"I want to start out by saying that summit drive-up roads rarely make me nervous, even before I got my current jeep (case in point: Mt. Mansfield in VT which is 95% dirt with no guardrails). For what is advertised as the highest paved road in America, road maintenance is surely lacking! There were whole sections of the pavement broken off NEXT TO the drop-off side and for a mile around the 11-12,000 foot level.. severe frost heaves and broken up pavement extending across the road. In August. Consequently, after a nail-biting drive up the road, I climbed up the switchback trail. Forgot to switch out of my sneakers but no problems. Summit area started out in the clouds but cleared up by the time I hiked to the top. :) Found two (!) summit markers on the high rocks: one was a USGS marker; the other was too difficult to read, even though it had a triangle in the center. A couple of the mountain goats were kind of territorial at the summit!" — SteveM_StickMan • Aug 12, 2024

"I looked at this mountain for so long and wanted to Summit it so badly and tried and failed a few times before I finally made it and what an amazing weekend it was! I backpacked in and had the whole area to myself. Because of covid nobody was on the top except a few bikers so I had all the mountain goats and birds pretty much to myself. Absolutely stunning views and lovely weather and I saw a moose which was also very cool! This hike will always hold a special place in my hiking heart!" — CheshireKatt13 • Sep 18, 2020

"While I can claim that this is my third 14er in Colorado, I'm not silly enough to truly claim it until I hike up it under my own power. That being said - beautiful. Simply stunning! I cannot describe how amazing it is to be up on a 14er, whether I hiked up or drove up. You really feel like you're at the top of the world. I'm looking forward to coming back and summitting Mt. Evans for real, along with some of its neighbors who you can grab on the trek up. It was a fun drive, and I'm glad I got up there before it closed for the season. " — psychikingjes • Sep 1, 2019

"Drive up to Summit Lake. Had the intention of hiking up the short route up to the summit but we missed the trail and hiked all the way up the road. About 6 miles up, summited at 4:15 and took the trail down. 7.5 miles total. " — aenea9881 • Sep 16, 2018

"Mt Evans - West Evans - The Sawtooth - Mt Bierstadt - Mt Spalding 9.8km with 500m gain in 4:15hrs While it looks like a cheat day: short, low gain and starting from the highest point which is accessible by car... but it definitely didn't feel like that. First of all, it was for the first time when I was consciously aware of the altitude: my legs simply weren't moving uphill. Similar to some cars at elevations 3,500m+: doesn't matter how much one presses on a gas pedal, it barely moves (actually we saw a couple of such on the road, a Jeep and Subaru). It was fine for me to go on flat surfaces or downhill, where little or almost no oxygen for the muscles was required. But uphill was painful and slow. Partially, it might be because of a lengthy traverse the previous day. Normally, such distance and elevation gain I'd do in half of the time (in home conditions in Alberta). But the altitude definitely took its toll. " — alexp • Aug 6, 2018

"Mountain 4 of 5 for the day. A very rewarding moment after doing the Beierstadt, Sawtooth, Evans traverse. Unfortunately, I had a few bad interactions with very rude, obviously tourists that had driven up the mountain in a car. " — IanWright • Aug 23, 2015

"Did this via Tour de Abyss - which starts on a switchback up to Evans. Drove up in two cars and left one at the summit so we could drive back down. This is my absolute favorite hike I have done so far. Started the hike with a quick jaunt up to the toilets at Evans which, with the crazy high winds that morning caused pee to go up instead of down - yes I share too much :) The Willows were a new one for me - I always thought they were huge trees with long drooping branches - wasn't expecting a swamp like area and had no gaiters. Other lesson from this trip, pack more than needed. We started around 330am and were confident we would be finished by 11am at the latest. We got down around 4pm I think. Longest day ever! Didn't pack enough food or water and ran out before we ever made it to Evans. We demolished two family sized bags of sour cream and cheddar chips on the drive down while dodging tourists taking photos of big horn sheep. Yes - we were those people. Hangry :) But still my favorite hike ever - please look for repeats " — kelseyjames8675309 • Aug 21, 2015

"Started around 7:30am from the Mt. Bierstadt parking lot. Hiked Mt. Bierstadt then crossed the sawtooth for Evans. Like I expected lots of people on both summits but the sawtooth people free. Had some hail and rain on the hike back from Evans." — Ryan_Wallace • Aug 10, 2015

"Second summit of Mt Evans. In much better shape was able to complete in 9 hours and even took side trail to see the water falls. Very good hike! Note: I did not realize that the road was closed and I enjoyed the summit alone! What an day!" — Brandon-Shinsplint- • Jul 11, 2015

"As a last hoorah together before parting ways on our optometric externships, my roommate and I took a roadtrip from Philadelphia, PA to Denver, CO. We may or may not have driven a majority of this, but it was mostly because of my traveling time constraints. I wish I had more time, the mountains out here are beautiful. " — AngieBaby • Aug 15, 2014