The Mount Evans Scenic Byway climbs over 7,000 feet in its 28-mile length, reaching an altitude of 14,264 feet. At the summit, enjoy the big picture; the entire Front Range and Continental Divide sprawls at your feet. This highest of Rocky Mountain highs brings you the history of Colorado gold mining combined with an amalgam of wildflowers, lichens, and grasses, Bighorn sheep, rock-jumping mountain goats, and alpine lakes.
Idaho Springs, a Victorian community that also serves as the starting point to the byway, abounds in history and adventure. Tour the Argo Gold Mill, which started the Rocky Mountain gold rush in 1859. Dug to drain water out of the mineshafts, the tunnel running underneath the mill continues to be a distinct feature that separates this mill from others. After the tour is complete, try your luck at gold panning. From there, explore the Edgar Experimental Mine. Today, the Colorado School of Mines uses the Edgar Mine as an underground classroom. Here students receive hands-on experience in underground mine surveying, geological mapping, mine ventilation field studies, and more. Let the staff and students who conduct the tours guide you around the intricate underground workings of a mine that once produced gold, silver, copper, and lead. Afterward, take a historic walking tour through the city. When you’ve finished soaking up the region's history region, jumpstart the recreational leg of your adventure. Idaho Springs offers hiking, biking, rafting, camping, and trail exploring.
From Idaho Springs, take your recreational adventures to the next level in Mount Evans Wilderness Area and Pike National Forest. Public lands cover over 70 percent of Clear Creek County, allowing you to enjoy a number of activities. At Mount Evans Wilderness Area, you can view wildlife including Bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, and ptarmigan. Approximately 67 miles of trails, ranging from easy to difficult, display Colorado's alpine tundra wilderness. Take an afternoon to hike, backpack, or horseback ride through the region. Pike National Forest supplements the recreation of Mount Evans Wilderness Area by offering campgrounds and picnic areas. Camp overnight, and then rise early to go fishing in one of the many mountain lakes or streams. Regardless of what you decide, outdoor adventure awaits you around every bend along the byway.
The Mount Evans Scenic Byway follows the highest paved highway in North America to an altitude of over 14,000 feet. Learn Colorado's mining history in Idaho Springs, then explore the area's wealth of recreation with backdrops from Bridal Veil Falls to the Rocky Mountains. As you taste of the history and recreation of this area, you'll find yourself surrounded by the raw beauty of a region that remains untainted by city life.
