Road to Mount Blue Sky Opens for 2026 Season on Friday, May 22

Road to Mount Blue Sky Opens for 2026 Season on Friday, May 22

Published on May 21, 2026

Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) and Denver Mountain Parks (DMP) were joined by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Clear Creek County, and the Denver Mountain Parks Foundation to officially cut the ribbon on the improved road up to Mount Blue Sky.

The Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area will officially reopen Friday May 22, 2026.

America's highest paved road has been closed since Labor Day 2024 while crews rebuilt portions of the high-alpine road to address severe buckling and water drainage issues.

"This road is more than transportation infrastructure, it is a gateway to Colorado's natural beauty," said CDOT Region 1 transportation director Jessica Mylkebust. CDOT is proud to maintain State Highway 5 all the way to the summit, including roadway maintenance, repairs and winter operations. Overall, this project improves safety and reliability for the traveling public while also helping protect the alpine environment surrounding the roadway".

Reservations for Mount Blue Sky can be made on recreation.gov and can be made up to 30 days before your visit. Reservations are required if planning to park and visit one of the three developed sites (Mount Goliath Natural Area, Summit Lake Park, or the Mount Blue Sky Summit) between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Denver Mountain Parks will lead operations at the Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area through new agreements with the Arapaho National Forest and Denver Mountain Parks Foundation. Under the new agreement, Denver Mountain Parks, in partnership with the Denver Mountain Parks Foundation, will collect fees, manage the reservation system, and set operating hours. Fees collected will help fund the maintenance and upkeep of facilities in the recreation area.

"Today is about much more than reopening a road," said Denver Mountain Parks Director Shannon Dennison. "It's about renewing people's connection to this mountain through the journey up to the summit, through the opportunity to experience nature at its most rugged, and through a name that acknowledges both the deep cultural connections to this place and the painful history of the Sand Creek Massacre. This mountain has connected people for generations, and today we are proud to help carry that legacy forward".

The new simplified reservation process includes a now $20 fee for an all-sights pass. Motorcycles are $15 and bikes are free.

Free passes will be available through Denver and Clear Creek County Libraries. Enrolled tribal members receive free entry.

Federal lands recreation passes will NOT be accepted.

"Recreation is something Denver Mountain Parks does really well," said USFS Clear Creek District Ranger Max Forgensi. "By taking on the lead role of managing Mount Blue Sky, Denver Mountain Parks is freeing up the Forest Service to focus on those and other priorities. It's truly a team effort to take care of this magical place".

As one of the most visited recreation areas on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Mount Blue Sky draws visitors from across the world. The surrounding Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area includes a nature center, parking lots, restrooms, scenic views and trails through native gardens and ancient forests and sees more than 100,000 visitors annually.

Denver Parks & Recreation
As stewards of a legacy park system, Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) is dedicated to customer service and enhancing the health of residents and the environment through innovative programs and safe, beautiful, and sustainable places. The DPR system includes 30 recreation centers and over 20,000 acres of urban and mountain parkland including off-street trails, parkways, and natural areas.

• Parks & Recreation