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Big Thompson Canyon, Front Range, Colorado
Photo: Maarten Heerlien · CC BY 2.0 · cropped

Drives Colorado Denver, Boulder and the Front Range

Big Thompson Canyon

US 34 · Loveland → Estes Park

Twisty21 mi30 min3,500 ft climbHigh point ≈ 7,600 ftOne way
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The drive

US 34 runs up the Big Thompson River from the canyon mouth at Loveland to Estes Park, with the road beside the water for much of the way. The canyon is narrow and cut through granite, and it tightens at The Narrows, where rock walls close in on the road and river.

The September 2013 flood tore out much of the highway, and the Narrows was one of the worst-hit sections. Crews restored a temporary road within two months, then rebuilt the canyon as a permanent project that ran from 2015 into 2018. In the Narrows they blasted rock to shorten a flood-prone curve and raised a section onto bedrock.

The climb is steady, about 3,500 feet over 21 miles, passing small settlements such as Drake. It ends at Lake Estes, on the edge of Estes Park, the town beside Rocky Mountain National Park.

Along the way

  1. Loveland (canyon mouth)
  2. The Narrows
  3. Drake
  4. Estes Park (Lake Estes)
Elevation
3,500 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 7,600 ft
LovelandEstes Park
Curves
Mostly moderate, with three twisty stretches
LovelandEstes Park
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The canyon is narrow, with the river close to the road and little shoulder in places.
  • US 34 is open year-round. Floods and rockfall have closed it in the past, so check COtrip after heavy rain.
  • Check COtrip before you go in winter.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check CDOT COtrip.

Questions about this drive

How long does Big Thompson Canyon take to drive?

Loveland to Estes Park through Big Thompson Canyon on US 34 is 21 miles and takes about 30 min.

Is Big Thompson Canyon open in winter?

Yes. US 34 through Big Thompson Canyon is open year-round, though snow and ice can slow the drive.

What happened to Big Thompson Canyon in 2013?

The September 2013 flood washed out much of US 34. The highway reopened in late 2013 as a temporary road and was rebuilt permanently in a project that ran from 2015 to about 2018.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Big Thompson Canyon, from Loveland to Estes Park