Colorado · Hiking · Near Idaho Springs

Mount Blue Sky

Mount Blue SkyPhoto: regexman, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
6.0 mi
round trip
2,300 ft
climb
14,264 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Mount Blue Sky open right now?

Road closed

CO 5/Mount Blue Sky Road: road closure is listed as closed by CDOT 511.

As of · Source: CDOT 511. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Mount Blue Sky is a 14,264-foot summit in the Clear Creek Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, managed by the Forest Service. This hike starts at Summit Lake and climbs to the top of the peak on a route rated hard. The route is an out-and-back of 6 miles round trip with about 2,300 feet of climbing one way to the summit. The whole route stays above treeline. It begins at a low point of about 12,840 feet and tops out at 14,264 feet, which is a rise of roughly 1,400 feet in height from bottom to top. The rest of the climbing comes from ups and downs along the way. The full trip adds up to more climbing than the summit height suggests. Gray Wolf Mountain and Mount Warren are both close by, and the Mt. Evans climbing area sits less than half a mile away. For an overnight base, Guanella Pass Campground is about 4 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Guanella Pass Scenic Byway

    Campground

    Campground · 3.7 mi from the trail
  • If it rainsUser:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Hamill House Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 8.0 mi from Idaho Springs

    Historic house-museum in Georgetown, Colorado, United States

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Idaho Springs

Go with a guide

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Gray Wolf MountainPhoto: regexman, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Gray Wolf Mountain

Next door

Route to the summit of Gray Wolf Mountain (13,609 ft) from Summit Lake (Mt. Blue Sky/Evans Road).

Mount Blue Sky RidgePhoto: gregor_y, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mount Blue Sky Ridge

Next door

4.34-mile out-and-back hike on Mount Blue Sky Ridge in Colorado, 1,096 ft gain, 14,170 ft max elevation.

Sawtooth Ridge TraversePhoto: versute, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sawtooth Ridge Traverse

~3 min drive

1.40-mile trail in Colorado with 800 ft gain and 12,800 ft max elevation.

Epaulet MountainPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Epaulet Mountain

~12 min drive

Route to the summit of Epaulet Mountain (13,537 ft) from Burning Bear / Abyss Lake Trailhead.

Rogers PeakPhoto: John Game, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rogers Peak

Next door

Route to the summit of Rogers Peak (13,323 ft) from Summit Lake Lot.

Resthouse Meadows TrailPhoto: waterarchives, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Resthouse Meadows Trail

~8 min drive

1.18-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 440 ft elevation gain.

Lincoln LakePhoto: squeaks2569, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lincoln Lake

~5 min drive

1.19-mile out-and-back trail to Lincoln Lake in Colorado, 232 ft gain.

Mount WarrenPhoto: regexman, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mount Warren

Next door

Route to the summit of Mount Warren (13,294 ft) from Summit Lake Park.

Silver Dollar LakePhoto: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Silver Dollar Lake

~8 min drive

4.16-mile out-and-back to Silver Dollar Lake in Colorado at 12,199 ft.

Chicago Lakes TrailPhoto: The original uploader was MattWright at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Chicago Lakes Trail

~8 min drive

1.22-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 294 ft elevation gain and loss.

Route details

Distance
6.0 mi round trip
Climbing
About 2,300 ft
Starts at
Summit Lake Trailhead (about 12,825 ft)
Summit
14,256 ft
Difficulty
Hard

Getting there

Park at Summit Lake Trailhead.

Other routes up Mount Blue Sky

Questions about this route

How long is the Mount Blue Sky on Mount Blue Sky?

About 6.0 mi round trip from Summit Lake Trailhead (about 12,825 ft).

How much elevation gain is on the Mount Blue Sky?

About 2,300 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Mount Blue Sky?

It is rated hard.

Where does the Mount Blue Sky start?

Summit Lake Trailhead (about 12,825 ft).

How many routes go up Mount Blue Sky?

3: Mount Blue Sky Ridge, Mount Blue Sky and Wheeler Nat. Rec. Trail - Colorado.

Conditions and forecast on Mount Blue Sky

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

© openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors