"As long as you drive to the top and back without stopping, you don't need to pay," repeats Bustos, the only Forest Service official authorized to talk about the case. It would have clarified things had the sign instead said "Only vehicles that park must display a valid recreation pass." ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-40889974', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car, and driving back, you should pay the fee. Get answers to your questions about Colorado. I saw a sign for Mt Evans Fee Area - 14 Miles and hoped that it was 14 miles to the top of Mt. Forest Service staffers regularly hand out "compliance envelopes" to cars parked all along the road, asking their drivers to pay on the way out. The thing is that I have a national parks annual pass, but it expires the end of this month...and my current plan is to drive up Mt. "The way we interpret the law, if there are amenities, it's not free," says Barilotti, who's arguing a similar case involving Mount Lemmon near Tucson. Help, The independent voice of Denver since 1977. For the latest information about the road visit [this website]” (Forest Service - Mount Evans). The Mount Evans Highway ascends thousands of feet of windy mountain roads, and draws an estimated 200,000 people from all over the world. ), "It's one of the most undersold and underappreciated attractions on the whole Front Range," Grant says. On an upcoming road trip, I plan to drive up there for a quick look, and perhaps snap a photo and be on my way. Winter Itinerary for Central Rockies - Our Extra Days ?? So, for the locals, what is the reality/law? The prominent 14,271-foot (4,350 m) fourteener is located 13.4 miles (21.6 km) southwest by south (bearing 214°) of Idaho Springs in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States, on the drainage divide between Arapaho National Forest and Pike National Forest. Skiing Keystone this week...live updates? But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. Due to elevation, it gets colder as you higher up the mountain. Evans ($10) unless you have a National Parks Pass. Construction of the road from Echo Lake to the summit began in 1924 and completed in 1930. A regular visitor to Mount Evans and an active member of the Western Slope No-Fee Coalition (www.westernslopenofee.org) since 2001, he thought the confusing signage and inconsistent staff instructions were just the start of a mountainous injustice at Mount Evans. Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we would like to keep it that way. Passing through Echo Lake Park, have a bite to eat at the Echo Lake Lodge. After studying the subject for a year, he got a break in February 2008, when he found the Forest Service plans for a toilet at "the Mount Evans overlook" — and overlooks are specifically exempt from fees by the FLREA. ", In January 2009, a Forest Service program manager advised that "at undeveloped sites, occupied parked vehicles or unoccupied parked vehicles where the occupants are in close proximity to the vehicle are...not subject to the recreation fee at that location.". ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-40884718', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Mt. "The agreement further states that the Forest Service will not issue notices on behalf of Denver. Vehicles over 30' long are not recommended on Highway 5 (Mount Evans road) due to the steep, narrow, winding road. Evans Colorado-2 Mount Evans Road Elevation 14,130 feet. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox, Denver Restaurant Directory: Takeout/Delivery/Dine-in, COVID-19: More Giant Box Stores Colorado Loves ID'd as Outbreaks, Denver, Homeless Residents Heading to Court Today Over Sweeps. Do I really need to pay $10? Mount Evans is the highest peak in the Front Range Rocky Mountains of Colorado. "People know Pikes Peak, and thousands climb Longs Peak, but Mount Evans isn't a very sexy name.". Driving up Mount Evans should be free. What if you pull over onto one of the state-maintained scenic overlooks? This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Echo Lake 2. Although it burned down in 1979, the stone foundation has become a viewing platform — where you "can see for miles. Carry a coat and a hat along. But she also directed the staff not to "advertise this capability. Can I get to Rocky Mountain National Park without a car? How to Cycle Mount Evans: Train as much as you have ever trained for any climb. ", The Forest Service's Fee Collection Guidelines, dated on April 22, 2005 (and still current), state that "Fees will not be charged: For overlooks or scenic pullouts. Evans. What are the roads like, and what do I need to know about driving in Colorado? But visitors complained that the Forest Service staffers in the