A friend of mine had told me about this place and said we should give it a visit when in Colorado. We tried to do that the last time we were there, but it had already closed for the season. This trip, we were a week or so earlier, so we decided to try again. Fortunately, most of the area was still open. Only the very top was closed. Timed entry passes are required here, just like in many of the National Parks. I'm glad one of our group thought to get it. After a very nice drive up from Idaho Springs, we showed our permit and headed up. Part of the fun of this trip is that it's the highest paved road in North America (14,264 ft). We made it all the way up to one of the alpine lakes, and it was cold. I'm glad we were prepared for the cold and wind. We didn't see any wildlife at the lake, but we did see some on the way up. The area is full of deer, big horn sheep, and mountain goats, and we got to see 2 of the 3. Will I return? Definitely. However, if you want to see it all, you better go in the summer. read more

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Beautiful. Loved this hike. Come early. parking lot may fill up. We arrive at 6 am on monday 6/27/2021. summit lake lot was around half full. There are bathrooms available at the lot for use. Bring $5 cash to pay to park when you arrive. there is an envelope to fill out over near the bathroom for parking. Take the trail that doesn't go down close to the lake and then you will hang a left. There is some signage before you really start to incline. the elevation gain from the parking lot to mount spaulding was fairly intense. There are a lot of rocks. Would make sure you have good boots for this hike. Once you get up to mount spaulding you will start to DESCEND. the trail up to mount spaulding is relatively well laid out. however after you get down from mount spaulding. Well there is a rock area that is not marked at all. Take a peek at 14ers.com so you can see some pics of where you should go. once you get over the hump and down. Stay around 25 feet down below the ridge and look for the CAIRNS. Rock piles. These will help guide you to where you should be going. Thankfully all trails did pull up for me when we were in the spot that is absolutely not marked. just be prepared for that stretch. From spaulding on up to the summit was a lot of climbing around on rocks. It was fun but be prepared for that. There were not many folks on the actual trail. but once you hit the summit parking lot at the top there will be a fair amount of people up at the summit as a lot of people drive up there. They do have bathrooms at the top, that is actually kind of a nice treat. I really enjoyed this 14er. I would definitely be up for doing this one again. read more

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This was tougher than I thought it would be. You read all the information on what happens when you climb higher. Well to provide an example, at the bottom it was 82 degrees. We got to the top and temperature dropped down to 38 degrees. I didn't have the correct clothes on for being that high up on Mt. Evans. The other part is when I got out of the vehicle, wow the air took my breath away and took me a while to gain it back. I got lightheaded immediately while exiting the vehicle. Besides that the views were absolutely amazing. Some of the best views I've ever seen. It reminded me of Washington State and South Dakota. Just incredible views. The other part was driving to the top, guardrails are minor and gets more scary as you drive further up. It was a great time. read more

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Had a great and challenging hike up Mount Evans. Don't be fooled by the not as challenging hike up to the summit of Mount Spalding a neighboring 13er. Once when you make your summit up to Mount Evans it's very difficult. The path is just a rocky side of the mountain that you find your own path up. It's steep, rocky, and feels like a really long way up to the top. Once when you make it up rocky wall, you will summit Mount Evans up a small ascent with all of the people who drove up the pass. It's crowded but worth it and the hike is beautiful. We walked down the road since the weather was starting to storm and we didn't want to be caught in a storm on the way down. read more

