life Takes Me
