Partial opening of Mount Evans Highway Friday; full opening could be Monday

 State Highway 5 typically is opened to the summit of Mount Evans (14,264 feet) for the summer on the Friday before Memorial Day.  However, due to additional snowfall in May, maintenance crews will need to continue clearing the remaining four miles above Summit Lake for a few days.  CDOT now expects the highway to be open to the summit on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30.   

          The United States Forest Service oversees the Mount Evans Recreation Area, which more than 150,000 people visit each summer.  Three developed sites are located along the corridor. Two are in the National Forest: Mount Goliath Natural Area and Nature Center and the Summit of Mount Evans Interpretive Site; while Summit Lake Park is owned by the City and County of Denver. Visitors wishing to stop at all three sites may purchase both the $10 Forest Service pass and the $5 City of Denver pass at the Mount Evans Welcome Station, or they may choose to purchase just one pass or the other, depending on their destination. Fees are per vehicle. There is no fee for driving through the area unless you plan to visit one of these sites. Bicyclists are exempt from the fee. In addition, federal interagency passes are honored at all three sites.

For more information, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/mountevans; call the Clear Creek Ranger District’s new information line at 303-567-4382; or stop by the Idaho Springs Visitor’s Center at 2060 Miner Street, east of downtown Idaho Springs.

Information regarding the opening and closing of seasonal highways in Colorado is available at all times on the cotrip.org website, by calling 511, or via subscription e-mail or text.  To subscribe, please visit www.codot.govand click on the small letter icon at the bottom of the page. The link takes you to a list of items you can subscribe to, including General Travel Information – Seasonal Mountain Pass Closures/Openings.