Mt Blue Sky 14er Hike Guide From Echo & Summit Lake

Mt Blue Sky is the 2nd highest peak in the Front Range of Colorado, but one of the most popular mountains due to its highway which visitors can take to the summit of the 14er. There are a number of ways to hike Mt Blue Sky, including starting from Echo Lake, Summit Lake and neighboring Mt Bierstadt. This hike from Summit Lake is one of the most popular and easiest 14ers in Colorado to attempt. Having said this, don’t underestimate this 14er, it’s a very difficult hike for the non-experienced hiker. 

Mt Blue Sky Quick Facts

Video Trail Guide: Mt Blue Sky 14er Hike From Echo Lake

Virtual Trail Guide: Mt Blue Sky from Summit Lake

Mt Blue Sky Hike Rating: ★★★★ (⅘ Stars)

Distance: From Echo Lake: 17-18 miles RT; From Summit Lake: 5.5 Miles RT

Elevation Start: From Echo Lake: 10,650ft; From Summit Lake: 12,850ft

Highest Point: 14,264ft

Total Elevation Gain: From Echo Lake: 5,600ft; From Summit Lake: 2,100ft

Estimated Time to Complete: From Echo Lake: 12-15 Hours RT; From Summit Lake: 3-5 Hours RT

Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous (depending on starting point) Difficulty System Explained

Class: Class 2 What does this mean?

Season: Year Round if hiking from Echo Lake – Expect snow November to June. If hiking from Summit Lake, May – October depending on road closure.

Weather: Check the Weather Forecast

Directions to Mt Blue Sky

Trailhead: Echo Lake or Summit Lake

Getting Here: From Idaho Springs, take CO-103 North for 12.7 miles until you reach Echo Lake on your right. If you are starting the hike from here, you can park anywhere along the lake, but your goal is to get to the Northwest side of the lake where the Chicago Lakes trail starts. 

If you are driving up to Summit Lake, continue to the fee station and drive another 9.5 miles to the small parking area at Summit Lake. 

You can enter both Echo Lake and Summit Lake into your favorite navigational device.

Fees: There is no fee to hike from Echo Lake, but there is a fee to hike from Summit Lake and as of 2021 reservations are required to access any of the hikes above Echo Lake in Mt Blue Sky Wilderness. Read more about those fees and make a reservation here.

Parking: Mt Blue Sky is a popular spot to visit so expect parking to be very limited the later in the day you arrive. If you are parking at Echo Lake, you can park in the small lot at the north side of the lake or head closer to the lodge and park along the road itself. As of 2021, a reservation is required to drive above Echo Lake which means that parking will most likely be easier to come by (theoretically).

If you plan on starting the hike to Mt Blue Sky from Summit Lake, parking is more limited up here (30-40 cars) in the lot, but there is also limited road parking as well. Both spots do have non-plumbing bathrooms that are open seasonally. 

Summary

Camping: Camping for this hike can be tricky. If you are hiking from Echo Lake, once you enter the Wilderness, you can disperse camp as long as you follow the regulations for doing so. If you start your hike from Summit Lake, there are not any good camping options along the way unless you hike back down to the Chicago Lakes which I do not recommend. 

Dogs: This hike is dog friendly from both Summit Lake and Echo Lake but I would not recommend either hike for all dogs. Both starting points require a leashed dog and expect to see a number of other hikers and dogs along the way. If you plan on hiking from Summit Lake, be sure to understand there is a lot of rocky terrain that can be tough on your pup’s paws. I would not recommend this for a dog without mountain experience. 

Make it a Loop: Typically, Mt Blue Sky is an out and back hike from both starting points. However, you could easily add Mt Bierstadt via the Sawtooth ridge. If you descend the northeast slope (as shown in my video), you can make both options a lollipop loop/loop. I would not recommend this option though as trail conditions down this section of the mountain are very poor. 

Trail X Factors: When hiking Mt Blue Sky, the biggest X Factor is where you start your hike from. Your day from Echo Lake is going to be completely different than someone who starts hiking from Summit Lake. If hiking from Echo Lake, you have a lot more mileage, elevation gain and loose trail conditions to deal with. 

Starting your hike from Summit Lake, you have a much shorter day, but literally the entire hike is exposed to the elements. If a storm rolls in, you have nowhere to go (unless you are near the summit). 

Should you plan on hiking Mt Blue Sky from Mt Bierstadt via the Sawtooth, remember that you have to either go back to Mt Bierstadt from the Sawtooth or descend via Mt Blue Sky Northwest slopes which are not fun.  

Hike Tip(s): Like most 14ers in Colorado, when planning a hike to Mt Blue Sky is important to get an early start. Whether you are looking to avoid crowds, secure a parking spot or ensure you have enough time to get to the summit and back, hiking at this elevation is going to take you more time than you expect. In addition, even if you are hiking either route in July, expect to deal with some lingering snow from the winter before. Having shoes with good traction or even a pair of Microspikes adds very little weight to your bag, but can significantly hike when crossing snow fields. 

Best Views: The hike up Mt Blue Sky is full of good views, but some of my personal favorite spots were above the Chicago Lakes, near Summit Lake and anywhere from the summit of Mt Spaulding until the top of Mt Blue Sky. Of course, I hiked this entire day without seeing anyone else for 99% of the day so I think I enjoyed the views a lot more. In either case though, you can’t really go wrong with spots to take a photo on this hike. 

Mt Blue Sky Hike Route

From Echo Lake: My watch died about 2 miles from Echo Lake on the way down. 

From Summit Lake:

Gear Needed

• Mickey’s Mountain Kit
• Backpack – this has been my go to
• Comfortable Hiking Boots –  These are the ones that I use. 
• Map of area or GPS – I use the Garmin inReach
• Microspikes in winter or late spring (helpful on loose rocks)
• Protection from the sun: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses  – lots of exposed hiking
• Hiking Poles – very helpful if hiking from Echo Lake
• Optional: Snowshoes in winter or spring
• Optional: Wind/Rain Proof Clothing – can be helpful keeping you dry and warm
• Optional: Gaiters (in winter)
• Optional:Camera and Lens
• Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
• *Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. 

My Trip to Mt Blue Sky: March 2020

March 2020 was a very dry month so I decided to get after Mt Blue Sky. I was originally planning on waiting until the summer to tackle this long 14er hike, but as we all know, plans change. I started hiking right after 6AM and didn’t return to my car until 8:30PM. It was an incredibly long and exhausting day on the mountain with lots of loose trail conditions, snow and postholing. Luckily though, I only saw 4 other people the entire day, none of which headed up to Mt Blue Sky. You can check out some pictures from the day below or watch the video recapping the entire hike. 

Mt Blue Sky 14er Virtual Trail Guide From Echo Lake

Mt Blue Sky From Summit Lake

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