Mount Evans is one of Colorado’s many 14ers, mountains with peaks above 14,000 ft. Mount Evans’ elevation is 14,271 feet at the top making it the 14th tallest 14er for those of you who like their word play. In addition, Mount Evans also has the distinction of being the highest paved road in North America. Mount Evans is visible for miles around including magnificent views from the rooftop of the Denver Nature and Science Museum where your view includes not only the mountain, but downtown Denver as well.
Mount Evans Road
Mount Evans Road, officially the Mount Evans Scenic Byway originates either off of I-70 near Idaho Springs, or from Bergen Park. The latter is very important to know because the former is frequently filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic. As with all things in the Colorado mountains, earlier is better. If you are on your way up Mount Evans at 8:00am, your drive will be much more pleasant than if you start the journey at 1:00pm.
Part way up the mountain, you will find the Echo Lake Lodge. Lodge is a bit generous, but there is a nice gift shop and a restaurant if you want to eat on the way up, or if you are too early for your summit reservations. Most importantly, they have bathrooms.
The Mount Evans Highway doesn’t go anywhere other than the top of the mountain where it ends in a small parking lot where drivers simply turn around and head back down. As you can imagine, the flow of cars newly arrived from their journey up doesn’t always match the flow of cars finishing their time at the top and heading back down. As a result, people either circle the parking lot repeatedly while tempers flare over who gets what parking spot, or people begin to dangerously park along the side of the already very narrow road.
The Top of Mount Evans
Are there bathrooms at the top of Mount Evans?
Fortunately, yes. There is a parking area and places to get great photos of the surrounding views. You may also hear what sounds like annoying dads whistling at their kids. Those are actually marmots, and they love hanging around there.
If you actually want to summit Mount Evans, you have to climb up on foot a bit more. It’s an easy enough trail, just don’t be one of those people trying it in flip flops, and you should be fine. If you don’t think it’s honorable to drive up the Mount Evans there is also a trail that can be hiked to the summit.
Here is the view of Downtown Denver from Mount Evans (It wasn’t very clear that day. I’ll try and find a better one.)
Mount Evans Timed Entry
To avoid the problems of increasing crowds, you are now required to have a timed ticket to finish the drive up to the top of Mount Evans beyond Echo Lake.
In order to get an entry ticket, you have to buy it online. They do not sell them anywhere on the mountain, including at the Echo Lake Lodge rest area. Now, here is where it gets tricky. There is no cell service after about halfway up, which means if you plan to use your timed reservation ticket electronically on your phone, you must download it BEFORE heading up the mountain. For best results, either print out your ticket, or screenshot your reservation so that you can show a picture of it. If you need to download it once you get up there, you’re going to have a bad time.
Mount Evans Weather
No matter what the weather is like where you are, it is different on the top of Mount Evans. Think of Mount Evans not such much as near where you are in Colorado as it is another mile up into the atmosphere. It will be colder on Mount Evans, and it is almost always windy. If you aren’t getting buffeted by 30 mph winds, consider yourself lucky.
If you didn’t realize how cold it would be, or if you just want a souvenir, they have nice hoodies at the Echo Lake Lodge gift shop.
Mount Evans Name
Mount Evans was renamed for John Evans who was governor of the Colorado territory. My understanding is that Evanston, Illinios is also named for him. He was one of founders of the University of Denver (DU, around these parts). He is also credited for the growth of Denver by bringing in railroad service.
There is a movement to rename Mount Evans because of the governor’s possible role in the Sand Creek Massacre.