Mount Blue Sky Loop (formerly Mt Evans Loop)

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This route allows you to summit Mt. Spalding and Mt. Blue Sky from Summit Lake via the Mount Blue Sky Ridge Trail #51, then return more quickly to the TH by skipping the re-summit of Spalding on the way back. The views of Mount Blue Sky' north face for the first half of the route are impressive, and staying a bit higher on the ridge during the second half can offer some great 3rd class alpine scrambling. From the top of Mount Blue Sky you can take in panoramic views of the entire front range, South Park, and some of Colorado's eastern plains.

Reservations are required to park at Summit Lake. Rangers will ticket if you don't display your pass.

Parts of the trail are very rocky, and in places loose.

From Summit Lake, follow the Mt. Evans Route. Blue Sky Ridge Trail north towards the Chicago Lakes Overlook. Then continue up the east ridge of Mt. Spalding for just over a mile to its summit. Drop into the Spalding-Blue Sky saddle, then continue up Blue Sky's west ridge to the summit, around 1.5 miles away. The trail stays below the ridge crest on the south side for the rest of the way to the summit, and is well cairned.

From the summit, find a faint trail on the east side of the parking lot at the top that leads down the northeast face of Mt. Blue Sky. This trail is steep and a bit loose, but shortens the distance significantly, and avoids down climbing some of the rockier bits of the west ridge. Follow this trail for about .6 miles till it hits the Mt. Blue Sky road, and stroll about half a mile back to the trailhead.

Mountain goats, marmots, and mountain sheep may be seen.