Mount Blue Sky Summit Tour from Denver: Red Rocks & Alpine Views

Climb over 7,000 feet on North America’s highest paved road in a day

A full-day private or small group tour from Denver that drives the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (the highest paved road in North America) to the 14,130-foot summit, with stops at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Evergreen's Main Street, and a picnic lunch at Echo Lake. The route gains over 7,000 feet of elevation and includes a short hike at the top, where bighorn sheep, mountain goats and marmots roam the alpine tundra.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mount Blue Sky and Red Rocks Tour

• Drive Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway
• Hike near summit and view wildlife
• Picnic lunch at Echo Lake
• Drive by Evergreen Lake Park
• Pass Evergreen’s historic Main Street
• Visit Red Rocks Amphitheatre
• Pass historic mining town

The experience

How do you reach 14,130 feet without mountaineering gear? The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway does it for you: 28 miles of paved road climbing over 7,000 feet from the Denver foothills to the highest summit accessible by car in North America. Your guide drives while you watch the landscape shift from red rock formations to subalpine forest to bare alpine tundra. The road itself is the attraction: each switchback opens a wider view, and the air thins noticeably as the elevation climbs.

The day starts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the 9,000-seat outdoor venue carved into rust-colored cliffs that rise from the plains west of Denver. From there you head into the mountains toward Evergreen, stopping at Evergreen Lake Park and its historic Main Street: a compact strip of galleries, boutiques and coffee shops wedged between pink boulder walls and Bear Creek. At Echo Lake, 10,600 feet up, you'll have a picnic lunch beside the glacial lake that formed roughly 10,000 years ago when retreating ice left behind a natural dam. The lake sits in the shadow of Mount Blue Sky itself, and the water reflects the peaks you're about to reach.

The final push to the summit takes the scenic byway through terrain where wildlife is visible: bighorn sheep, mountain goats and marmots live in the rocky meadows and talus slopes. At the top, you'll hike the remaining distance to stand at 14,130 feet, where the view stretches across the Colorado Rockies on a clear day. Your guide handles all the driving and navigation. You bring a reusable water bottle for refills along the way. The whole day runs about seven and a half hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Park entry fees to Red Rocks Amphitheatre and the scenic byway.
• a professional driver and guide who speaks English.
• transportation in a comfortable vehicle.
• water refills (bring a reusable bottle).
• and a picnic lunch at Echo Lake.

Options for this experience

2 options

Small group (up to 5 guests)Up to 5 per booking · Guide in English · Available from 24 May 2027Includes pickup

Large group (6 to 14 guests)Up to 14 per booking · Guide in English · Available from 24 May 2027Includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 24 May 2027

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 34 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Explorer Tours

Is this one for you?Pick the small group tour if you prefer fewer fellow travelers on the drive, or the larger group if you're splitting costs with companions: same route and stops either way.

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Top questions

What is Mount Blue Sky and why is the road to it famous?

Mount Blue Sky (formerly called Mount Evans) sits at 14,130 feet and is reached by the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, the highest paved road in North America. The road climbs 28 miles and gains over 7,000 feet of elevation from the foothills near Denver, making it possible to reach an alpine summit without hiking or technical climbing.

Will I see wildlife on the drive to the summit?

Yes. Bighorn sheep, mountain goats and marmots live in the alpine meadows and rocky terrain along the upper stretches of the scenic byway and around the summit. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the habitat is their natural home and encounters are common on clear days.

What happens at Echo Lake during the tour?

Echo Lake is where you stop for a picnic lunch at 10,600 feet. The lake is a glacial formation roughly 10,000 years old, created when retreating ice left a natural dam in the Chicago Creek valley. It sits directly below Mount Blue Sky and offers views of the peak you're about to climb.

Is there hiking involved, or is this mostly a drive?

The tour is primarily a scenic drive up the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, but you'll hike the final stretch to reach the 14,130-foot summit. The hike is short and the elevation gain is already behind you from the drive, so it's manageable for most fitness levels.

Can I bring my infant or young child on this tour?

Yes. Specialized infant seats and car seats are available upon request. Just specify what type you need when you book. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though the high altitude may affect very young children or anyone with heart or lung conditions.