Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway

Few places let you drive from a city of more than 700,000 people to the edge of the sky in under two hours. The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway starts in the old mining town of Idaho Springs, follows Chicago Creek up to Echo Lake, then climbs a narrow road through the krummholz and onto open tundra. Near the end, switchbacks with long drop-offs lead to a parking area a few hundred feet below the summit. It is an unforgettable drive, and it demands some preparation.

A new name for an old mountain

In 2023, federal and state geographic naming boards approved renaming Mount Evans to Mount Blue Sky. The previous name honored John Evans, Colorado's second territorial governor, whose administration is tied to the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre of Cheyenne and Arapaho people. The new name, proposed with tribal involvement, refers to the Arapaho, known as the Blue Sky People, and to a Cheyenne ceremony of renewal. Road signs, maps and agency pages have been updating since, so you will still see both names.

Reservations and fees in 2026

After a long closure for road repairs that began after Labor Day 2024, the byway reopened over Memorial Day weekend 2026 with a reservation system. As reported when reservations opened:

• Where to bookRecreation.gov, up to 30 days ahead of your visit.
• When it appliesTo drive up the mountain and park anywhere along the way between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Who is exemptHikers and bicyclists did not need a vehicle reservation.
• Free optionFree passes were offered through Clear Creek County and Denver public libraries.

Reservation fees, release times and the operating calendar can change from season to season. Look up the current listing on Recreation.gov before you leave Denver, because cell service on the mountain is unreliable.

Stops on the way up

Echo Lake Park

At about 10,600 feet, Echo Lake is a Denver Mountain Park with a picnic area, a short shoreline trail and a historic lodge built from local timber and stone. The park protects a fen, a peat-forming wetland that takes centuries to develop, so stay on the trail. Echo Lake marks the start of the reservation-controlled section of the byway.

Mount Goliath Natural Area

A few miles up, Mount Goliath protects a stand of Rocky Mountain bristlecone pines, gnarled trees that can live for well over a thousand years in the harsh wind and cold. The Denver Botanic Gardens partners on the site's nature center and alpine garden, and trails lead through the bristlecones. It is the most rewarding stop on the road for most visitors.

Summit Lake Park

Summit Lake sits in a glacial basin near 12,800 feet below the north face of the mountain and is the highest park in the Denver Mountain Parks system. The lake is often partly frozen into July. It is also a popular starting point for hikers who walk the final stretch to the summit, a route that begins around 12,850 feet.

The summit area

The road ends at a parking area just below the top. From there, a short, steep trail of a few hundred feet climbs to the summit itself. At this height every step takes effort, so go slowly. On a clear day you can see across the Front Range and out over the plains toward Denver.

Wildlife on the mountain

Mountain goats and bighorn sheep are often seen along the upper road, sometimes standing on the asphalt. Marmots and pikas live among the rocks near Summit Lake. Stay in or next to your vehicle, give animals plenty of room and never feed them. Feeding big game is illegal in Colorado, and human food harms all wild animals.

Altitude and weather: take them seriously

At the summit parking area the air holds well under two-thirds of the oxygen available at sea level. Visitors who drove straight up from Denver commonly feel lightheaded, breathless or headachy. The CDC notes that acute mountain sickness can begin within hours of reaching high elevation and that slow ascent is the best prevention, which is hard to do on a road trip. Practical steps help:

1. Spend a night in Denver first if you have flown in from near sea level.
2. Drink water and eat before and during the drive; skip alcohol the night before.
3. Move slowly at the top, and keep children and older travelers warm and rested.
4. Turn around if anyone's headache worsens, they become confused or they struggle to breathe at rest. Descending is the treatment.

Weather is the other hazard. Summer thunderstorms build over the peaks by early afternoon, bringing lightning, hail and sudden cold. Temperatures at the top are often 30 or more degrees colder than in Denver. Bring a warm jacket, a hat and gloves even in July, and plan to be headed down by early afternoon.

Driving tips

• The upper road is narrow, has few guardrails and includes sections damaged by frost heaves. Drive slowly and use low gears on the descent to save your brakes.
• Cyclists use the road heavily in summer. Pass only when you can see well ahead.
• There is no fuel on the byway. Fill up in Idaho Springs.
• Facilities are limited and seasonal. Bring water, snacks and sun protection.

Plan the rest of the day

A summit morning pairs well with an afternoon in Idaho Springs, where a hot springs soak and a creekside lunch are a few minutes from the bottom of the road. If you want alpine scenery with a longer season and more wildlife, compare this trip with Rocky Mountain National Park and Trail Ridge Road.

Frequently asked questions

Checked against official sources in October 2026. Hours, fees, reservation rules and road status change often; the agency or venue linked above is always the final word. See how we research.