Aside from being outdoors, one of Colorado’s favorite pastimes is taking long and scenic drives, which – lucky for us – are incredibly easy to come by in the Centennial State! If you have driven all of the iconic roads and are looking for something a little more hidden, however, there is only one road to take, which is the underrated and underappreciated Shelf Road:

Welcome to Shelf Road, AKA, the "most adventurous and rugged drive on the Gold Belt Scenic Byway"! 
TripAdvisor/Rubicon Rachelle
Located near Cripple Creek, Shelf Road is adventurous and rugged in that the stretch is unpaved, which may sound daunting and dangerous, but - according to Visit Colorado Springs - is actually suitable for most cars (though all-wheel drive is still considered best).
TripAdvisor/Rubicon Rachelle
How did this rough and tumble road come to be? It turns out that it is as historical as it is fun to drive, as Shelf Road was originally a stagecoach route that served the communities of Cripple Creek and Canon City, and was also one of the first roads from the Arkansas Valley into the once-famed Cripple Creek Mining District.
TripAdvisor/GarySLT

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Keep your eyes peeled during your drive, as you can still see remains from this fascinating time.
TripAdvisor/stewbrew
You never know who (or what!) you will see while driving Shelf Road! 
TripAdvisor/MLM2930
In addition to the underrated drive, Shelf Road is also a stellar spot for rock climbing and hiking, so be sure to carve out time to get out of the car and explore the area.
TripAdvisor/Julie H
For more information on Shelf Road and the surrounding area, please visit the Bureau of Land Management's website.
TripAdvisor/bambamhunts

Which Colorado drive is your favorite? Let us know in the comments or via our nomination form! For even more epic roads, check out these 6 Awesome Tunnels In Colorado You Need To Drive Through At Least Once.

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Shelf Rd, Colorado, USA