Your next Colorado road trip could include scenic mountain roads, historic towns, local coffee shops, and a few unexpected discoveries along the way, all from behind the wheel of an electric vehicle.
To celebrate National Scenic Byway Day on September 22, Drive Clean Colorado partnered with ChargeWest to explore Lariat Loop, a roughly 40-mile scenic and historic route through Colorado’s foothills. The team documented the experience in a new Lariat Loop EV Travel Guide, designed to help drivers plan their own adventure and see how charging can fit naturally into a day of exploring.
A Road Trip with Plenty of Reasons to Stop
Starting and ending in Golden, the Lariat Loop winds through Lookout Mountain, Evergreen, Morrison, Red Rocks, and Dinosaur Ridge. Along the way, the team explored hiking trails, visited historic destinations, supported local businesses, and talked with EV drivers and community members.
The guide takes readers through the trip stop by stop, sharing charging locations, costs, charging times, battery check-ins, local recommendations, and practical travel tips.
In Golden, the team started the day with a charge near downtown before grabbing food and coffee at a local coffee shop. After leaving Golden, their first stop was Windy Saddle Park, where they hiked Mount Zion Trail and met fellow EV drivers and avid bird-watchers who shared their experiences traveling Colorado in an EV. Later, in Morrison, a charging stop provided time to enjoy lunch at The Cow An Eatery and explore the historic town.
The trip also offered a glimpse into how charging infrastructure can support local communities. In Evergreen, the team spoke with Jim Good, owner of Evergreen Mountain Village, about plans to install four EV chargers in the village’s parking lot. The project highlights how charging access can give visitors another reason to stop, shop, and spend time in the community.
Making Charging Part of the Adventure
One takeaway from the trip was that charging doesn’t have to mean sitting around waiting for a vehicle. With a little planning, drivers can use charging time to enjoy a meal, visit a local business, or explore somewhere new.
The team started the trip at 27% charge. They tracked battery levels throughout the route and returned to Golden with 29% battery remaining. The experience offered a practical look at how an EV can handle a scenic day trip, while also showing the ease of finding charging stops along your route without significant planning.
Every road trip looks a little different, and charging availability can change. The guide provides a starting point for planning your own journey, with information to help you decide where to stop and what to explore.
Plan Your Lariat Loop Adventure
Through its partnership with ChargeWest and the Ride Your Range initiative, Drive Clean Colorado is helping encourage EV drivers to venture beyond their everyday routes and discover more of the West.
Whether you’re a longtime EV driver or just curious about electric road trips, Lariat Loop is an opportunity to experience Colorado’s scenic byways, connect with local communities, and discover something new along the way.
Ready to explore? Check out the Lariat Loop EV Travel Guide and start planning your own Colorado adventure.
For more EV Travel inspiration and information, take a look at ChargeWest’s Ride Your Range Autumn Edition, and keep an eye out for their Winter Edition coming soon!
We look forward to many more of these trips to showcase Colorado’s EV accessible Scenic byways, Thank you for ChargeWest for partnering with us!