Thinking about giving Tour de Abyss a shot in the near future. Are there multiple pullouts along the highway to the summit where you can park without getting a summit reservation? How big is the parking area around 13300' and does it usually fill up on busy days? My concern is driving up there without a reservation and having nowhere to park.
Thanks!
Blue Sky Road Parking
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auddupree
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CCU_Jim
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Re: Blue Sky Road Parking
I hiked from the 13,300' pullout down to Abyss Lake today. We arrived at the tollbooth at 7:30am, told the ticket guy that we were just planning on driving the road and not use the Denver Mountain Parks areas, and he just gave us a thumbs up and let us through. No reservation needed. Got to the pullout around 8am and was the first car there - on a Saturday, that says quite a bit! When we returned to the car around 12:30pm there was only one other car. I'd guess room for maybe 10 cars if everyone parked nicely.
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Cygnus X1
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Re: Blue Sky Road Parking
Did they charge you an entrance fee since you weren't using the DMP areas? Website says America the Beautiful passes are no good there and the fee is $20 to enter.CCU_Jim wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2026 5:32 pm I hiked from the 13,300' pullout down to Abyss Lake today. We arrived at the tollbooth at 7:30am, told the ticket guy that we were just planning on driving the road and not use the Denver Mountain Parks areas, and he just gave us a thumbs up and let us through. No reservation needed. Got to the pullout around 8am and was the first car there - on a Saturday, that says quite a bit! When we returned to the car around 12:30pm there was only one other car. I'd guess room for maybe 10 cars if everyone parked nicely.
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PJ88
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Re: Blue Sky Road Parking
I did the same thing a monthish ago. Parked at the pullout and came back to a ranger next to us, but he didn't say a thing. No fee paid.
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CCU_Jim
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Re: Blue Sky Road Parking
No fee. Road is owned by CDOT, as are the pullouts (except the three Denver Mountain Parks areas). DMP can’t legally charge you to just use CDOT jurisdiction.Cygnus X1 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2026 6:40 pmDid they charge you an entrance fee since you weren't using the DMP areas? Website says America the Beautiful passes are no good there and the fee is $20 to enter.CCU_Jim wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2026 5:32 pm I hiked from the 13,300' pullout down to Abyss Lake today. We arrived at the tollbooth at 7:30am, told the ticket guy that we were just planning on driving the road and not use the Denver Mountain Parks areas, and he just gave us a thumbs up and let us through. No reservation needed. Got to the pullout around 8am and was the first car there - on a Saturday, that says quite a bit! When we returned to the car around 12:30pm there was only one other car. I'd guess room for maybe 10 cars if everyone parked nicely.
