Former park ranger and outdoor recreation guide Ash, founder of Dirt in My Shoes, provided five of the most spectacular scenic drives in North America’s national parks system. The drives range from high-altitude tundra roads to glacier-flanked mountain highways, and each offers an experience that goes well beyond what most visitors encounter on foot.
Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park spans nearly 50 miles and reaches elevations above 12,000 feet, making it the highest continuously paved road in the United States. The road provides rare drive-up access to alpine tundra that would otherwise require miles of hiking to reach. It is typically open from Memorial Day through mid-October.
Tioga Road cuts 47 miles through Yosemite‘s high country at nearly 10,000 feet, offering a quieter alternative to the crowded valley floor. The road runs from June through October. The Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park connects Lake Louise to Jasper National Park across 144 miles of glaciers, mountain lakes, and waterfalls. Bears are frequently spotted along this route.
Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park is a feat of engineering that winds through the park’s mountain spine to Logan Pass. Vehicles longer than 21 feet or wider than 8 feet are prohibited. The road is typically accessible from late June through late September or mid-October.
Newfound Gap Road crosses the Great Smoky Mountains between Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina, climbing to 5,000 feet at the state line. It generally remains open from March through November.
