Mount Evans: Narrow Drive!

July 24, 2011

The drive to the summit of Mount Evans is a must do!  It's a pretty scary drive though.  The road is steep, crowded, and in some parts very narrow.  When you get to the higher elevation the steep cliffs and lack of guard rails can really make you feel uncomfortable, but the view from the top is one of the most beautiful views I've ever seen!

Fishing at Echo Lake

The first stop on the drive up is Echo Lake Lodge.  This was a good bathroom break, but we also tried our luck at fishing.  I found myself a comfy rock, but had no luck with the fish.  Still, a bad day fishing with beautiful mountain views pretty much beats any other day anywhere!





The next stop was a view of the Bristlecone Pine Trees.  These trees are the oldest living thing on Earth!  The Bristlecones on Mt. Evans are believed to be at least 1,700 years old, while the ones in California are even older!  I know, trees aren't really that exciting, but these trees were just so neat to look at!

Bristlecone Pine Trees

All along the drive to the summit of Mount Evans there is wildlife.

This is a deer we saw when we stopped to view the Bristlecone Pine trees.  He didn't seem skittish around people at all.  We were able to get close enough to snap a really nice photo of him.

This is one of the many marmots we saw along the drive.  They seemed to be everywhere sunning themselves on the warm rocks.  These animals are large rodents and members of the squirrel family actually.  I always thought they looked more like a beaver.  They only live on plains or in mountain regions so they can be hard to spot.  I think they are so cute!

We saw lots of these guys too, mountain goats.  When reading about these goats I discovered that they are actually not native to Mount Evans, or Colorado for that matter.  The first goats were brought to Mount Evans in the 1950's and now there are an estimated 90-100 mountain goats roaming the mountain.  They don't scare easy and we were able to get close enough for a few pictures.

Another lake you pass a long the way it Summit Lake.  There is also a rest area here for a nice, but chilly, picnic lunch and a restroom break.  If there was a mild winter there can be trout found in this lake in the summer months, but unfortunately we had a pretty cold winter so there were no reports of trout in Summit Lake when we were there.  We didn't try out luck, but there were several fisherman trying it out.

Summit Lake

Finally, after 15 miles of winding switchbacks, narrow roads, and a lot of stopping for pictures you reach the summit.  Well, as far as you can drive anyway.  Once at the top you can hike the short 130 feet to the true summit, which of course I had to do!

 The views from the top are magnificent!  It feels like you can reach out and touch the clouds.  I was at a loss for words, but it was peaceful.

A few tips:

1. Very limited parking at the top.  Either go on a weekday if you can, or go early!  
2. Plan to go straight to the top, stopping for pictures on the way down.  This way you will get parking easily and give your brakes a few rest stops on the way down.
3. Bring your own picnic.  Past Echo Lake Lodge there are no food vendors, and odds are you will under estimate how long you spend on the drive
4. Drive down in low gears, mostly 1st or 2nd.  Give your brakes a brake!
5. Finally, DON'T FORGET THE CAMERA!!!  This tip holds true for anywhere in Colorado.  

Enjoy!!!