Mount Blue Sky reservations open May 8

Mount Blue Sky is finally coming back — and the practical news is that reservations opened on Friday, May 8. That matters because the road itself does not reopen until Friday, May 22, and this is one of those Colorado trips where “I’ll just decide that morning” is a bad plan. The area has been shut since after Labor Day 2024 while crews fixed drainage and road problems on the high-alpine byway. Now the reopening is real, but access is controlled from day one. ### What actually reopened? This is the Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area and Scenic Byway — the road that climbs from near Idaho Springs to 14,130 feet. It is the highest paved road in North America, and it gives car access to developed stops like Mount Goliath, Summit Lake Park, and the summit interpretive area. For a lot of visitors, that is the whole draw — big alpine scenery without a full summit hike. (cbsnews.com) ### Why was it closed so long? The closure was not just a quick repaving job. Colorado shut the byway in September 2024 for a longer reconstruction project tied to drainage damage and road repairs, and the area stayed closed through the 2025 season. That is why this reopening feels bigger than a normal seasonal gate opening — people have been waiting through two summers for access to come back. (fs.usda.gov) ### What do you have to book? You need a timed-entry reservation through Recreation.gov. The reservation pass covers one private vehicle or motorcycle for access to Mount Blue Sky and developed recreation sites, and there is also a ticket option aimed at visitors who only want certain Forest Service sites like Mount Goliath and the summit interpretive area. Basically, this is not a show-up-and-wing-it setup. (cbsnews.com) ### Why book before you leave home? Because there is no cell service in the recreation area. Recreation.gov’s own visitor guidance says to buy the reservation ahead of time — at home or before leaving Idaho Springs or Bergen Park. That is the kind of detail people ignore until they are already on the road, and then the whole trip turns into a parking-lot problem. (recreation.gov) ### Why are they controlling entry so tightly? Crowding is the big reason. The Forest Service said more than 45,000 vehicles booked timed-entry reservations during the 2024 season before the closure, and the system is meant to reduce wait times, lines, parking pressure, and environmental damage. Up there, crowding is not just annoying — it spills into wildlife impacts and fragile alpine terrain. (recreation.gov) ### Who is running the area now? Denver Mountain Parks is taking the lead this summer, with the Forest Service still involved in visitor information, trails, wilderness management, and fire support. That management handoff is part of why the reopening comes with some operational changes instead of just restoring the old routine. (fs.usda.gov) ### So what should visitors do? Reserve early, screenshot everything, and treat May 22 as the real start date. If you want a Memorial Day weekend drive, the catch is simple — everyone else does too. This is one of those trips where the reservation is not a nice extra. It is the trip. ### Bottom line? Mount Blue Sky is back after a long construction closure, but the reopening is controlled, not casual. (fs.usda.gov) The road opens May 22. The reservations already opened May 8. If you want in, plan first and drive second. (cbsnews.com)