“Peaks to Dunes in the new Defender County” 2024 Land Rover Defender 110 "County"

In June, the Rocky Mountains of Colorado transform into a breathtaking canvas, where winter’s final remnants meet the burgeoning summer. Our adventure began at Denver Airport, where we took delivery of a new Land Rover Defender 110 “County,” a vehicle built to conquer any terrain with style and ease.

Born in 1946 and produced until 2016, the Land Rover Defender is nothing short of legendary, being one of the longest-lived models in automotive history. In 2019, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Land Rover presented the new generation, which gained immediate success.

It’s late at night when we land in Denver and jump onboard our beautiful Tasman Blue “Def.” The County Exterior Pack is available on the 2024 Defender 110 S and SE. It includes exterior retro-inspired graphics that run along the lower portion of the doors, contrasting paint for the roof and rear door, a rear-mounted spare, and rugged-looking interior trim, making it even more handsome and ready for any road you would face.

Inside, the Defender County combines utilitarian design with luxury, offering an extremely high level of comfort, high-quality materials, and a modern infotainment system with advanced connectivity.

The next day, we woke up early, eager to start our road trip from the heart of the Rockies, where snow still adorned the highest peaks. We planned to drive south until the border with New Mexico.

The Fremont Pass, with its 3,450 meters above sea level (11,300 feet), brings us back to winter for a few miles before descending to the beautiful town of Leadville along the 91 South.

Our Defender is equipped with a 3.0-liter inline-six engine featuring mild hybrid technology and delivering 395 horsepower. Despite not having the soundtrack of the bigger V8, it’s still an excellent engine to cruise along the empty roads of northern Colorado.

As we descended, the landscape began to shift. The high-altitude chill gave way to warmer breezes, and the snow gradually receded, replaced by lush meadows and vibrant wildflowers.

Growing up reading Western comics and having a girlfriend who loves horses, we couldn’t miss a break at a real ranch. Midway through our journey, we had the pleasure to stop by the stunning Music Meadows Ranch.

Nestled in the Wet Mountain Valley, just outside of Westcliffe, this 4,000-acre working cattle ranch offers the most authentic ranch experience you could have. We were welcomed by the owner, Elin, who showed us around the property and her beautiful horses. The serene landscape, with rolling meadows and panoramic mountain views, is an idyllic spot to unwind. If only we could have stopped for a couple of days… this beautiful place is definitely added to the list of “I’ll be back.”

Unfortunately, we still had a few hundred miles to cover, so we continued south to reach the last destination of our trip.

The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America. These impressive dunes, some reaching heights of over 750 feet, are set against the stunning backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The park covers over 149,000 acres and offers a diverse landscape that includes grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. The area is surrounded by gravel roads, perfect for testing the off-road capabilities of our Defender. While most buyers will use it for just “SUV things,” it’s on terrains like this where you can really appreciate its potential. Thanks to the advanced Terrain Response 2 system, performance is optimized on all surfaces, ensuring maximum traction and stability both on rocks and sand. If you happen to be around there with your off-road vehicle, make sure not to miss the “Medano Creek Primitive Road.”

With a beautiful sunset over the dunes, we ended our trip in Colorado. From snow-dusted peaks to sun-baked sand dunes, every moment was a testament to the Defender’s capability and the timeless allure of the Rockies. As we headed back, the Defender, caked in a satisfying layer of dust and snow, proved itself a worthy successor to its storied off-road ancestors.

Many thanks to Land Rover USA, Music Meadows Ranch