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. The road from Chivay to Arequipa is the highest paved road in the world yet doesn’t have name! An essential part of any Colorado road trip it provides amazing views and a one of a kind experience whether you are driving, cycling or hiking it. How many of Colorado’s top ten highest roads have you driven, hiked or biked? The Mount Evans Scenic Byway begins at the Idaho Springs Visitor Center. About the Mount Evans Road: The first 4 miles, from Idaho Springs on CO 103, are surprisingly flat, then there is a 4-6% grade to the entrance that continues to Summit lake. The mountain was named after explorer and military officer, Enoch Steen, and hosts a … This route was designated a National Forest Scenic 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. Stop at the Visitor Center for information, then continue on Miner Street to 13th Avenue which is State Highway 103 and continues on State Highway 5 through a corridor between the Mount Evans Wilderness where it ends near the summit of Mount Evans. The byway is 28 miles (45 km) in length and gains over 7,000 feet (2,100 m) of elevation. Today it remains a beautiful itinerary that attracts lots of tourists every day as it is a destination perfect road trip in Colorado. This, in addition to the Dallas Divide (4-wheel may be required), are highly recommended Colorado road trips. Trail Ridge Road is the more famous name for the western end of US Highway 34. Mount Bross: 14,178 feet; Mount Evans Byway: 14,160 feet; Pikes Peak Highway: 14,115 feet; Peak 10: 13,392 feet At 14,132 feet at its peak, it is the highest paved road in North America and one of the highest in the world. Take Exit 241 off Interstate 70 for 1 mile. And it goes up to a height of 14, 260 ft. I meant that our state has some of the highest, scariest roads in the country. Photo: Nick Taylor, 10 Outstanding Outdoor Sculptures in Colorado Springs, 14 Important Moments That Molded Modern Life in Colorado, Spend the day or night at these 15 Colorado Hot Springs with Lodging. Jul 1, 2012 - Mt. Surprisingly, not all dangers on Colorado roads are up high in the mountains. Trail Ridge Road (from Estes Park) 17.9 miles, 4,352’ elevation gain, 4.6% average grade, 12,113’ … Loveland Pass, one the highest road in Colorado. This portion of the road that goes between the antique tourist towns of Ouray and Silvertontakes you 11,000 feet above sea level through the Red Mountain Pass in the San Juan Mountains. Ride 27 miles gaining 6,740’ to 14,130’ at 4.5% average grade. Maximum is grade 9% to Summit Lake; 15% beyond Summit Lake. Evans. The highest paved road in North America achieves a final elevation of 14,260 ft and can be accessed by a 14 mile, super narrow, winding road. J. E. Murphy, A Motor Road on the Skyline of America, Creating Colorado: The Making of a Western American Landscape, 1860-1940, 66 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, Yanks Gulch/Upper Greasewood Creek Natural Area, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mount_Evans_Scenic_Byway&oldid=933082499, Transportation in Clear Creek County, Colorado, Tourist attractions in Clear Creek County, Colorado, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 29 December 2019, at 22:00. The Cog has been climbing Pikes Peak since 1891. Near the topmost part of the route, the Iceberg Pass stands at 11,827 feet above sea level. Iceberg Pass on Trail Ridge Road. The USA is the land of road trips, and there are pretty much endless routes, … … Milner Pass (10,758’) and Trail Ridge High Point (12,183’) are on U.S. 34 in Rocky Mt. Drive to the top of Mt Evan (14,271 ft) for stunning views of the Colorado Rockies. Independence is the highest paved mountain pass in Colorado, though there are several higher unpaved passes (such as Mosquito and Cottonwood), while three paved roads climb further (Pikes Peak Highway, Mount Evans Byway, Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park), but these are not passes. The road was originally planned by the Denver Mountain Parks system to link Summit Lake Park and Echo Lake Park to their lower altitude parks in the foothills. The Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved through road in Colorado and it is also the highest paved road in Colorado that crosses the continental divide ( Cottonwood Pass at 12,126 feet is the second highest, and Colorado State Highway 82 at 12,095 feet going through Independence Pass is the third highest). Scenic trips in the USA. We are proud to be one of the most unique experiences in the country. But be warned—as one of the highest mountain passes in Colorado, this gravel road is not for beginners. Prior to 2012, the Forest Service was charging anyone entering the highway at the entrance to Highway 5. Last hairpin to the top. There is a park fee charged if using parking lots and facilities along the upper portion of the byway. 