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Idaho Springs, Colo. (Aug. 29, 2024) — The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (CO 5) is scheduled to close Sept. 3, 2024, through spring of 2026 to both motorized and non-motorized travel (foot, bike, etc.). The extended closure is necessary due to roadway construction led by the Federal Highways Administration’s Federal Lands Access Program. The public closure area will span from the gate near the Forest Service welcome station to the summit parking area. Access to the Mount Blue Sky summit will only be available from various hiking trails. As conditions allow, the area is scheduled to reopen on Memorial Day weekend 2026.
Reservations for the remaining days of the season are limited and in high demand. Timed-entry reservations are released two days in advance and can be made on recreation.gov. Reservations are required if planning to visit one of the three developed sites (Mount Goliath Natural Area, Summit Lake Park, or the Mount Blue Sky Summit) between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Reservations cannot be sold onsite and must be purchased before arrival as there is no cell service at the welcome station.
As one of the most visited recreation areas on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Mount Blue Sky draws visitors from across the world. So far, more than 45,000 vehicles booked timed-entry reservations for the 2024 season. The timed-entry reservation system aims to reduce wait times, lines, and crowding in this popular site. Dispersing visitors across the days and weeks reduces impacts on wildlife and the environment and improves available parking.
Areas remaining open during construction
Trails and recreational areas throughout Mount Evans Wilderness, which surrounds Mount Blue Sky, will remain open for recreation during the construction project. Popular destinations and alternative trails in the area include Echo Lake Park, Echo Lake Campground, Chicago Lakes Trail, Captain Mountain Trail, Chief Mountain Trail, Resthouse Meadows Trail, and Bierstadt Trailhead. Please be advised that motorized and mechanized (bike) travel is prohibited in designated wilderness areas.
For more information, visit the Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area web page.
Construction ahead
The construction project will repair the damaged roadway from the Summit Lake overflow parking lot to the first switchback past Summit Lake, improving public safety while reducing ongoing impacts to the fragile alpine ecosystem and restoring the natural hydraulic processes through the area. Partners in the project include: The Federal Highway Administration, CDOT, the USDA Forest Service and Denver Mountain Parks. More information about the construction project will be available through the Federal Highway Administration Mount Blue Sky webpage.
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