CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. — The highest paved road in North America, Mount Evans Highway (Colorado Highway 5), will not open to vehicles for the 2020 season.
According to a press release from the agencies that jointly manage Mount Evans — Colorado Department of Transportation, the U.S. Forest Service and Denver Parks and Recreation — this decision was made after considering the health and safety risks related to COVID-19. The Forest Service and Denver Mountain Parks said they would not be able to provide the required services for visitors.
Because the highway will remain closed for a lengthy amount of time, CDOT crews will perform necessary maintenance, such as filling potholes and fixing damaged delineation markings, which outline the edges of the highway. This will improve the overall safety of the highway for visitors in the future.
While all vehicles are prohibited from using the road this summer, visitors are still welcome to hike or bike the road. Bathrooms and other services provided by the Forest Service and Denver Mountain Parks will not be available.
The Forest Service has asked visitors to follow all state and local orders regarding outdoor recreation amid COVID-19. Weather changes fast on Mount Evans, so visitors should come prepared.
Mount Evans is one of the few 14ers — which are mountains that surpass 14,000 feet — in Colorado where visitors can drive to the top, which stands at 14,264 feet. More than 200,000 people from all over the world visit the summit annually.