I found past threads about Mt. Evans Road but none for the current regulations on Mt. Blue Sky Road.
https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10087438
The recreation.gov reservations page says that the area is now under CDOT operation.
It appears that there is now only a single $20 + $2 reservation fee for the entire road.
In the past, there were separate reservations for Mt. Goliath, Summit Lake, and the Summit parking areas. You could park elsewhere including the maintenance lot just before the Summit Lake lot and pullouts along the way.
Are you allowed to walk or bike up the road from the entrance station to the Mt. Galbreath visitor area and hike from there? I orphaned Rogers Pk. and have done Mt. Blue Sky via several routes.
Years ago, you could drive up the Chicago Creek road to a parking area and avoid the down and then back up to the Echo Lake TH. Is that now closed?
Mt Blue Sky Road parking areas
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laswa-guide
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Re: Mt Blue Sky Road parking areas
Couple points. CDOT has always been a managing partner (they operate the state highway) so nothing has changed there. What did change is Denver Mountain Parks is now leading the operation as in prior years it was the USFS.
I have yet to see confirmation of this but to, me reading the reservation ticket, it seems like nothing has changed outside of who's collecting the fees and that you can't use a National Parks Pass anymore (lame). From the ticket booking site: "Provides access for one private vehicle or motorcycle to access Mount Blue Sky and all developed recreation sites. (Mount Goliath, Summit Lake Park, and the Summit Interpretive Area)" I read that as if you are not stopping in a developed site then you don't need a ticket, same as it was before. But I'm not totally sure that's how the powers at be would view that.
Your other question is even more explicitly answered: "Hikers and Bicyclists accessing the Mt. Blue Sky Recreation Area from below the Welcome station are free."
If you are asking if you can drive to the area around the Idaho Springs Res, only if you are a resident of Idaho Springs. https://www.idahospringsco.com/our-comm ... -reservoir
I have yet to see confirmation of this but to, me reading the reservation ticket, it seems like nothing has changed outside of who's collecting the fees and that you can't use a National Parks Pass anymore (lame). From the ticket booking site: "Provides access for one private vehicle or motorcycle to access Mount Blue Sky and all developed recreation sites. (Mount Goliath, Summit Lake Park, and the Summit Interpretive Area)" I read that as if you are not stopping in a developed site then you don't need a ticket, same as it was before. But I'm not totally sure that's how the powers at be would view that.
Your other question is even more explicitly answered: "Hikers and Bicyclists accessing the Mt. Blue Sky Recreation Area from below the Welcome station are free."
If you are asking if you can drive to the area around the Idaho Springs Res, only if you are a resident of Idaho Springs. https://www.idahospringsco.com/our-comm ... -reservoir