Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mt Evans
ELEV 14,264FT
The pinnacle of many trips to Clear Creek County is a drive to the summit of
Mt Evans
(
www.mountevans.com
; Hwy 103; per car $10; late May-early Sep)
, which is less than an hour west of
Denver's skyscrapers. The home of shaggy, snow-white mountain goats and ancient
bristlecone pine, this is the highest paved road in North America and one of three classic
high-alpine drives along the Front Range (the other two being Pikes Peak Hwy and Trail
Ridge Rd in Rocky Mountain National Park).
From Idaho Springs to the summit, the road ascends roughly 6600ft in altitude over 28
miles, passing through montane, subalpine and tundra ecosystems. One stop you don't
want to miss is the
Mt Goliath Natural Area
(11,540ft; park at the Dos Chappell Nature
Center), where you can check out some of the oldest living organisms on the planet, the
gnarled, wind-sculpted bristlecone pine. The trees here range from 900 to an astounding
2000 years old.
Continuing on the road past
Summit Lake
, which freezes solid in winter, you are likely to
encounter Rocky Mountain goats and bighorn sheep. From the parking lot it's then a short
but lung-busting scramble to the summit's transcendent views.
Altitude change is serious business and you should come prepared, particularly if you
start the day in Denver. You'll need to bring lots of water, a warm fleece (even if it's 90°F
out), outer shell, sunscreen and sunglasses. There's no food up here, so a picnic is a good
idea as well. Afternoon thunderstorms are always a possibility, so get an early start.
To get here, take exit 240 off I-70 at Idaho Springs and follow the signs south on Hwy
103. Near the exit, you'll pass the USFS Ranger Station, which offers information and
topo maps. You can camp at Echo Lake, just before the fee station.
TOP OF CHAPTER
St Mary's Glacier & James Peak
Wildflowers and windswept trails, boulders and snowfields - these are the disproportion-
ately big rewards for the easy hike up to St Mary's Glacier area. It's a quick day escape
from Denver, and the modest elevation gains, short distance (half-mile) and summer snow
and ice make it ideal even for the littlest hikers. Although the area gets fairly busy on
