Mount Evans is the highest summit of the Chicago Peaks in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. Mount Evans dominates the skyline of the Front Range west of Denver and can be seen from over 100 miles away. At 14,271 feet (4,352 m) elevation, Mount Evans stands over 8,000 feet (2,438 m) above nearby Denver, towering over the skyline to the east.
Mount Evans boasts the highest paved road in North America, the Mount Evans Scenic Byway, which ascends 7,000 vertical feet in 28 miles passing mountain scenery, lakes, picnic areas, hiking trails, and stunning views before reaching Mount Evans at 14,264 feet (4,348 m). Due to its height and accessibility, Mount Evans offers a convenient way to get up high into an alpine environment without having to hike or climb up the mountain.
Mount Evans is located in central Colorado about 36 miles (58 km) west of Denver. It lies within Clear Creek County, Jefferson County, and Summit County, Colorado. About 60% of the mountain is within the boundaries of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. The upper slopes of Mount Evans are protected as Mount Evans Wilderness area, covering about 140 sq mi (363 km2).
Now, let’s get into 52 riddles about Mount Evans to test your knowledge about this Colorado icon!
Riddles about Mount Evans’ location and geography
Riddle 1
Mount Evans is the highest summit of which sub-range of the Rocky Mountains?
Answer
The Chicago Peaks in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.
Riddle 2
About how many miles west of Denver is Mount Evans located?
Answer
About 36 miles west of Denver.
Riddle 3
In which three Colorado counties is Mount Evans located?
Answer
Clear Creek County, Jefferson County, and Summit County.
Riddle 4
What percentage of Mount Evans lies within Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests land?
Answer
About 60% lies within Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
Riddle 5
What protected wilderness area covers the upper slopes of Mount Evans?
Answer
The upper slopes are protected within the Mount Evans Wilderness area.
Riddles about Mount Evans’ height and summit
Riddle 6
At 14,271 feet high, Mount Evans stands over how many vertical feet above nearby Denver?
Answer
Over 8,000 vertical feet (2,438 m) above Denver.
Riddle 7
What is the elevation at the summit of Mount Evans?
Answer
14,271 feet (4,352 m).
Riddle 8
True or false – Mount Evans has the highest paved road in North America leading to its summit?
Answer
True. The Mount Evans Scenic Byway is the highest paved road in North America.
Riddle 9
About how many miles long and how much elevation gain does the Mount Evans Scenic Byway have from its start near Idaho Springs to the summit parking area?
Answer
The byway is 28 miles long with about 7,000 feet (2,134 m) of elevation gain.
Riddle 10
Due to its easy accessibility by car, Mount Evans offers visitors a convenient way to easily reach what type of environment?
Answer
An high alpine environment above treeline without having to hike or climb up the mountain.
Riddles about Mount Evans’ history and place names
Riddle 11
Mount Evans was originally known by what Native American name meaning “the white mountain”?
Answer
It was originally known as Elk Tongue Mountain from the Arapaho name “Heey-otoyoo” meaning “the white mountain.”
Riddle 12
What are the ruins at Summit Lake near the top of Mount Evans from?
Answer
The ruins are from the old weather station that operated there.
Riddle 13
True or false – Mount Evans was named after John Evans, second governor of the Colorado territory in the 1860’s?
Answer
True. Mount Evans was named after John Evans, second governor of the Colorado territory in the 1860’s.
Riddle 14
Echo Lake on Mount Evans gets its name from early tourists shouting into a rock wall on the far side of the lake and hearing what?
Answer
Their voices “echoing” back loudly.
Riddle 15
Squaw Pass near Echo Lake was recently renamed to what in 2020?
Answer
It was renamed Mestaa’ėhehe (pronounced mess-taw-HAY) Pass after the historic Arapaho camp.
Riddles about Mount Evans’ climate and weather
Riddle 16
What extreme mountain weather hazards can be encountered on Mount Evans even in summer due to its high elevation?
Answer
Extreme cold, high winds, snow/ice storms, thunderstorms, lightning, and whiteout fog conditions.
Riddle 17
The weather station at the summit of Mount Evans typically records the lowest temperatures in which state throughout the year?
Answer
Colorado – the summit has some of Colorado’s lowest year-round temperatures.
Riddle 18
In which month does Mount Evans typically receive its highest amount of precipitation?
Answer
August typically has the highest precipitation.
Riddle 19
True or false – lightning strikes are fairly common on Mount Evans during summer thunderstorms?
Answer
True – lightning is common and dangerous during summer thunderstorms.
Riddle 20
Wind gusts over 100 mph have been recorded on Mount Evans. What is this type of extreme high mountain wind called?
Answer
These extreme winds are called mountain wave windstorms or downslope windstorms.
Riddles about Mount Evans’ ecology and wildlife
Riddle 21
What zone is the environment above treeline on Mount Evans considered?
Answer
The high alpine tundra zone.
Riddle 22
Name at least 3 mammals that may be spotted living on Mount Evans.
Answer
Bighorn sheep, pikas, marmots, mountain goats, elk, deer.
Riddle 23
What endangered butterfly species is only found living in the alpine tundra habitat around Summit Lake on Mount Evans?
Answer
The rare Oarisma poweshiek (Poweshiek skipperling) butterfly.
Riddle 24
True or false – pine martens have been spotted around treeline and the Mount Goliath Natural Area on Mt. Evans?
Answer
True – pine martens have recently returned to the area after many years.
Riddle 25
What oblivious little rodent commonly seen scurrying around the rocks near summit parking lives year-round at extreme elevation despite the harsh conditions?
