When you get to the top, you come upon a small parking lot. There's not a lot of
room at the top and the parking lot is rather small. On crowded days it can be hard
to find a parking space. After you park, get out and walk around. You can go
check out the old restaurant and read the plaque they have. Behind the ruins of the
restaurant, there is the Meyer-Womble astronomical observatory that the University of
Denver built. It is the highest operating observatory in the world - unfortunately
they don't let you in and don't offer tours and are mean to you if you go over there and
try to talk to them about it. Here is
a link to their observatory site.Since the parking lot is not at the actual top of
Mt. Evans, you have to climb the last remaining hundred or so feet by foot. Once you
get to very top, the view is incredible! You get an amazing 360° view of the whole
area. I've heard that from the top of Mt. Evans on a clear day you can see the area
of 5 times the size of Switzerland. In any event, it is incredible. You can
look down at Summit Lake and the road that took you to the top and even further down see
Denver. To the north you can look at the continental divide stretching to the north
and Longs Peak at the very end. To the south you can see Pikes Peak in the distance.
And to the west are just rows and rows of massive snow capped peaks as far as you
can see. On a nice clear day you can see the Maroon Bells and Mount of the Holy
Cross near Aspen. It is just unbelievable and I really can't describe it in words.
I enjoy watching the tourists from Nebraska and Texas as they walk around like zombies
from the high altitude. It's usually pretty cold at the top so make sure you wear
appropriate clothes or you'll be staying in your car. There are some good hikes at
the top and just a lot of fun to be at that altitude. Be careful of lightning as it
can get stormy up there pretty quick and with no trees around, humans become good
conductors.
Enjoy.
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Parking Lot at the top and the ruins of the old restaurant
Looking to the north west
Looking to the west
Looking to the south west
Mountain goats hanging out at the top
Looking northward down at Summit Lake
Looking down at the road
Plaque for Drexel Lacey who surveyed the road
Looking west as a storm approaches
Looking down at tourists waiting to use the restroom
Looking to the North at the continental divide
The top - you can see the observatory on the right
The top - you can see the observatory on the right
Panoramic 360° view from the top
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