7. Tincup Pass

The Tincup Pass road is a rugged way to cross the Continental Divide and is best used for those in high-clearance 4×4 vehicles. To take a much easier route near this road, head north on Highway 285 and make a left on Country Road 162 just before Nathrop. The road eventually becomes a well-maintained dirt road, and one of the most beautiful leaf-peeping drives I found on this trip.

16 miles from Nathrop at the very end of the road is St. Elmo, a ghost town that has not been forgotten with recently-restored buildings offering coffee, pastries, and trinkets. Guarded by noisy and hungry chipmunks, the main street ends at a popular trailhead. A nice campground covered in fallen aspen leaves that appear to be gold coins is nearby, flanking the Iron City Cemetery. We opted to move on.