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. Denver has by far the highest number of bike climbs in the United States. The speed limit is only 15 mph and only 4WD or AWD vehicles can travel on it. Mount Evans: Cycling the Highest Paved Road in the US. This is the highest paved road in North America and is open seasonally. It is the second-highest passable pass by vehicle in Colorado. Imogene Pass. Cycling Mt. Stop at the Visitor Center for information, then continue on Miner Street to 13th Avenue which is State Highway 103 and continues on State Highway 5 through a corridor between the Mount Evans Wilderness where it ends near the summit of Mount Evans. When it comes to gorgeous drives, Highway 550 in Colorado is tough to beat. Steens Mountain is only the 8th highest peak in Oregon, but the 52-mile loop road around it is the state’s highest road, providing spectacular views of the region, including Wildhorse Lake and Keigor Gorge. Take Exit 241 off Interstate 70 for 1 mile. Trail Ridge Road rises 12,201... Cottonwood Pass – 12,126 ft (Asphalt east, Gravel west) Chaffee Co.. West from Gunnison gravel side … Recognized as the world’s highest cog railroad, The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway is an important part of the heritage of the Western United States. The Loveland Pass is one of the highest mountain passes in Colorado. Protected areas of Colorado Notes [ edit ] ^ a b Trail Ridge Road ( U.S. Highway Route 34 ) crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass but reaches its highest point several miles northeast of the pass. Best in the autumn when the trees are changing colors. Trail Ridge Road is the more famous name for the western end of US Highway 34. From the start, the road was planned in terms of the scenic vistas along the way. State Route 1 (SR 1) is a major north-south state highway that runs … Every state in the country has a highest road. Evans Scenic Byway, this road that cuts off near Squaw Road near Echo Lake is a 14-mile drive to the summit of Mt. The last 5 miles have grades of 2-5%, but because you are above 12,000 feet it will feel like 10-15% grade to top. It is the access road from Sölden to the Rettenbach glacier and Tiefenbachferner glacier in the Ötztal Alps. Taking second place is Colorado’s Mount Evans Scenic Byway. Steens Mountain is only the 8th highest peak in Oregon, but the 52-mile loop road around it is the state’s highest road, providing spectacular views of the region, including Wildhorse Lake and Keigor Gorge. And you don’t get the standard driving safety measures like guardrails and shoulders, so swerving off the road is not a good idea. Mar 29, 2018 - Get a real "Rocky Mountain High" by taking a drive (or hike) up Colorado's Mount Evans Scenic Byway, which is the highest paved road in both Colorado and North America. Get to the top though (and it’ll be a battle) and you’ll be rewarded with a great photo and bragging rights when you get back home to the pub. The highest paved road in North America achieves a final elevation of 14,260 ft and can be accessed by a 14 mile, super narrow, winding road. Imogene Pass, one of the highest road in Colorado. Imogene Pass is a superb 4×4 track between Telluride and Ouray in the state of Colorado in the United States. Today, we are traveling with with Streamin Freedom to Mount Evans, Colorado. When we lived in Colorado and were still debating on whether or not we wanted to try climbing a 14er (see this post), we thought it might be a good idea to experience being on top of a peak at 14,000 ft. In Colorado the highest road takes you to the top of Mount Evans at 14,130 feet. The elevation at the top is over 14,000 ft above sea level. [1] The route was set by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., and for a while, between 1915 and 1920, it was to be the primary access road for a proposed National Park comprising much of what is now the Mount Evans Wilderness Area.