West Elk Loop
West Elk Loop is a State Scenic Byway in Colorado. Within Colorado it covers roughly 220 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along West Elk Loop with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
This roughly 200-mile loop circles the West Elk Mountains, linking Carbondale, Crested Butte, Gunnison, and the North Fork Valley. Its centerpiece is Kebler Pass, a graded dirt road through what is reputed to be one of the largest aspen groves in the world — spectacular in late September. The loop also skirts the rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and the orchard country around Paonia.
- Kebler Pass aspens
- Crested Butte
- Black Canyon rim
- North Fork orchards
- ~200-mile loop
Plan a drive on West Elk Loop →
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along West Elk Loop
22 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of West Elk Loop.
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