Mt. Evans Wilderness

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!

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!

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

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 2^nd. 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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

I loved it! This time of year, the road is only open to Summit Lake, so the park fee is only ½. 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.

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.

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.

Lots of trails and it’s only about 45 minutes from Denver.