August 9, 2019
Our most ambitious day trip from Breckenridge was a trip up Mount Evans via the Mount Evans Scenic Byway – the highest paved road in North America.
A day trip to the top is a journey that snakes and climbs through nearly 9,000 feet of elevation gain, from the high plains of Denver through five climate zones to the 14,264-foot summit of Mount Evans, one of 54 peaks in Colorado that soar to 14,000 feet and above – the famous “fourteeners.” Exit 240 at the town of Idaho Springs. Continue south on State Hwy. 103 for 14 miles, slowly climbing in elevation with new vistas in every direction until you reach lovely Echo Lake. There are picnic tables, hiking trails and fishing opportunities at this pretty alpine lake. — denver.org
From Echo Lake, the climb continued. In just three miles, the road rose above the timberline. Along the way, we spotted bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goats.
The view from the top is simply incredible. This is one of the grandest panoramas in Colorado and much of the state is visible, from the Never Summer Range in the north to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the south. — denver.org
We stopped at the parking area at the summit to walk around and take photos. Needless to say, it was a bit windy and chilly.
The drive down was just as much fun as the drive up (especially with a big truck) but Bill managed just fine.
Hopefully, the photos above impart a sense of what this incredible drive was like, but a short video might be a better representation.
https://cctraveler.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Mount-Evans-HD-720p.mov