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We arrived September 1st to Colorado for the first time. We read the Mount Evans closed some of the roads on Labor Day which will be the very next day. So as soon as we got a rental car we headed to Mount Evans. We did stop at Echo Lake and take some pics and look around before we headed to the mountain was very pretty ... nice place to walk . Arrived at Mount Evans decided to buy a national park pass so it looks like we're going to try to visit several national parks in the next 12 months . We did a bit of reading about the Mount Evans before coming ... read that the driving up the mountain would kind of scary with no guard rails and being at such an elevation. Not our first time doing big mountains my husband did the driving as I did the pictures. This is the first time I had any trouble with elevation sickness though it really kicked my ass. I couldn't breathe well I had a headache I couldn't think I just did not feel well but the scenery was so beautiful it was still worth doing and very enjoyable. We saw mountain goats and marmots. There are some lakes and just one beautiful scene after the other love love this beautiful scenery. I do have asthma and have recently been diagnosed with a rapid heartbeat. I don't know if that's why I had trouble with elevation. Luckily I had a Nebulizer breathing machine in the car that really helped me not die. But it really had to manage our expectations for walking. I really wasn't able to walk very much up there. Probably wasn't the best place to head straight from the airport. read more

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SO MAGICAL. Ok, so imagine yourself driving on a road then all of the sudden you day "I wonder where that road goes?". That's exactly what Berry and I did. Somehow we were driving up Mt. Evans and it was truly an awesome site. The snow was falling gently onto the ground and the trees lightly dusted with frost. This is a place I will never forget. The mountain at its peak is 14K feet and you definitely feel the altitude while driving. Oh and the drive itself was breathtaking. Around every scary, icy turn there was a majestic view for the taking. I never thought I would have used the word majestic LOL. I was expecting to see animals singing and talking due to the fact it was so magical. Ok, I need to focus. I strongly encourage you to visit this place as soon as possible, you will not regret it. *DISCLIMER: The actual driving on the mountain is challenging, use extreme caution. read more

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Amazing 14er!! This is my second time attempting this hike and I love every inch of it. The challenge is crazy, but doable. I came on Sunday morning and the weather was perfect! Not super busy either, started at 6:45am. This is a must!!!! read more

The best!! Top of the world and so beautiful. No view compares. Timed entry and reservations needed to go all the way to the top. Echo Lake and Summit Lake are breathtaking. We saw mountain goats and mountain sheep. This trip was an awesome experiences. Near the top, there a trees bent by the wind and hundreds of years-old. There are bathrooms along the way. Parking is crowded. We will be back again and again. read more

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According to AllTrails, the Mount Evans and Mount Spalding Loop Trail is "a 4 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Idaho Springs, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult." DIFFICULT INDEED. I recently visited Denver for the first time and had a blast. Denver's surrounding nature (aka the Rocky Mountain Range) is absolutely beautiful, especially on a clear October weekend. I landed on a Friday night at 9pm, and then woke up 6 hours later so we could drive 2 hours to Summit Lake on Mount Evans to begin the hike: my first ever 14er (14,000 ft. elevation hike). The roads to Summit Lake twist and turn, and there aren't guardrails around a lot of the turns, so I recommend driving very carefully, especially if it's at 5am in the dark. There's a parking lot at Summit Lake that charges $5 (honor system) that has 2 gender neutral bathrooms. The road that leads up to the top of Mount Evans is closed after labor day to account for weather conditions, so the Summit Lake parking lot is the furthest you can go after labor day. Okay, now on to the actual hike. After arriving at the Summit Lake parking lot around 5:30am, my friend and I waited for her coworkers to arrive. It was pitch dark, 25 degrees, and the wind was already blowing violently at, I want to guess, 30mph. Fast enough to slam car doors shut and blow me slightly off my walking path. The 8 of us set out to do the trail going counter-clockwise, and 20 minutes in, 3 people decided to head back either from altitude sickness or it being just too cold. I had been worried about coming from Austin to Denver and hiking a 14er with only 9 hours to adjust to the elevation difference, but I took a non-drowsy dramamine and didn't feel any altitude sickness. The 5 of us trudged on with our backpacks and flashlights, taking frequent breaks to catch our breath since the rocky trail was decently steep and and the air was so thin at that elevation. However, our breaks had to be short because our fingers and toes felt like they started to freeze if we weren't moving and generating body heat. After 3.5 hours, we finally got to the parking lot near the top of the mountain, hiked the last 20 minute stretch among the rocky switchbacks, and reached the top. Wow... Usually, I like challenging hikes that offer a great view because I can take my time up at the top, eat lunch, and enjoy the view I worked hard for. But at the Mt. Evans peak, the wind was still furiously blowing into us, so we snapped a quick group picture and made our way down the mountain as fast as possible. Ultimately, it took about 5 hours for us to complete the 4-mile hike, and boy was I tired. I did feel incredibly accomplished for having completed a 14er though, especially since it was only 11am by the time we were done. Final Rating: This type of nature, the moutains, the water, the hills and valleys, is a guaranteed 5. However, I think the Mt. Evans and Mount Spalding loop trail is more of an achievement hike than it is a viewpoint hike. Yes, the 360 degree views of the mountain ranges are cool, but the best view was watching the sunrise paint the sky and illuminate Summit Lake at 6:30am in the morning. The rest of the hike was more about surviving the winds, accomplishing a 14er, and making it back safely. read more

Mt. Evans Wilderness - Hiking Near Me

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This was one of my favorite intermediate level hikes to the very top!! Aside from it raining down below on the foothills of the mountain, we were greeted by chunks of snow and also hills that looked beautiful as the sun hit the light right. From afar, the views are also ravishing, looked like a live painting with glows from the heavens. We absolutely enjoyed the charm of mother nature that day. We had no trouble with the crowds and had the trail to ourselves for the most part. We hiked for a total of 4-6 hours and also took breaks here and there. We had come prepared and brought snacks and drinks to keep us hydrated and had deep talks on the hills of this gorgeous place. The Peak of Mt. Evans became an inspirational for us to drive up next time and proclaim Mt. Evans, as one of our proudest hikes. Solely, enjoying God's works through nature. At the view that we had, we found that there indeed is a lake where the mountain is shaped like a Halo! Unfortunately, we did not get to see any mountain goats ... Yet, however this will be a great park to revisit. Mt. Evans is one of the tallest mountains in CO, and that makes me smile, knowing we did hike to the very top back in July of 2019. Mt Evans has a scenic bypass, connected to an iconic phoenix gold mine, which is advertised on a map visiting Mt. Evans. read more

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If you are wanting views, this is the place! The drive up Mt Evans is not for the faint of heart. It's a sweaty palms type of drive. I definitely caution anyone driving it to be 100% focused on driving and forget the views until you get to the top. This is not for novice drivers. The road is very narrow, with tight blind hairpin turns and it's a little crumbly. That said, it's got the views and the notch in your belt that you were up on a fourteener. (Although you drive it.) I believe you can hike it from Summit Lake but we were so focused on driving we didn't notice if there was a way to actually hike it. read more

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We went to Mt Evan's July 2017 while visiting relatives in Evergreen. What a beautiful place. We threw snowballs in July. We never did that. The road it tight and alot of turns, so speeding does you no good nor does tailgating.l believe there are 14 miles of winding road. There is a fee to enter. I am not sure of the cost. This is the highest elevation of a paved road in the United States. I recommend going to Mt Evan's. read more

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Great place to be! Not to many people on a week day compared to the weekend. I didn't even have to fight for parking read more

Mt. Evans Wilderness - Outside - Hiking Near Me

My husband and I drove to and from the summit on our wedding anniversary. We hadn't taken this drive for 13 years. The road is scary but adds to the adventure of this journey to the summit of Mt. Evans. We really enjoyed the Mount Goliath Natural Area with its beautiful wildflowers, an example of a Rocky Mountain Bristlecone pine tree over 1,000 years old and a nice little stream. On the summit we encountered a big family of mountain goats and were able to take close up photos and movies of them, They are magnificent animals. We even saw a marmot! The remains of the Crest Stone House are always fascinating as is the history behind it, You will not regret your drive up and down Mt. Evans. It is literally entering a world above the skies where you can even see hawks flying below you. It is exhilarating. read more