[2]. The byway is 28 miles (45 km) in length and gains over 7,000 feet (2,100 m) of elevation. A conspicuous trailhead in the valley is the Colorado River Trailhead that is always closed during the winter season. National Park but are not maintained by CDOT. Evans in Colorado--highest paved road in the United States As originally planned, the road ran from Bergen Park near Evergreen to Echo Lake, and then to the summit, while the road from Echo Lake down into Chicago Creek Canyon was a secondary branch. The road was originally planned by the Denver Mountain Parks system to link Summit Lake Park and Echo Lake Park to their lower altitude parks in the foothills. Highway 1, Big Sur, California. When we lived in Colorado and were still debating on whether or not we wanted to try climbing a 14er (see this post), we thought it might be a good idea to experience being on top of a peak at 14,000 ft. The Mount Evans Scenic Byway begins at the Idaho Springs Visitor Center. Colorado (/ ˌ k ɒ l ə ˈ r æ d oʊ,-ˈ r ɑː d oʊ / (), other variants) is a state in the Mountain West region of the United States.It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains.Colorado is the eighth most extensive and 21st most populous U.S. state. The Loveland Pass is one of the highest mountain passes in Colorado. 4 More of the Highest Paved Roads in Colorado Trail Ridge Road – 12,201 ft (Asphalt) Larimer Co.. Driving the final 6.5 miles to the top of Mt Evans, Colorado. Evans, Colorado: The highest paved road in North America. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}39°35′N 105°38′W / 39.59°N 105.64°W / 39.59; -105.64. Noooo, that’s not what I meant, even though we are in Colorado. Experience Colorado from top to bottom with this full Colorado loop, a 10-day road trip that will take you from Northern Colorado through Southern Colorado and back up north. The road to the Crescent Lake is not a Sunday drive Highest roads of Colorado Crossing … Today, we are traveling with with Streamin Freedom to Mount Evans, Colorado. Situated near Denver it used to be a strategic route to the west before the opening of the Eisenhower Tunnel. Risk Factor: The road from Aspen is not for those who fear heights. The interstate system is a modern wonder of the world. You cannot cycle any higher than this in North America. Achieving a final elevation of 14,130 feet (4,310 m), this is t… Mount Evans Road: This is the highest paved road in the USA and goes even higher than the Pikes Peak Highway! Achieving a final elevation of 14,130 feet (4,310 m), this is the highest paved road in North America. Denver Beltway. Loveland Pass. Situated near Denver it used to be a strategic route to the west before the opening of the Eisenhower Tunnel. The … As originally planned, the road ran from Bergen Park near Evergreen to Echo Lake, and then to the summit, while the road from Echo Lake down into Chicago Creek Canyon was a secondary branch. The U.S. interstate system is the greatest peacetime public works project in history. An essential part of any Colorado road trip it provides amazing views and a one of a kind experience whether you are driving, cycling or hiking it. Starting at the road’s entrance at Grand Lake, the Trail Ridge Road goes north via the Kawuneeche Valley where numerous trailheads exist. About Us. At Milner Pass, the road cuts across the Continental Divide at an elevation of 10,758 feet and rises to 12,183 feet adjacent to Fall River Pass. But be warned—as one of the highest mountain passes in Colorado, this gravel road is not for beginners. There are not many rides you will do where you can say, "This is the highest . It was built in 1972 as a spur from the existing Hochsölden road. Not only is it the highest paved lane in Colorado—12,100 feet above sea level at Independence Pass in … The Ötztal Glacier Road, (German: Ötztaler Gletscherstraße), at 2,830 m (9,285 ft), is the second highest paved road in Europe. But for a 25-mile stretch known as “Million Dollar Highway,” it could be described as hell on earth. [3] This portion of the byway is often narrow, with sudden dropoffs that have no guardrails. More than 41,000 miles of … North America: Mount Evans / USA 4,307 m / 14,131 ft The mountain was named after explorer and military officer, Enoch Steen, and hosts a … Maximum grade on both is … The speed limit is only 15 mph and only 4WD or AWD vehicles can travel on it. Mount Evans: Highest paved auto road in the United States - See 2,533 traveler reviews, 1,789 candid photos, and great deals for Denver, CO, at Tripadvisor.