Front Range

The area of Colorado that is classified as the ‘Front Range’ region gets its name from the most popular range of the Rocky Mountains. This stretch of the Rockies has peaks that reach serious enough heights that it is a popular destination for skiers but the mountains don’t stretch as far into the sky as those in the Southwest Colorado region, where the peaks can make traveling impossible. However the Front Range does get fairly steep in areas, causing some areas of the winding and narrow roads to close temporarily in the winter and to place heavy burdens on vehicles in the summer. But when the weather is fine and tourists want to catch a glimpse of what makes Colorado such a popular vacation spot, there is no better place that sums it up nicer than the Front Range.

For some reason, facts and figures take the romance out of the Front Range for me. Let’s put things back into perspective. When imagining the Front Range, imagine sleeping under a tree in the hot sun with a view of the cool Rockies like Sal Paradise in Jack Kerouac’s On The Road, “ Under a tremendous old tree was a bed of green lawn-grass belonging to a gas station. I asked the attendant if I could sleep there, and he said sure; so I stretched out a wool shirt, laid my face flat on it, with an elbow out, and with one eye cocked at the snowy Rockies in the hot sun for just a moment.” I left the Front Range over 20 years ago. When I left, there were a lot of open rural areas along the I25 corridor between I25 and the foothills. Now this area is nearly solid population from the Fort Collins and Loveland metro area to south of Denver. Unfortunately, whatever tree Sal Paradise might have slept under has been replaced with a home or business—but the Rockies are still there, and it still makes for a beautiful visit.

Loveland is considered the stepping off point via US Highway 34 to Estes Park and then the Rocky Mountain National Park (one of those places that are always fun to visit) and the Western Slope. Just southwest of Loveland is Boulder. Boulder has some great galleries, but is basically a college town.

Often overlooked (and therefore really fun to visit) is the Gold and Silver mining areas which are just over the big hill west of Denver (and yes, I do mean THE big hill). For silver, visit Georgetown and Silver Plume and for gold, visit Blackhawk and Central City. I’ve noticed that Blackhawk and Central City have lost a lot of their charm since gambling came but they are still worth the visit. Idaho Springs was also a gold mining creation and managed to stay free of gambling and remains a tourist draw.

Often overlooked (and therefore really fun to visit) is the Gold and Silver mining areas which are just over the big hill west of Denver (and yes, I do mean THE big hill). For silver, visit Georgetown and Silver Plume and for gold, visit Blackhawk and Central City. I’ve noticed that Blackhawk and Central City have lost a lot of their charm since gambling came but they are still worth the visit. Idaho Springs was also a gold mining creation and managed to stay free of gambling and remains a tourist draw.

Heading back east toward Denver, you’ll run into Golden, Colorado home of Coors. If you can pull yourself away from the liquid gold, you can visit the Colorado Railroad Museum. I think the perfect way to explore this region is to begin your trip at the museum and work your way west toward Blackhawk via the old US Highway 6. This route follows Clear Creek, which will eventually become Coors, and takes you through several tunnels. After visiting here you can continue on west to Idaho Springs. From here you can point the old Hupmobile toward the snow capped mountains or take I-70 back to Denver Town.

For those who fear leaving the Interstate, be prepared because the climb up out of Denver town is a long tough pull. Don’t forget to cast your eyes south to see the Saucer House - a truly fine example of modernism architecture. You’ll also find the Buffalo Herd overlook view is hard to beat.