Driving and Hiking to the Top of Mt. Evans, Colorado

Mt. Evans

Drive to the end of Mt. Evans road, and you're just 130 vertical feet from the summit.

There are actually two peaks, one is slightly higher than the other. The lower peak is easier to access.

Just as you'd expect, the view from this altitude is incredible.

View from the Top of Mt. Evans, Colorado

From the top, you can look down on Summit Lake...

... and look back on the road you just climbed.

At this elevation, almost everyone experiences some symptoms of altitude sickness. You should expect anything from shortness of breath and light-headedness, to headache and nausea. If you start feeling ill, don't go any higher, and if your condition worsens, head for lower ground. You can also combat the symptoms by drinking plenty of water, and eating spicy foods, to increase your thirst. The symptoms usually go away within 2-3 days.

Altitude sickness left me with a terrible headache, and sapped my energy. It didn't help that I was low on sleep (since I had just flown in, and didn't get much sleep the night before). While atop Mt. Evans, I had to rest for a good half-hour before I felt safe to drive down. Once I reached Echo Lake, I stopped again.

I now know it would have been wise for me to spend a day or two at elevations ranging from 6,000-10,000 feet, before attempting the drive up Mt. Evans. You may want to consider the same.