The Highest Road In America That Closes Every Winter

Colorado’s Mount Blue Sky Road (Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway) climbs over 7,000 feet in just 28 miles! It eventually reaches an altitude of 14,130 feet to 14,264 feet at the summit of Mount Blue Sky, making it the highest paved road in America. Formerly known as Mount Evans, the Mount Blue Sky Road takes drivers past granite walls and bristlecone pine woods as they keep an eye out for bighorn sheep in the summer. In winter, the upper part of the road becomes impassable due to blizzards and deep snow, so it is closed for the duration of the cold season.

Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway winding through alpine terrain in Colorado. Let us briefly look at how Mount Blue Sky Road earned the title of highest road in America. For the purpose of this article, ‘highest road’ refers to the highest elevation reached by a paved public road in the U.S. The criteria include a road that is measured by the elevation of the roadway itself. Looking at these measurements, Mount Blue Sky Road deserves its title.

Still, other roads can also take a spot on ‘highest roads’ lists. If the criteria look a bit different, roads like Trail Ridge and Independence Pass also deserve a mention. Trail Ridge Road is located in Rocky Mountain National Park. It reaches an altitude of 12,183 feet (3,713 meters) above sea level and is the country’s highest paved ‘through-road’. Independence Pass sits on Colorado Highway 82 and reaches 12,095 feet (3,687 meters). It is one of the country’s highest mountain passes and closes seasonally.

The top of Mount Blue Sky Road, formerly Mount Evans Road, in Colorado. In 1912, Denver residents voted to support the Denver Mountain Parks System. Among other things, the system would prioritize the building of a road that could take drivers up the mountain peaks. Under the state of Colorado and Denver Mountain Parks, construction toward the summit began in 1923, and the road officially reached the top of Mount Blue Sky in 1930. In 1926, Echo Lake Lodge was built along the road to house the first tourists.

The road exploded in popularity, with drivers arriving in the hundreds to experience the altitude shift and see the views from the summit. In 1941, the Crest House opened near the summit, allowing visitors to buy food and gifts during their trip. Unfortunately, a propane explosion and subsequent fire destroyed the building in 1979, and it was never rebuilt. Those traveling the road today can still see the ruins of the building. Beyond drawing adventurous tourists, the high-altitude areas surrounding the road attracted scientists interested in studying cosmic rays, muon lifetimes, and decay. In September 2023, after several petitions by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names renamed the peak from Mount Evans to Mount Blue Sky. The name reflects the heritage of the Arapaho people, once known as the Blue Sky People. It also honors the Blue Sky life ceremony held by the Southern Cheyenne tribe every year.

Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway climbing above the surrounding peaks in Colorado. Mount Blue Sky Road has closed for winter every year since shortly after its completion. In 2024, it was announced that the road would be closed for two years for critical maintenance. It was closed in September of that year and reopened in May 2026. The road handled a full visitor season in 2026 right up until the Labor Day weekend. The scenic byway (State Highway 5) officially closed for winter in early October, while the upper section closed on September 8. The road is expected to reopen sometime in late May 2027.

Driving up Mount Blue Sky in the afternoon. Via Shutterstock / Jamilya Khalillulina. When the road is open, drivers can drive down Highway 5 to the mountain summit. The road stays open 24 hours a day during the summer, but timed-entry reservations are a must. Those exploring the road for the first time can take Exit 240 in Idaho Springs from I-70 and follow the signs to Highway 103 and Mount Blue Sky. After 14 miles south, drivers can turn onto Highway 5 just past Echo Lake Lodge. From there, it is about 14 miles to the summit. Along the way, there are mountain goats, bighorn sheep, marmots, and other animals to see. The road also passes by pine forests, meadows, and overlooks mountain lakes. There are even better views from the Mount Goliath Nature Center.

The Pikes Peak Highway in Colorado. As briefly mentioned earlier, there are many other high American roads that deserve a bit of time in the limelight, so to speak. Pikes Peak Highway, for instance, climbs to the Pikes Peak Summit at 14,115 feet (4,302 meters) in El Paso County, Colorado. It is a 19-mile paved toll road built in 1915, and it reaches nearly the same altitude as Mount Blue Sky Road, with only a small difference.

Trail Ridge Road is a lot lower, but still the highest paved through-road in the country. At 12,183 feet (3,713 meters), it crosses the Continental Divide and links Estes Park and Grand Lake inside Rocky Mountain National Park. Independence Pass is also one of America’s highest mountain passes, reaching a height of 12,095 feet (3,687 meters).

When looking at these elevations, it is clear to see the difference between the elevation of the road itself and the elevation of the mountain it climbs. For example, Mount Blue Sky’s summit is 14,264 feet (4,348 meters) above sea level. The road, however, reaches 14,130 feet. Pikes Peak Highway actually reaches the summit of Pikes Peak. So, a ranking based on mountain summits would see Pikes Peak take the top spot.

Loveland Pass in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Speaking of America’s highest roads, most are in Colorado and Hawaii. The roads joining the ones already discussed in Colorado include Cottonwood Pass at 12,126 feet (3,696 meters) and Loveland Pass at 11,990 feet (3,655 meters) above sea level. The Loveland Pass is the highest road in America that stays open all year (depending on specific weather). Hawaii is home to the Mauna Kea Access Road on the Big Island, which reaches up to 13,796 feet (4,205 meters) in altitude. The Haleakala Summit Road on Maui reaches 10,023 feet (3,055 meters) in altitude.

Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, formerly Mount Evans Scenic Byway, in Colorado. Image credit Grossinger via Shutterstock. What makes Mount Blue Sky special is not only its title, but the fact that parts of it sit in protected wilderness. This lets visitors access a 14,000-foot 14er from the parking area. As mentioned, you can also see rare high-altitude wildlife, and Summit Lake Park is one of the highest city parks in the country. Not to mention the switchbacks and drop-offs along the road, which make the drive quite the heart-stopping adventure.