Overnight parking at Echo Lake trailhead or alternatives

[ADRN_MKZ]

Planning on backpacking to Chicago Lakes via Echo Lake trailhead and wondering if able to leave vehicle parked overnight (planning on summitting Mt Evans). Do they allow overnight parking at trailhead or at Echo Lake Lodge. Please any insight will help.

[justiner]

sorry if I'm only able to guess, but I think you'd be fine by the picnic parking of Echo Lake. It's Summit Lake you need to worry about parking overnight.

[ADRN_MKZ]

Thank you @justiner

[9patrickmurphy]

I slept in my car at that trailhead in summer of 2019 with no issues.

[Edwin Supple]

Last summer I parked a car there for two days for a backpacking trip. There is some parking a little further away from the lodge and closer to (but not in) the campground where I parked.

[peter303]

Echo Lake Lodge is closed this season/forever because Denver revoked contract for unspecified reason. It was run by the same family for decades. (Someone didn't grease the right palms.)
There will be a food truck there the newspaper said.

https://www.denverpost.com/2022/11/11/e ... s-history/

The article mentions it helped SAR several times.

Their HVAC was terribly loud all night if you slept in nearby tent section.

The campground appears to open June 2. Several high altitude campgrounds dont quite make Memorial weekend.

[TXDAD]

any insights into when tickets for parking at Summit Lake TH will be available?

[justiner]

any insights into when tickets for parking at Summit Lake TH will be available?

Usually around the day after Memorial Day. Last year was a few weeks afterwards.