Answer
Pikas are native rodents that somehow survive the extreme year-round conditions at high elevations around 14,000 feet.
Riddles about things to see and do on Mount Evans
Riddle 26
What turquoise-colored alpine lake popular for picnicking and fishing comes first along the Mount Evans Scenic Byway?
Answer
Echo Lake with its beautiful blue-green waters.
Riddle 27
Motorists along the scenic byway should beware of what mischievous ground squirrel who loves to eat scraps and raid unattended coolers?
Answer
The tiny pikas and marmots who may invade your picnic!
Riddle 28
Hikers seeking solitude, wildlife sightings, alpine lakes, and wildflowers should consider what nearly trail-less wilderness area covering Mount Evans’ upper slopes?
Answer
The Mount Evans Wilderness area has outstanding hiking.
Riddle 29
True or false – you can often see the skyline of downtown Denver from Mount Evans on clear days.
Answer
True – views stretch over 100 miles to Pikes Peak and the Denver skyline.
Riddle 30
ATV riders and 4WD enthusiasts seeking challenging mountain passes travel old mining roads where near Echo Lake?
Answer
Squaw/Mestaa’ėhehe Pass is popular for ATVs and 4WD.
Riddles about Mount Evans’ history and former settlements
Riddle 31
What popular ski area overlooking Echo Lake was destroyed in a massive avalanche in 1966?
Answer
Bergen Park ski area near Evergreen was destroyed in ’66.
Riddle 32
Gold and silver mining took place high on Mount Evans as early as the 1860’s around where geographic feature?
Answer
Mining took place in Chicago Creek basin under Mount Bierstadt.
Riddle 33
In addition to weather data, what secret Cold War mission did some say was the real purpose of the old summit lab?
Answer
Rumors claim it monitored for distant missile launches.
Riddle 34
True or false – a small township named Squaw Pass located near Echo Lake had to be abandoned due to extreme winters.
Answer
True – the town was abandoned around 1903.
Riddle 35
Windy Point overlook features ruins from what turn-of-the-century hotel that had to close due to extreme weather and lack of access?
Answer
The ruins are from the former Summit Hotel resort built in 1873.
Riddles about Mount Evans’ deaths, disasters and mysteries
Riddle 36
In 1976, 10 teenagers tragically died in a large van rollover accident where on Mount Evans?
Answer
They died just below the summit at Mount Evans’ Blue Lakes overlook.
Riddle 37
A number of airplane wrecks from the early 20th century still lie where on the upper slopes of Mount Evans?
Answer
Among the remains found in the Mount Evans Wilderness area.
Riddle 38
True or false – more people have died on Mount Evans’ summit than on any of Colorado’s 53 fourteeners.
Answer
Sadly true – the easiest route has led to many accidents.
Riddle 39
What 21-year old student mysteriously vanished in July 2021 after taking LSD near Summit Lake on Mount Evans?
Answer
Darshan Patel mysteriously disappeared and hasn’t been found.
Riddle 40
Hidden away under the floorboards at Echo Lake Lodge is said to be what grim prohibition-era relic?
Answer
Rumors say bullet holes and blood stains from gangland shootouts remain hidden.
Riddles about traveling the Mount Evans Scenic Byway
Riddle 41
What is the average gradient or slope steepness of the Mount Evans Scenic Byway?
Answer
About 7% grade over 28 miles.
Riddle 42
Due to extreme weather hazards, the Mount Evans Scenic Byway is typically only open from Memorial Day through the end of what month each year?
Answer
The byway is only seasonally open through Labor Day weekend each year typically.
Riddle 43
After many washouts over the years, the upper 5 miles of the Mount Evans Scenic Byway was fully paved in what year?
Answer
The byway was finally paved its entire length in 2011 after years of road damage.
Riddle 44
True or false – the byway had to be closed for a record 98 days straight in 2020 due to extreme snow depths?
Answer
Sadly true – 2020 saw record closures over three months straight.
Riddle 45
Visiting motorists should be cautious of what high mountain hazard caused by excessive engine heat or riding brakes downhill?
Answer
Overheated vehicle brakes catching fire is a real danger!
Riddles about Mount Evans’ geology and notable rock formations
Riddle 46
The upper 300 feet of Mount Evans’ summit cap consists of what type of extremely old metamorphic rock?
Answer
Precambrian granite gneiss bedrock caps the very top.
Riddle 47
Glaciers during past ice ages carved out which popular rock formation near Summit Lake once used by Native Americans for vision quests?
Answer
The Knife Edge arete was carved by glaciers.
Riddle 48
Where along the Mount Evans Scenic Byway can you walk through beautiful bristlecone pines over 1,500 years old?
Answer
Ancient bristlecones grow at Summit Lake.
Riddle 49
True or false – a rock glacier near Mount Evans’ summit moves only a few centimeters per year due to incredibly slow ice flow within the rock debris?
Answer
True – the rocky glacier creeps downhill just cm per year.
Riddle 50
The Chicago Peaks were named after what early 1800’s Indian agent with the last name of Chicago?
Answer
The Chicago Peaks were named after Indian agent Jean Baptiste Chicago.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed these 52 riddles about various facts, trivia, history and more related to Colorado’s iconic Mount Evans! Let me know if you were able to get the answers to all of the riddles or learned any new information about Mount Evans that you didn’t previously know. Writing riddles and informative content related to geography, nature and history helps improve critical thinking skills while making learning fun. Please let me know if you have any other topics you’d like similar content or riddles written about.
