Park
Wilderness Mount Evans park
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Wilderness Mount Evans
Colorado · South Platte watershed
About this park
Wilderness Mount Evans
Wilderness Mount Evans, located in Colorado, offers visitors a picturesque and scenic experience with its stunning natural beauty and unique points of interest. Here is a summary of the area, including reasons to visit, specific points of interest, interesting facts, and the best time to visit, verified across multiple independent sources.
Reasons to Visit:
1. Spectacular Mountain Views: Mount Evans is known for its breathtaking mountain vistas, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes and snow-capped peaks.
2. Abundant Wildlife: The area is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including mountain goats, bighorn sheep, marmots, and various bird species, providing ample opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.
3. Hiking and Outdoor Activities: Mount Evans Wilderness boasts numerous hiking trails, ranging from easy to challenging, providing opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to explore the area's natural wonders, alpine lakes, and cascading waterfalls.
4. Scenic Drives: The Mount Evans Scenic Byway, one of the highest paved roads in North America, takes visitors on a remarkable journey through scenic landscapes, offering stunning views and access to various trailheads.
Points of Interest:
1. Mount Evans Summit: At an elevation of 14,265 feet (4,348 meters), the summit of Mount Evans is accessible by a short hike from the parking lot. Standing at the top offers a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and wilderness.
2. Echo Lake: Located near the base of Mount Evans, Echo Lake is a beautiful alpine lake offering fishing, picnicking, and camping opportunities. The lake also serves as a starting point for many hikes in the area.
3. Summit Lake: Situated at an elevation of 12,836 feet (3,912 meters), Summit Lake is another stunning alpine lake that offers magnificent views of the surrounding peaks. It is located near the summit of Mount Evans.
Interesting Facts:
1. Mount Evans Wilderness spans an area of approximately 74,401 acres (30,084 hectares) within the Arapaho and Pike National Forests.
2. The summit of Mount Evans is one of the few places in the United States where visitors can drive to an elevation above 14,000 feet (4,267 meters).
3. Mount Evans is part of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and is situated just west of Denver, making it easily accessible for a day trip from the city.
Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit Wilderness Mount Evans is typically from late spring to early fall, as the weather is generally more favorable and the road to the summit is open. However, it's important to note that the weather can change rapidly at high altitudes, and even in the summer months, snowstorms are not uncommon. It is advisable to check weather conditions and road closures before planning a visit.
Sources:
1. U.S. Forest Service - Pike & San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands. (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recarea/?recid=80894)
2. Colorado Tourism Office - Mount Evans. (https://www.colorado.com/activities/mount-evans)
3. AllTrails - Mount Evans Wilderness Trails. (https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/colorado/mount-evans-wilderness)
Reasons to Visit:
1. Spectacular Mountain Views: Mount Evans is known for its breathtaking mountain vistas, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes and snow-capped peaks.
2. Abundant Wildlife: The area is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including mountain goats, bighorn sheep, marmots, and various bird species, providing ample opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.
3. Hiking and Outdoor Activities: Mount Evans Wilderness boasts numerous hiking trails, ranging from easy to challenging, providing opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to explore the area's natural wonders, alpine lakes, and cascading waterfalls.
4. Scenic Drives: The Mount Evans Scenic Byway, one of the highest paved roads in North America, takes visitors on a remarkable journey through scenic landscapes, offering stunning views and access to various trailheads.
Points of Interest:
1. Mount Evans Summit: At an elevation of 14,265 feet (4,348 meters), the summit of Mount Evans is accessible by a short hike from the parking lot. Standing at the top offers a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and wilderness.
2. Echo Lake: Located near the base of Mount Evans, Echo Lake is a beautiful alpine lake offering fishing, picnicking, and camping opportunities. The lake also serves as a starting point for many hikes in the area.
3. Summit Lake: Situated at an elevation of 12,836 feet (3,912 meters), Summit Lake is another stunning alpine lake that offers magnificent views of the surrounding peaks. It is located near the summit of Mount Evans.
Interesting Facts:
1. Mount Evans Wilderness spans an area of approximately 74,401 acres (30,084 hectares) within the Arapaho and Pike National Forests.
2. The summit of Mount Evans is one of the few places in the United States where visitors can drive to an elevation above 14,000 feet (4,267 meters).
3. Mount Evans is part of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and is situated just west of Denver, making it easily accessible for a day trip from the city.
Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit Wilderness Mount Evans is typically from late spring to early fall, as the weather is generally more favorable and the road to the summit is open. However, it's important to note that the weather can change rapidly at high altitudes, and even in the summer months, snowstorms are not uncommon. It is advisable to check weather conditions and road closures before planning a visit.
Sources:
1. U.S. Forest Service - Pike & San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands. (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recarea/?recid=80894)
2. Colorado Tourism Office - Mount Evans. (https://www.colorado.com/activities/mount-evans)
3. AllTrails - Mount Evans Wilderness Trails. (https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/colorado/mount-evans-wilderness)
StateColorado
WatershedSouth Platte
Latitude39.5656°
Longitude-105.6953°
Land designation
Park & land designation reference
A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.
- National Park
- Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
- State Park
- Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
- Local Park
- Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
- Wilderness Area
- The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized motorized access permitted.
- National Recreation Area
- Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing, often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes); may allow more development.
- National Conservation Area (BLM)
- BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
- State Forest
- State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
- Vast federal lands managed for mixed use -- recreation, grazing, mining, conservation -- with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Detailed forecast
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Hourly detail
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
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Deep dive
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Long-term outlook
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
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Stay nearby
Area campgrounds
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within reach of Wilderness Mount Evans, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva Park | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Geneva Park Campground | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Guanella Pass Campground | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Guanella Pass | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Burning Bear | ✗ | ✓ | → |
| Burning Bear Campground | ✓ | ✗ | → |
Around the spot
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, fishing spots, and POIs so a park visit can grow into a full weekend.
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Other parks
- Wilderness James Peak
- Protection Area (National) James Peak Protection Area (National)
- Frosberg Park
- Elephant Butte
- Staunton State Park
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Fishing spots
📍
Points of interest
Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
- Stay on trail
- Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Wilderness Mount Evans as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
FAQ
About Wilderness Mount Evans
What can I do at Wilderness Mount Evans?
Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get to Wilderness Mount Evans?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
More parks
Other parks near here
Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Wilderness Mount Evans.