Mount Evans Scenic Byway

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The Mount Evans Scenic Byway approaching the summit

The Mount Evans Scenic Byway begins at the junction of Interstate 70 and Colorado State Highway 103 near Idaho Springs, Colorado and continues on Colorado State Highway 5 through the Mount Evans Wilderness Area where it ends near the summit of Mount Evans. The byway is 28 miles in length and gains over 7,000 feet of altitude. Achieving a final altitude of 14,130 feet, this is the highest paved road in North America.

There is a park fee charged to gain access to the upper portion of the byway at the entrance to Highway 5. This portion of the byway is often narrow, with sudden dropoffs that have no guardrails. It is typically only accessible from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, although the amount of access and specific dates vary depending on the weather and road conditions.

This route was designated a National Forest Byway on July 1, 1993 by the US Forest Service and has also been designated a Colorado Scenic Byway by the Colorado Department of Transportation.