information booth (the word "entrance" had been eliminated) didn't explain even that much, instead implying that in order to use the road, every vehicle had to have a ten-buck pass, whether or not the driver planned to stop. "We need to take the Forest Service to court," he remembers thinking, "so we can show our evidence to the court.". Sitting at 10,600 feet, the restaurant in this log building serves up spicy buffalo chili. The key to exploring Mount Evans … How about if you pause at the side of the road to take a picture? In fact, if you stop your car anywhere on the road — to take a picture, to look at the scenery, never mind to use a bathroom — you'll have to pay. Save. Evans has a road that takes you to a trail just a few hundred feet shy of the summit where you are likely to see both Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goats. The Cascade and Pikes Peak Toll Road Company took on the major task of building a road to the top of Pikes Peak. If you continue south on Hwy 5 from Echo Lake for 9.1 miles you will reach the Summit Lake Trailhead. Circulation, Drive south on Colorado 103 for 13.5 miles to Echo Lake. With evidence like that, the Forest Service failed to get the lawsuit tossed. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. Evans is a funny experience. Support the independent voice of Denver and help keep the future of Westword free. What about the altitude/Altitude sickness? Last year, 59,000 vehicles drove Mount Evans. Looking for All Inclusive Family Friendly Ski Resort, Itinerary ideas for Colorado vacation in July 2011, Winter Park, Breckenridge, or Vail for March 2013 ski trip, Best Western Plus Deer Park Hotel & Suites. It would have been clearer still if the sign had not been placed a good fifty feet beyond the information booth, which blocks the view of the sign. Which car rental company at Denver International Airport ... Best place to ski in Late January/ February? The U.S. Forest Service oversees the Mount Evans Recreation Area, which hosts more than 150,000 visitors each summer. Terms, I'd have to agree with timo2 - unless you literally plan on driving up, snapping a picture from your (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Nonetheless, the Service threatens federal criminal prosecution on land within the jurisdiction of the City and County of Denver." Speaking of the fee station, the fee for driving the Mount Evans Scenic Byway is $10.00 per vehicle for up to 12 occupants, and your pass will be valid for 3 days. There will be a lot of people and no place for parking. For example, in 2005 a Forest Service official sent an e-mail alerting staffers at Mount Evans to "be very careful about what we do...Make sure you read the law and interim direction to make sure you are not charging for activities that the Act explicitly says you can't charge for. From the summit are breathtaking views of the Front Range and the Great Plains. Evans ($10) unless you have a National Parks Pass. "When I have decided to drive the road without purchasing a pass," Scherer told the court, "the Forest Service has given me a slip of paper to remind me of the Forest Service's policy of no stopping, and inviting me to return and pay the fee another time." Can you please describe the San Juan Skyway/Million $ Hwy/Red Mtn. Ditto for cars parked on the state highway. The Forest Service is far more creative with its website messages. ", The Forest Service's Mount Evans Operation Manual printed in 2008 notes that "Summit Lake is City and County of Denver property, and the Forest Service has no authority to write violation notices for this area. About Us, CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: California Privacy Policy | California Collection Notice | Do Not Sell My Info. If you have a National Parks Pass it will work here, even though the area is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, not the National Park Service. All rights reserved. But at Mount Evans, the Forest Service interprets an amenity very strictly: If you park, you pay the $10 fee. And the fee pays for the nice visitor center and bathrooms halfway up, plus other things. Information Idaho Springs Heritage Museum & Visitor Center. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. And while only a few spots along the road have actual facilities, the views along the way are an endless invitation to picnic. The road is closed in winter and there is a fee to drive up the road. Privacy policy portion of sales from products & services purchased through links on our site from our affiliate.! Through links on our site from our affiliate partners ), `` it 's one of the and... Time to answer travelers ' questions Pissed to be Asked for 9.1 miles you reach! 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