Byway Overview: As you would expect with the highest paved road in North America, the views are breathtaking. Alpine lakes, massive granite walls and stands of twisted, ancient bristlecone pine can be enjoyed. Keep your eyes peeled for mountain goats and bighorn sheep.
The Byway Experience: As the highest paved road in North America, Mount Evans Road rises to a height of 14,130 feet above sea level. Many clouds don't even make it that high, but you can. Begin your trip in the historic mining town of Idaho Springs. While the mine in the area no longer functions or supplies gold, it does provide tours. The town is also known for its natural hot spring pools, which is a great place to relax road-weary muscles after your trip. From town, travel south on CO Highway 103 to the junction of CO Highway 5, the entrance to Mount Evans Road. Groves of pine trees first greet you on this section, but gradually give way once timberline is breeched. Riding along the exposed mountainside yields magnificent views of glacier-cut valleys and a seemingly endless horizon of sharp, rocky peaks. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep often graze roadside, and are accustomed enough to visitors in the area that they'll usually lazily stare back at you as you snap a picture. Trees aren't the only things you leave behind along this route—the guardrails also disappear up here, so use caution as you traverse the switchbacks to the top.
The History: Idaho Springs—a former mining town nestled in the Clear Creek Valley—offers numerous heritage attractions, including a tour of the Argo Gold Mill and Mining Museum and the Idaho Springs Heritage Museum.
Four-wheel drive required? No
Portions closed in winter? Yes (from Echo Lake to the Mount Evans summit).
Distance: 49 miles; Allow 2 hours
Towns: Idaho Springs
Landmarks: Mount Evans, Echo Lake, Mount Evans Wilderness Area, Idaho Springs Hot Springs