Road to Mt. Blue Sky: The road to Mt. Blue Sky passes by Echo Lake before turning and becoming a fee road to the summit. Echo Lake and Echo Lake Lodge seen at the right side sit at about 10,600 feet in elevation. The road to the 14,264 summit is another 13 mile drive from the lodge. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Fisherman: A fisherman is seen casting his line at Echo Lake on a gorgeous afternoon in late August. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Close Up: A closer, more intimate view of the lake shore shows blades of grass among the blue waters. The light breezes created ripples in the water during our afternoon visit. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
Some days just don’t go as planned. When situations change it teaches us to adjust and be flexible along the way. We planned a day trip recently from Castle Rock to the summit of Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Mt. Evans) in Colorado. We packed a lunch and snacks and took our jackets in preparation for the colder temperatures at 14,264 feet in elevation at the summit and we were off to explore.
Mt. Blue Sky is not only the closest 14er (mountain higher than 14,000 feet) to Denver but it is also the only 14er with a paved road to the summit area (the highest elevation paved road in the U.S.) We have traveled the road several times over the years but not in the recent past.
The road from the Echo Lake area to the summit is now a fee area with a pay station just above the Echo Lake area. The road leading up to Echo Lake is an open road with no fees. What we didn’t realize was the fee portion of the Mt. Blue Sky road also required reservations to enter. This policy is becoming more standard in high use national parks and other areas. We did not have reservations so there was no driving to the summit for us.
This was our first time visiting the area since reservations became necessary so we had a choice of turning around and returning home or stay at Echo Lake, have lunch, and explore the area. We chose to have lunch at a park area at the lake and hike some of the local trails.
The day featured clear blue skies, sunshine and temperatures that were much cooler than Denver so we decided to enjoy the afternoon in the mountains before driving home. The waters of Echo Lake reflected the beautiful blue skies as we made our way around the lake. Mallards and other ducks were seen in many areas around the lake’s shore as they searched the waters for food.
After a few hours in the area we packed up and began our trip back to the city. Did the day go as planned? No, not even close. Was the day a success? Yes. We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon at Echo Lake and our time in the mountains.
We look forward to making reservations and returning to the summit of Mt. Blue Sky at another time. However, that trip will have to wait because the road from Echo Lake to the summit will be closed all of the 2025 season.
The high elevation road is being rebuilt in areas along with other road repairs. With the short three month season at that elevation the road work will take place next summer without any traffic in order to get the work completed. We’ll see Mt. Blue Sky in 2026 … after making the required reservations!
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
Heads Down: Two ducks have their bills in the water as they search for insects or other food in the shallow waters near the shore of Echo Lake. Several ducks were seen near the shore while walking around the lake. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Lake View: A view from the side of Echo Lake looking toward the highway showing the lake and a hillside. The blue waters of Echo Lake sit at more than 10,000 feet, surrounded by mountain peaks including Mt. Blue Sky. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Forest Floor: The forest floor is lined with lichen covered boulders and fallen pine and fir tree needles. This photo was taken from the trail around the lake looking at the forest to the west. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Chicago Lakes Trail: The trail around Echo Lake is gentle and fairly level. The Chicago Lakes Trail branches off and becomes a difficult trail as it ascends more than 3,000 feet in elevation passing Lower and Upper Chicago Lakes before ending at Summit Lake. Summit Lake sits by Mt. Blue Sky Road a short distance below the actual summit of Mt. Blue Sky. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
