A drive through the highest motorable road in the US

Our trip – II to Colorado was in the summer. And that meant that the landscapes had turned (from white) to shades-of-green all those high altitude roads on the Rocky Mountains were open. The first of those roads we happened to ride on, thanks to the bestie’s suggestion, was the ‘highest motorable road in the United States,’ oh wait — looks like it is the highest auto road in the whole of North America. I’m talking about Mt. Evans Road and like its name suggests it runs to the top of Mt. Evens in Colorado. 

Mount Evans lies on the front range of the Rocky Mountains and is around an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Denver, CO. Also called Mt. Evans Scenic Byway, this road that cuts off near Squaw Road near Echo Lake is a 14-mile drive to the summit of Mt. Evans.

And it goes up to a height of 14, 260 ft. 

It was on a warm summer evening that we were at the foot of the mountain. We had just passed Echo Lake and taken a right off Squaw Road and turned into Echo Lake Lodge to pick up some caffeine and souvenirs. From the cafe, I saw is gorgeous sight — a view of Echo Lake sitting calm and pretty in the evening light. 

Soon we were on the road – Mt. Evans Scenic Byway to be precise — on an ascent of around-4000 ft and wasn’t it scenic!

Mt. Evans Scenic Byway

In the middle of the ascent, I got an eagle’s eye view of Echo Lake that sits at the foot of Mt. Evans. And I did manage to get a picture of it.

On the way up, we also passed Lincoln Lake islanded on the cliffs of Mt. Evans and then Summit Lake. We saw pretty wildflowers lining the roadsides and the mountainsides and it sure looked like it was a great time to be there. 

As we drove further up, the roads got narrower and bumpier. The air got thinner and colder and views kept getting better. 

We stopped on the way up to see some Mountain Goats that seemed to be grazing on the hillsides, without a care in the world. They seemed to be unfazed even by the sedans and SUVS that revved uphill. 

The Summit and the Views

After what seemed like a never-ending road up (no-complaints there, eh!) we hit the dead-end which was a parking lot on the summit. Now that is a dead-end for automobiles. If the weather is not too bad, you don’t mind the cold wind and you think you can take some more of the less-oxygen-in-the-air situation, you can hike up the bouldered summit and go a bit higher. 

It was not a very strenuous hike but my nine year old who chose to go hike came back numb and altitude sick, with a little nose bleed. So you might want to think twice before you opt for thinner air. 

The views from the level where the parking lot is not bad at all. 

Then there’s a stone building to explore and don’t miss going to the window in there that gives you great views of the slopes, several other peaks of the Rocky Mountains, North America’s highest paved road snaking up Mt. Evans, even a washed-out picture of Mile-High City. 

Crest House

Crest House is the name given to the stone structure on the top of Mt. Evans. Today it is in ruins but still attractive, given the material it is built with and its location, not to mention the views the windows showcase. However, when the Crest House’s construction was completed in 1941, it became the highest building in the world.

This structure at 14,250 ft looks quite different from what it looks like in the pictures of it in its heyday. This can be attributed to a propane explosion that seems to have destroyed a good part of it. It doesn’t have those glass walls that offered a view of Denver in the distance but I still recommend a walk within those stone walls or what remains of it. 

More:
Colorado Trip Ideas
Scenic Routes

Linking to —
Our World Tuesday
&
My Corner of the World

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