Volume 1

Explore Aspen’s Scenic Routes with NASCAR Legend Jimmie Johnson

For IndyCar racer and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, the mountain roads in his part-time home of Aspen are the kind that make you want to slow down and take in the view.

As told to Lauren McNally
Images by Kevin Keller, Gabe L’Heureux, and courtesy of Liz Nielsen

The roads in Aspen are far more fun than the roads in Charlotte, much more interesting. I don’t really drive crazy on the mountain roads—thankfully I’m able to get out my need for speed on the racetrack. I find that I drive much slower in Aspen. In the summertime, you have cyclists and people out on foot. You also have wildlife that comes into play. It’s good to be cautious and learn the roads out of respect to everybody who’s out and about.

I’m always traveling in and out of Aspen for races, so I do a lot of driving by myself to and from the airport. When I have my family in the car though, one thing we love to do as soon on that final trek into town is play John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High.” That’s our time to let it soak in that we’ve arrived in Aspen.

Before buying a home in Aspen, Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra, were frequent visitors to the valley.
Independence Pass

“Going up the pass is always a favorite. I like driving up to the top and exploring the area on foot. If there are parking spots, I’ll stop at the Devil’s Punchbowl and jump in the swimming hole. That’s always a great time—just be ready for cold water.”

Castle Creek Road

“I love the drive up Castle Creek Road. It’s one of my favorite routes. I cycle it often and have lunch at Pine Creek Cookhouse.”

Pictured above and below, Liz Nielsen’s Ice Mountain (2021) and Ski Village (2021). The artist is represented by SOCO Gallery, owned by Chandra Johnson in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Johnson family also spends part of the year.

Elk Creek Road

“One other favorite stretch is on the way to Snowmass on Elk Creek Road, when you pop up onto the plateau and drive along farmland. Such a picturesque area.”

Smuggler to Four Corners

“On the mountain bike, there are so many amazing trails to choose from, but I love to go up Smuggler Mountain Road and make my way up to Four Corners through Hunter Creek Valley. It’s just so beautiful around there.”