| Difficulty: | Class 2 |
| Exposure: |  |
| Summit Elevation: | 14,264 feet |
| Trailhead Elevation: | 12,850 feet |
| Elevation Gain: | 1,450 feet |
| Round-trip Length: | 1.70 miles |
| Trailhead: | Evans/Summit Lake |
| USGS Quad.: | Mount Evans |
| County Sheriff: | Clear Creek: 303-679-2376 |
| National Forests: | Arapaho, Pike |
| Wilderness Area: | Mount Evans |
| Author: | BillMiddlebrook |
| Last Updated: | 8/2006 |
- Climbing 14ers can be very dangerous, please read the Mountaineering Safety Page and make sure you have a map+compass and can use them effectively, without the help of electronic devices.
Route #10) Mt. Evans - Northeast Ridge from Summit Lake
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| TH: | Take Exit 240 at Idaho Springs on Interstate 70. Drive south on Colorado 103 for 13.5 miles to Echo Lake. Pay the entrance fee and drive 9 miles up the Mt. Evans road (Colorado 5) to the Summit Lake parking area. |
| Route: |
Photo #1 and Photo #2 show the route from different angles. Leave the parking area and walk back to the Mt. Evans road. Turn right and walk down to the left turn in the road. This is the low point of the road - near some water. From the corner of the road, leave the road and hike south to the base of the slope and begin climbing south. Near 13,200', aim for the ridge up to your left to avoid some large angled slabs up to the right. Reach the ridge near 13,600' and follow it southwest toward the summit - Photo #3. At 14,000', the ridge leads to the cliffs that are on the northwest side of the summit. From the edge you can look right down at the cliffs below the summit - Photo #4. Follow the ridge south by climbing over boulders. When you reach the northeast end of the summit, the parking area is down to your left. The true summit is not far off - Photo #5. Climb down a bit into a notch between the two high points and follow the trail up to the summit. Return via the same route or by the Northeast Face Route #5. |
| Notes: | This route is stable and not very steep. It is the shortest Class 2 hike from Summit Lake to the summit. IMPORTANT: This route enters the Mount Evans Wilderness area. Wilderness areas have special regulations and restrictions for party size, dispersed camping, campfires, etc. Also, dog owners should read the wilderness information carefully because some wilderness areas prohibit dogs to be off-leash and/or limit how close dogs can be to lakes and streams. If you have questions about the Mount Evans Wilderness area, please contact a U.S. Forest Service office for the National Forest(s) listed above. |
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Route Photos: (Did you know?)