Mt. Evans Wilderness - magnificent mountain goat ram - Hiking Near Me

The roads are kind of scary (no guard rails and scary turns) but as long as you drive slow you'll be fine. The scenic drive made it all worth it. They were views I couldn't capture in photos, you just have to be there to experience the beauty of it. I was also so happy to see so many adorable animals! The mountain goats were everything. read more

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Beautiful! Worth the drive and hike. It took my husband and I awhile to hike to the highest point, but it was so breathtaking. Hike to the highest point you can, it is worth it! read more

Mt. Evans Wilderness - Mt Evans 9/27/11 - Hiking Near Me

Experienced the scenic byway, it wasn't more than a 2 hour full circle loop. I found that the northern part of the 103 loop is not nearly as scenic as the lower loop. If you want to try to access Mount Evans at this time of year (November) you cannot as the road is closed beyond Echo Lake for the winter. I knew this in advance. I was blown by the overlooks and was curious given the raving reviews. I would say that at this time of the year it's worth the drive, however, it's much better in the summer. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g33388-d145862-r435161607-Mount_Evans-Denver_Colorado.html# read more

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I'm no hiker by any stretch of the imagination. So for me, Mt. Evans was completely overwhelming. A myriad of trails and landscapes are available to explore until you realize that the air is getting much thinner than we like it at sea level. Highlights from our day: I got to pretend I was a photographer and even my shoddy work appears to have some artistry - I totally credit the scenery for that though. We saw a small flock of goats and I had to keep my Greek girlfriend from attempting to turn one into a meal. The beauty seems endless. We didn't make it to the top but, had quite a day anyway. read more

This is a yearly trip for my husband and our kids. It's the first year we took up our 6 and 7 year old girls because of the trek from the parking area. Here are some things to consider. * Always, no matter how hot it is down below bring a good coat/wind breaker. Bring gloves, hat, ear protection and wear pants. Shorts/skirts are irresponsible! * When driving up, use caution, don't drive like a maniac, enjoy the view and the experience. There are 100's of people that want to enjoy it as well. * It typically closes the September 2nd. Plan accordingly * The air is THIN... even for a Denverite. If you have an upper respiratory infection or issues, take it slow and bring your inhaler. * Have water, a powerbar (or equivalent) and a way to warm up, it gets cold up there quickly. It's a great trip for family and the views are amazing. Do the trip once a year, it's a great Day Trip to have in Colorado! read more

What a view! I agree with other reviewers - the drive is not for the faint of heart. It may even be more impactful to your health than walking up. The road keeps getting narrower and narrower with less and less guard rails while getting closer and closer to the cliff edge. But if your white knuckles hang in there you will be rewarded with a great view. read more

Mount Evans Byway is one of the most beautiful you will ever go on. Every turn is another view. We went in end of September during the middle of the week. Unfortunately the weather on the mountain to sleet and snow showers so we decided to just take the Byway and not go up to the peak. It is not far from Denver and so worth the trip. We exited at Idaho Springs and rode up the mountain to the lake and continued until we came back into I-70. If we had gone through the ranger station that headed up to Mt Evans, we would have gone to 15000 Feet. Expect to lose cell phone service and connect with nature. Stop along the way and do some of the hikes. read more

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I loved it! This time of year, the road is only open to Summit Lake, so the park fee is only 1/2. I ended up buying a small can of oxygen because I couldn't handle the height. The scenery is beautiful. Even if you don't or can't hike, there is enough beauty right off the road. Make sure you pack warm clothes, because the temperature difference is huge! I can't wait to go again. read more

