Mt. Evan's Scenic Byway

The star of any trip up Mt. Evans. One of the resident Mountain Goats.

Taking the Mt. Evans Scenic Byway, near Idaho Springs, is a jolly, near death experience with stupendous views. It is also a great way to beat the heat and carouse with Big Horn Sheep, Mountain Goats, and Yellow-bellied Marmots. Mt. Evans is 14,264 ft and is one of two 14ers in the state you can drive up. If you don't like heights, however, you may want to snort some Valium before starting out. The road has no guard rails but plenty of breath-stealing drop offs. You will also share it with bicycles and oversized pick-up trucks. There is a fee past Echo Lake unless you have an all Federal Parks Pass.

Image (not my own) of the Mt. Evans Scenic Byway. I have never been able to take my knuckles off the steering wheel to get a picture!

Things to Do:

• Stop at Echo Lake, which is before the fee station, for a picnic or fishing derby.
• Hike the Pesman Trail, which leaves from the Mt. Goliath Nature Center. This trail travels across the tundra through a grove of ancient Bristlecone Pines. Bristlecones are the oldest thing on earth, easily reaching 1,700 years. Alpine plants galore dot the trail.
• Visit the Nature Center itself and see a mock up of an Alpine Spring Beauty with its 10-foot root that enables it to survive on harsh mountain tops. A small terraced alpine garden with helpful placards surrounds the building.
• Stop at 13,000 ft Summit Lake, a jumping off point for folks heading to the summit the old-fashioned way...via their feet, for an incredible view looking down on Chicago Lakes. A resident heard of Big Horn Sheep often congregate here. Volunteer rangers will also set up interpretive displays.
• Call on some parking karma and get a coveted slot on the summit itself. On the summit you can explore the ruins of an old hotel, feel the power of mother nature via freezing temps and extreme winds and stroll to the top itself. 
 

The summit parking lot. The Boulder field is often filled with tourists climbing the 120 ft from the pavement to the summit. Cars can stretch for a good 1/4 mile on both sides down to the left.

This goat was in need of a Hollywood makeover. He/she/it was shedding its winter coat. Not exactly a red carpet moment. Still, it had panache and liked to pose for the 200 lenses flashing all around.

This celeb was already done shedding and looked like it had just returned from a posh salon. Nothing like a new 'do to make you feel like a mountain diva.

Not to be out done, this B-actor was posing for us on the way down. Yellow-bellied Marmots are known for their hedonistic lounging upon warm rocks 

To get to the byway, take I-70 West from Denver to exit 240 (Hwy 103), the second exit at Idaho Springs. Because of snow the road is usually only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Even if there is no snow, CDOT will close the road after the Labor Day weekend, so plan accordingly. Come prepared for any of the following: intense sunlight, cold temperatures, snow, hail or rain, high wind, and low oxygen levels. The road can close any day throughout the summer due to winter-like conditions.

Pesman Trail (Mount Goliath Nature Area)

Distance: 3 miles round trip
Elevation: 11,503 ft to 12,152 ft
Elevation Gain: 649 ft
Bathroom at Trailhead: Yes
Dogs: On leash, wilderness
Date Hiked: 18 June 2009

The Pesman trail wanders through a Bristlecone Pine forest but also has stunning views of the open tundra.

The Pesman Trail, sometimes called the Mount Goliath Trail, is a fascinating walk amongst the oldest living trees on earth, the Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata). The trail starts at the Dos Chappell Nature Center located 3 miles up from the Mt. Evan's fee station. A Federal lands pass ($80.00/yr) will now get you in. There is plenty of parking, a bathroom, and an interpretive forest ranger on duty to answer all your questions. At noon the Ranger on duty leads a 45 minute interpretive walk through the alpine gardens adjacent to the Nature Center.

The beginning of the trail, while packed dirt, does ascend 500 or more feet in a short series of switch backs.

One of the Bristlecones along the trail

The trail gains most of its 642 ft in the first half mile. Since it starts above 11,000 ft, this means lung-sucking distress for most of us. The trail has the advantage, however, of being relatively smooth with only occasional rocky portions. Quite a rarity in Colorado.

When the trail levels out, it leaves the forest for a rocky slope with tundra views.

Besides wandering through a square mile of Bristlecone Pines, the trail also traverses a broad ridge with distant views, tundra flowers, and towering boulders. It really is incredibly scenic. I kept expecting a herd of Mt. Evan's resident Mountain Goats to come trotting into view.

Looking west. The two peaks on the far right of the picture are Chief Mountain and Squaw Mountain.

The trail ends at a picnic area on Mt. Evan's Road. I almost did not go all the way because I had already climbed most of the way up Mt. Sniktau earlier that morning and was really feeling the altitude, but I am glad I did. From the terminus of the trail, there are incredible views of the Continental Divide to the west. There is also a short Alpine Garden Trail in the area, which later in the season is filled with low-lying but flowering tundra plants.

The upper trailhead. Near the car is a picnic table.

Near the upper trailhead is the intersection with the Alpine Garden Trail. There are also great views of the Continental Divide.

If one has two cars, then making the Pesman Trail a shuttle hike would be possible either heading up for maximum cardiovascular distress, or heading down for an easier outing. This trail is a great way to spend time above treeline without having to scale thousands of feet in elevation gain. The views are well worth the effort and seeing the Bristlecone Pines is a rare treat.