Fast Facts:
- Denver's highest mountain park; acquired 1924
- Designated National Natural Landmark (1965)
- Alpine lake and tundra wildflowers
- Best place to see mountain goats
- At the base of scenic Mt. Evans (14,264 ft; 4,348 m)
- Headwaters of Bear Creek
Features:
- Shelter and parking area
- Trail to Chicago Lakes
- Watchable wildlife, from mountain goats to picas
- Accessible alpine tundra
- Rare arctic plants
- Nearby Mt. Goliath Natural Area (Denver Botanic Gardens)
Overview:
At 12,840 feet (3,914 m), Summit Lake Park anchors the high-altitude end of the Mountain Parks system. The route to the top of Mt. Evans, one of America's highest auto roads, is (usually) accessible from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and provides a taste of Colorado's high peaks to thousands of Denver visitors annually. The 160-acre Summit Lake Park is surrounded by National Forest lands and the Mt. Evans Wilderness. Fees charged by the Forest Service to use facilities along the road help maintain services from Echo Lake to the top of Mt. Evans.
The short growing season makes life a challenge for the many slow-growing tundra wildflowers; their entire life cycles must be completed in a few short weeks. (Visitors who stay on trails will avoid adding to that difficulty.) Look for "spring" in early July at this elevation, and fall following quickly by mid-August. By September, the road to Mt. Evans summit is closed, but access to Summit Lake is maintained until major snowstorms prohibit travel.
See also:
Mt. Evans Scenic Byway
Your recreation fees:
The U.S. Forest Service charges a fee to access the recreational area along Mount Evans Road (Hwy 5). Denver receives a portion of the fees collected to assist in maintaining our Mt. Evans parks. Recent parking lot improvements, accessible wilderness trail, and restrooms were built using these funds and a State Trails grant. Please support our efforts to provide a quality recreation experience to visitors.
For additional information about Mount Evans, visit the Clear Creek Ranger District headquarters (Exit 240 at Idaho Springs), call 303.567.2901, or visit the Dos Chappell Nature Center at Goliath Peak.
Caution: Other than the stone shelter house, there is little protection from harsh weather at Summit Lake. Storms arise quickly in the afternoon; please take cover in your car or the shelter if lightning threatens. It can snow at any time of year here. Sunscreen is advisable at high elevations.
Location and Facilities:
Summit Lake is 62 miles (100km) west of Denver. Take I-70 to Idaho Springs; Exit 240 (Hwy 103) 15 miles (24 km) to Echo Lake, then Highway 5 to Summit Lake (about 15 miles/24 km). Alternatively, from Echo Lake, Highway 103 (Squaw Pass Road) returns to Bergen Park, creating a loop drive.
See map of Mt. Evans area.
Facilities in the park include parking, shelter, trails, and interpretive markers. New trail to Chicago Lakes overlook completed summer 2007 by Colorado Fourteeners Initiative.
The Denver Mountain Parks system is on the National Register of Historic Places as a multiple properties listing. All parks are considered natural areas, and all wildlife and plants are protected and preserved.