Mount Evans Scenic Byway (Mount Blue Sky), Colorado

About this drive

The Mount Evans Scenic Byway ends at the highest paved road in North America, at 14,130 feet above sea level — above the cloud layer on most summer days, and above the altitude at which most unacclimatized visitors start to feel the effects of thin air. The road climbs from Idaho Springs at about 7,500 feet, passing through three distinct ecological zones in about 28 miles: montane forest, subalpine, and finally the alpine tundra above the treeline where only grasses, cushion plants, and slow-growing lichens survive. Mountain goats are extremely common near the summit — habituated to cars and often blocking the road completely. Bighorn sheep, yellow-bellied marmots, and pikas are also frequent sightings on the upper section. Summit Lake sits at about 12,830 feet and is a popular short stop before the final climb; the lake often retains ice through June and sits in a cirque that feels almost European in its austerity. The road is only open from late May through early November. The air at the summit has roughly 40% less oxygen than at sea level — acclimatize in Denver or Idaho Springs for at least a day if arriving from sea level. On a clear day the view from the summit extends over 100 miles in every direction.

Stops along the way

• 📸 Summit Lake · Scenic Viewpoint

  An alpine lake just below the final climb, often holding ice well into summer.

Featured in

• Best Mountain Scenic Drives in the USA