Idaho Springs, CO- Located a short drive off of Interstate 70, the 14 mile Mount Evans Scenic Byway is the highest paved road in North America. Drive from 8,700 feet at Idaho Springs where you turn off I-70 to 14,130 feet at the summit. Along the route you will pass through three zones including montane, subalpine, and alpine, driving past ancient trees, lakes and forest to the land above timberline. It can be 90 degrees in Denver and 40 degrees at the top of Mount Evans, so taking a jacket is recommended. The panoramic views enroute and from the top are phenomenal. The area falls under the jurisdiction of the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest.
Drive to the summit of Mt Evans
From the National Forest Service’s website: “Mount Evans is a very popular destination for thousands of visitors each year. Expect heavy traffic, limited parking with full parking lots and lines on most weekends and especially during holiday weekends. The best time to visit is during the week and mornings. Conditions can change quickly and drastically on Mount Evans. Regardless of the weather conditions at the road’s base, come prepared for any of the following: intense sunlight, cold temperatures, snow, hail or rain, extreme wind, and low oxygen levels. The road can close any day throughout the summer due to winter-like conditions. If you have any concern whether or not the road is open, contact the Idaho Springs Visitors Center at 303-567-4382 or check road conditions with Colorado Department of Transportation before beginning your trip. Vehicles over 30′ long are not recommended on Highway 5 (Mount Evans road) due to the steep, narrow, winding road.”
The alpine zone
To get to Mt Evans Scenic Byway, from I-70, take exit 240 in Idaho Springs. Follow Highway 103 south until it meets Echo Lake. Take Highway 5 to the top of Mount Evans. There is an entrance booth which collects $10 per vehicle (up to 12 people). Interagency Federal Passes such as the Annual National Parks Pass, Senior or Access Passes are accepted.
Along the Mt Evans Scenic Byway
We traveled the Mt Evans Scenic Byway in July of 2017 in our F-250 pick-up truck with Mike’s parents. The road is very narrow in sections and we chose to fold in our mirrors. After driving our Class A RV’s for five years, Mike is very comfortable with wide vehicles and did a great job. There are steep drop offs in places and it was fun to watch many of the smaller vehicles, who were not as comfortable with lane placement, taking up more than half of the road. This is not a road for people uncomfortable with driving on narrow roads or drop offs. Unlike many pass roads we have driven, this road is paved, albeit quite bumpy. There are many pull-offs for admiring the scenery.
Summit Lake is located before the final switchbacks
Mt Evans Scenic Byway is an impressive road
The final switchback sections have tight corners
Surrounding mountains
Watch for wildlife along the byway. We saw Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goats, Marmots, and Pika. Mule deer and elk can also be seen along the route. In summer, alpine wildflowers are on display.
A female bighorn sheep on Mt Evans
Bighorn sheep at the summit of Mt Evans
Mountain goats near the summit of Mount Evans
Due to its high elevation, the Mount Evans Scenic Byway is typically open the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the first weekend in October, depending on weather conditions. The road and access to the top of Mount Evans is closed at Summit Lake the day after Labor Day. At the top of the road are restrooms and the ruins of a prior gift shop/restaurant. The area is surrounded by Mount Evans Wilderness and Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest. There are numerous picnic areas along Route 103.
