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+--- Thread: The highest paved road in North America: Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (travel) (/thread-18241.html)
The highest paved road in North America: Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (travel) - C C - Jun 22, 2025
REFERENCE (wikipedia): Mount Blue Scenic Byway
Formerly called Mount Evans (activism got it changed). The video below was submitted circa two years ago, but was apparently made before November 17, 2022, since it still used the name Mount Evans.
Although Mount Blue Sky is 14,266.1 feet (4,348 m) above sea level, its prominence or relative height with respect to surrounding (applicable) terrain is only a bit above a half-mile (0.8 km). But in terms of where the Byway actually begins, the road itself supposedly does ascend 7,000 feet (2,100 m) from the elevation of that starting point.
There's a tarn on MBS called Summit Lake. Since the park associated with it covers 160 acres, presumably the lake is at least smaller than that. There's also an observatory at the top.
Like anywhere else that they abide, the bighorn sheep on MBS lick cars for the salt that the vehicles pick up during de-icing treatments. "Don't let them do that" conflicts with the signs along the road warning visitors that bighorns could butt them.
Driving the Highest Paved Road in North America ... https://youtu.be/9lFmRgRSO-c
RE: The highest paved road in North America: Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (travel) - Magical Realist - Jun 23, 2025
When I was around 13 I was unwittingly initiated into the precarious mix of driving and high altitude breathing when my family drove its station wagon up to the top of Pikes Peaks. Unrelenting nausea only relieved by the sudden resurgence of my scrambled eggs and milk. I therefore happily relinquish this daunting sojourn to those with a more iron constitution..
