Enjoy a Scenic Drive along Highway 139 in Colorado

When COVID-19 hit earlier this year, the stress of staying home pretty much every day brought on a serious case of cabin fever. By late April, we needed to get out and take a mental wellness drive. My wife and I decided to hit the road on a 10-hour, round trip scenic drive from Salt Lake City to a beautiful Colorado highway – Highway 139.

I stumbled upon this beautiful drive in 2014 when my brother and I were driving across Utah to photograph temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The short jaunt into Colorado was the fastest route to complete our journey, and we were glad to have ventured out of Utah for a moment to experience Highway 139.

Earlier this month, I mentioned the route to my in-laws, and the following weekend they took their own scenic drive along Highway 139.

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If you’re looking for a beautiful drive to take in Spring, Summer or Autumn, Highway 139 should definitely be on your list. I’ve never driven it in the winter, but I assume snow may make it impassable. Here are a few tips to help you plan and carry out your mental wellness drive – it’s a great cure for cabin fever.

Planning for a Scenic Drive

If you’re planning to drive nearly 600 miles for a scenic drive, there are a few things you need to take care of in advance.

First, you’ve got to make sure your vehicle is ready for a long drive. Hopefully you’ve kept up on your general vehicle maintenance – oil change, brakes, etc. But before you hit the road, make sure your tires are inflated to your vehicles recommended pressure. You don’t want a tire to blow out. Also check the spare tire to ensure it’s usable in case it’s needed.

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Now for food. We stopped by our local grocery store on our way out of town and picked up some crackers and drinks. We didn’t pack a picnic lunch or anything, although that probably would’ve been the romantic thing to do along a nice spot of the drive. Our plan was to grab food in Grand Junction and take a potty break, too.

One last thing on your way out of town – make sure you’ve got a full tank of gas. You don’t want to end up on some off-the-beaten-path road and run out of fuel. So be sure and plan appropriately.

Travel on Highway 139 in Colorado

Highway 139 is a 71-mile road that connects the cities of Loma and Rangely. Heading north from Loma, the road is pretty flat and straight. But after about 10 miles, you start a gradual elevation gain. The road also starts to develop some curves.

The best part is as you hit the really windy section of road as you approach the summit. Depending on the time of year you visit, you may even encounter patches of snow. Nothing like a snowball fight in April or May. But that could also mean the melting snow has made the ground around it muddy. So be prepared.

Once you pass the summit, it’s all downhill from there. Literally. 😉 But it was on the north side of the summit that we found some amazing views as well. There was a piece of snow that had rolled down the mountain, forming a donut the size of a car tire. It was pretty sweet. There was also an octopus-like tree towering above the road.

The curves in the road will eventually iron out and then it’s a straight shot to Rangely. Once you reach Rangely, you can make you’re way back home.

The Route from Salt Lake City

We live in a town just outside of Salt Lake City. But I also know many people who use Salt Lake City as a jumping off point for an adventure. That said, here’s the route you can take for a 10 hour scenic drive – Roughly 568 miles round trip.

• Head south on I-15
• In Spanish Fork, take Highway 6
• Follow Highway 6 through Helper/Price
• When you reach I-70, head east
• Stop at the Utah-Colorado border for a selfie or two
• Take Exit 15 in Loma, then head north along Highway 139
• In Rangely, turn left on Highway 64
• When you reach Dinosaur, turn left on Highway 40
• Follow Highway 40 through Vernal, past Strawberry Reservoir to Heber City
• In Heber, head north along Highway 189
• When you reach I-80, head west and after Parley’s Canyon you’re back in the Salt Lake valley

The Route from Denver

Highway 139 is about halfway between Salt Lake City and Denver. Following I-70 west of Denver is a pretty scenic drive in and of itself. Passing through the Rocky Mountains is beautiful. Towns like Silverthorne, Vail or Avon are popular ski towns, and are gorgeous year round. But if you want to venture further west, here’s a route you can take to experience the scenic drive of Highway 139.

• Follow I-70 west out of Denver
• Take Exit 15 to Loma, and head north along Highway 139
• In Rangely, turn right (head east) on Highway 64
• Just before Meeker, turn right (head south) on Highway 13
• When you reach the town of Rifle, join I-70 and head east to Denver

The Colorado route is a 10-hour drive, covering roughly 608 miles. That’s about 40 more than the route from Salt Lake City.

Summary

I would love to take this scenic drive in the fall. As my luck would have it, I’ve only even taken it in the Spring (April/May). During those months, the leaves haven’t grown on the trees yet, so it looks kinda dead. But in the fall, as the oak brush and tree leaves turn to the brilliant colors of autumn, I bet it’s even more of a scenic drive.

However, you probably won’t find any patches of snow, so don’t count on a snowball fight. The highway is probably open in the winter, but I would check the weather and make sure you aren’t caught in a snow storm going up over the mountain pass if you’re out enjoying a scenic drive.

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