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Elevation: 14,152 ft
GPS: 39.5886, -105.64299
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 690,845 total · 2,570/month
Shared By: Leo Paik on Feb 16, 2002
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description Suggest change

This is a beautiful area of alpine rock with minimal approaches where you can climb stellar, alpine, granite climbs up to 1400 feet and be done in time for lunch or launch into a full adventure with aid climbing at 12000+ feet. Some of the best quality alpine granite in the Front Range lies here. Free routes in the area like Roofer Madness, Lincoln Lake Apron, Jabba, Cheap Date, 2nd Apron Center, 3rd Apron Left, Road Warrior, Good Evans, Cary Granite, Space Miser see little traffic. Bouldering has become quite popular in recent years with 4 star problems like The Dali Sit Down Start, Seurat, and The Ladder. There is room for much more; however, tread lightly here as the terrain tolerates less abuse than lower areas. There may even be lines to do off Guanella Pass ascending to the Sawtooth Traverse. Routes have been put up on Mt. Warren. Aid routes on the overhanging sections of the Black Wall see rare repeats. There are also routes "down valley" from the Black Wall on Mt. Spaulding. Descents can be as demanding as sticking a thumb out as the tourist drive by. Beware of the usual summer lightning storms.

Eds. per the Denver Post, the U. S. Board of Geographic Names voted 15-1 on 9/15/23 to accept the proposal for the new name for this peak. The new name carries tribal meaning: The Arapaho people are known as the "Blue Sky People", and the Cheyenne people "have an annual ceremony marking the renewal of life called "Blue Sky". The new name is backed by Cheyenne, Arapahoe, Northern Arapaho, South Ute, and Ute Mountain tribes. The Northern Cheyenne trive in Montana opposed the change, saying the name "Mount Blue Sky" could be considered sacrilegious because a Northen Cheyenne ceremony uses the "blue sky" words and concept.

Getting There Suggest change

Take I-70 West of Denver to Idaho Springs. Exit 240 up the Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Mt. Evans) Road brings you to Echo Lake. Follow the summit road to Summit Lake about 12,500 feet. Note you may be coerced to pay a toll fee (fee demonstration program) now that has increased to $15 (as of 2019) or have a Parks Pass ($80) with the $15 hologram add on to make it a Golden Eagle Pass. They are staffing the toll collection site by 7:45am! Black Wall and Summit aprons are accessed by parking at the Summit Lake parking area.

There may be a way to insist on a pass without use of the Forest Service facilities for a fee-less visit to Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Mt. Evans). Apparently, you may be able to not use the parking areas like at Summit Lake and avoid the fee.

Fees

Suggest change
From the Denver Post: one can pay the new, increased user fee of $15. If one uses the Summit Lake area alone, a $5 fee for Denver Parks can be dissected out. If one uses the other areas including the summit but not Summit Lake, a $10 fee can be dissected out. If one is only driving without stopping, no fee is required.

343 Total Climbs

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Location: Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Mt. Evans) Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Mt. Evans)

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V1 5 R
 61
Timeline
Boulder, Alpine
V2 5+
 210
The Ladder
Boulder, Alpine
V3 6A
 40
Dark Crystal
Boulder, Alpine
V7 7A+
 47
Zoolander (submitted as Powder Keg)
Boulder, Alpine
V8 7B
 27
Seurat
Boulder, Alpine
V8 7B
 23
Tangerine Man
Boulder, Alpine
V9 7C
 64
The Dali Sit Down Start
Boulder, Alpine
V9+ 7C
 40
Bierstadt
Boulder, Alpine
V12 8A+
 16
No More Greener Grasses
Boulder, Alpine
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 51
Road Warrior
Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 74
Rainbow Highway
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 170
Good Evans
Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c C1 PG13
 37
Jabba
Trad, Aid, Alpine
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 120
Cary Granite
Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 38
Sinners On Sunday
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Timeline Mt Blue Sky (fo… > Area A > Bierstadt Area
 61
V1 5 R Boulder, Alpine
The Ladder Mt Blue Sky (fo… > Area A > Bierstadt Area
 210
V2 5+ Boulder, Alpine
Dark Crystal Mt Blue Sky (fo… > Area A > Bierstadt Area
 40
V3 6A Boulder, Alpine
Zoolander (submitted as Pow… Mt Blue Sky (fo… > Lincoln Lake
 47
V7 7A+ Boulder, Alpine
Seurat Mt Blue Sky (fo… > Area A > Seurat Area
 27
V8 7B Boulder, Alpine
Tangerine Man Mt Blue Sky (fo… > Lincoln Lake
 23
V8 7B Boulder, Alpine
The Dali Sit Down Start Mt Blue Sky (fo… > Area A > Dali Area
 64
V9 7C Boulder, Alpine
Bierstadt Mt Blue Sky (fo… > Area A > Bierstadt Area
 40
V9+ 7C Boulder, Alpine
No More Greener Grasses Mt Blue Sky (fo… > Area A > Dali Area
 16
V12 8A+ Boulder, Alpine
Road Warrior Black Wall
 51
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
Rainbow Highway Black Wall
 74
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Good Evans Black Wall
 170
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
Jabba Lincoln Lake Slabs
 37
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c C1 PG13 Trad, Aid, Alpine
Cary Granite Black Wall
 120
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
Sinners On Sunday Black Wall
 38
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Mt. Evans) »

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