- As the highest paved road in North America, Mount Blue Sky Road rises to a height of 14,130 feet above sea level (learn about all 58 14ers here. 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 Argo Gold Mine and Mill that's part of the area's mining past no longer functions or supplies gold, it does provide tours. You can also check out the town's past at the Idaho Springs Heritage Museum.
- The town is also known for the natural hot spring pools at Indian Springs Resort, which is a great place to relax road-weary muscles after your trip.
- From town, travel south on CO Hwy. 103 to the junction of CO Hwy. 5, the entrance to Mount Blue Sky 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.
Colorado Scenic Byway: Mount Blue Sky
Colorado's Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (formerly Mount Evans) is the highest paved road in North America. As you would expect, the views up to Mount Blue Sky are breathtaking, with alpine lakes, massive granite walls and stands of twisted, ancient bristlecone pine. Keep your eyes peeled for mountain goats and bighorn sheep.
Note: The Mount Blue Sky Highway (Colorado Hwy. 5, from Echo Lake to the summit) will require timed-entry reservations in summer from Recreation.gov.
Updated: March 22, 2024
A wildlower basin along the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway near Idaho Springs, CO
Mountain goats scale Mount Blue Sky near Idaho Springs, CO
The view from the top of Mount Evans' scenic byway near Idaho Springs, CO
Portions closed in winter? Yes (from Echo Lake to the Mount Blue Sky summit)
Distance: 49 miles
Suggested Time: Allow 2 hours
Colorado is home to 26 Scenic and Historic Byways, 13 of which are also federally designated America's Byways. Read about all 26 in our Quick Guide to Colorado's Scenic & Historic Byways; check out our new Colorado byways microsite with videos, trip tips and more; or view our virtual Colorado Byways Guide.
And read about other famous Colorado mountains.