Whoa! One of Colorado's most famous 14ers (14,000 foot mountain)! The views up at this mountain are breathtakingly magestic! There's little wonder why the natives called this area a "gem in the mountains". This mount is a sight to behold regardless of the mode of your preferred transportation up the mountain! All the sights up are magical. We drove up the mountain to Echo Lake to start our hike. On the way up we saw every kind of hiker, road hikers, bicyclists, motor bikers, joggers, you name it... They were here. Mt Evan's attracts all kinds of adventurers to its beautiful sights! Highly recommend this hike. It has a very challenging climb just as well. This hike was the toughest of hikes I've ever embarked on! We took the hike from Echo Lake to the first Chicago lake. It proved to be the beginning of a gruesome day of a climbing treck that left me sore from my calves, thighs, hamstrings, glutes, traps & shoulders!! The thin air up there is the biggest challenge to deal with (if your not from around these parts). Every ten foot incline is a kick to a chest. On the contrary, on your way back down your descend... as you climb down into thicker atmosphere, your energy starts to come back as long as your on a descend. We started the hike at midday and made it back out under a full moon. As painful as it was... It was equally as much fun! Distance: About 8-12 miles RT. Elevation Gain: Trail gains 200 feet, then drops 400 feet, then gains 1,400 feet to the upper lake Trailhead: at Echo Lake campground read more

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After a long and windy drive up the mountain we were rewarded with some of the most beautiful views I've ever seen. Totally worth the $10 to go all the way up. Stop at Summit Lake Park and check out the landscape. It's incredible as well. Make sure you prepare for your trip up the mountain and take a jacket/pants and a snack or picnic lunch. And drinks!! There's no place to stop for these provisions. Also, pack your good camera because a camera phone just doesn't cut it! read more

I actually prefer Mt. Evans to more popular hiking locations like Red Rocks. Be warned, the roads can be scary to drive on; there are no gates or walls on the edge of the road that leads up the mountain which gives you constant beautiful views but be careful and watch the road. There's lots of wildlife, and the rangers are really nice. Bring a camera! read more

Mt. Evans Wilderness - One of the lakes at Mt. Evans - Hiking Near Me

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Amazing! Started out with a hike around Echo Lake which was great! Then, not knowing what to expect, we headed up the mountain to the summit of Mt. Evans. There are numerous spectacular views, tons of wildlife (we saw elk, bighorn sheep, marmots, mountain goats, mule deer, and probably some I forgot). It was pretty spectacular, had trouble getting enough air at the summit and my daughter was really cold so dress appropriately. read more

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Gorgeous drive! My husband and me like to drive up here at least once per year. It is so beautiful and there are many places to get out and take pictures or walk a bit. Once you get to the top there is still the tippity top to hike up! It is so worth the hike to get that amazing view. Also: goats! read more

This was my 17th "Colorado 14er." I chose to bicycle up this one from Idaho Springs (about 55 mi RT) and then hike the short trip from parking lot to the true summit. Mt Evans is great because of its proximity to Denver and the multiple ways one can get to the top. Regardless of whether you take a machine or power yourself, and your opinion of those modes, Mt Evans is still beautiful and the view is amazing. Be prepared to feel like you're at the Macy's Day Parade on sunny summer weekends. read more

It was absolutely breathtaking. Make sure your bring food and water. Trip is longer then expected. Definitely take a jacket. Don't forget the camera! The restaurant at the bottom has some of the most amazing homemade pie! A sight you definitely have to visit while in this area. Worth the trip from Texas for sure. read more

Gorgeous, scenic drive! Only fouteener in CO You can drive to, $10 vehicle fee. Dogs okay on a leash. Bring jacket it gets cold towards the top, especially cloudy days. Check website for open & close dates (After Labor Day weekend the top 5 miles usually close due to weather conditions) narrow road makes it a real fun drive ! Few trails at the bottom by Echo lake also nice hikes, and Echo lodge for drinks or food open only spring /summer. Definitely recommend! read more

Must see!!! Long drive up but worth it. One of the most breath taking spots I've seen.

My hiking partner doesn't consider it camping if we can see or hear other humans, therefor I just can't release any information other than this is my favorite place. Do some research and explore. read more

Great views! Wonderful drive. $15 gets you access to get out of the car on the mountain. Be prepared for foul / cold weather. We went in Late August & it was sleeting when we went up. read more

awesome place to spend a day. would be 5 stars but the road is torn up in many places but otherwise get out and enjoy the views.