Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (formerly Mount Evans)
Idaho Springs → Mount Blue Sky summit, CO · ~28 miles to the summit · half to full day
Stylized illustration, not a photo — the real place looks different (and that’s half the fun).
The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway — renamed from the Mount Evans Byway after the peak was renamed in 2023 — climbs over 7,000 feet from Idaho Springs to about 14,130 feet, the highest paved road in North America, past alpine lakes and thousand-year-old bristlecone pines to a tundra summit.
Good to know: Reopened in 2026 after major reconstruction and now requires a timed-entry reservation via Recreation.gov (small fee). Seasonal and weather-dependent, with no guardrails up top — and altitude sickness is real above 14,000 ft.
Updated July 2026.
The highest paved road in North America.
Drive higher than almost anywhere on the continent, past bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and ancient bristlecones to a 14,000-foot summit.
States on this route
The signature stops
What to pull over for.
The best stops on the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (formerly Mount Evans) are the places that define the drive, not just the nearest towns. Roamward orders them for the road: start with Idaho Springs, Echo Lake, Mount Goliath bristlecones, Summit Lake, then open each stop guide for the pull-over context.
01Idaho Springsthe historic mining town and last services before the climb — open the stop guideCO
02Echo Lakea subalpine lake at ~10,600 ft where the summit road begins — open the stop guideCO
03Mount Goliath bristleconesa grove of 1,000-year-old bristlecone pines — open the stop guideCO
04Summit Lakea stark alpine lake at ~12,800 ft below the summit — open the stop guideCO
05Mount Blue Sky summitthe road’s end near the 14,265-ft top — open the stop guideCO
Where to eat
Restaurants along this route.
Restaurants on the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (formerly Mount Evans) are chosen for trip usefulness: gateway-town location, a clear reason to stop, and enough quality to make a traveler save the pick. Start with Lariat Lodge Brewing, Beau Jo's Idaho Springs, Clear Creek Cidery, Main Street Restaurant.
A curated set of trip-useful meals near the route — enough to anchor driving days without turning the guide into a phone book.
- Lariat Lodge Brewing
An Evergreen brewery meal for the Mount Blue Sky approach, especially useful if the summit day starts or ends on the Denver side.
- Beau Jo's Idaho Springs
The Colorado mountain-pie classic for the Mount Blue Sky base town and I-70 approach.
- Clear Creek Cidery
An Idaho Springs cider-and-comfort-food stop that adds another Mount Blue Sky base-town option beyond pizza and brewpubs.
- Main Street Restaurant
Classic Idaho Springs breakfast and lunch room that works when the mountain day starts early and high-altitude appetites are practical.
- Marion’s of the Rockies
A classic Idaho Springs breakfast stop for early Mount Blue Sky starts when the summit road day needs a real meal first.
- MTN Prime
An Idaho Springs steakhouse option for Mount Blue Sky travelers who want a more substantial post-summit meal.
- Smokin' Yards BBQ
Idaho Springs barbecue institution for ribs, brisket, and sides before or after the Mount Blue Sky climb.
- Tommyknocker Brewery
A downtown Idaho Springs brewpub for the Mount Blue Sky base-town meal.
Build a trip around Mount Blue Sky Byway drive.
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Stay & experience
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Things to do near Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (formerly Mount Evans)
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