Climbing Mt. Bierstadt
You’ll find Mt. Bierstadt just over an hours drive outside of Denver in Colorados Front Range mountains. It stands at 14,066ft tall and is definetly in the running for being one of the most popular 14ers to climb.
The trailhead is 12 miles up Guanella Pass from Georgetown, CO. The road and parking lot are completely paved, so you will have no issues making it to the trailhead in any vehicle. There is no reservation or fee required to park.
Trail Stats:
Total Length: 7.25 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,850ft
Class: 2
The trail start by slowly dropping some elevation down to the valley. Here you will find the infamous willow trees and the boardwalk. This section is really pretty as you have mountains surrounding you the entire time. You’ll eventually have to cross a creek just about a mile into the hike. There was still quite a bit of snow over the creek so we were able to walk right over without getting our feet wet.
After crossing the creek you’ll begin to ascend Mt. Bierstadt. There is a very obvious trail to follow as you make your way up to the ridge of the West slope. Be sure to turn around on occasion to catch your breath and enjoy the view behind you!
Once you have gained the ridge, you’ll have great view of the rest of your route going up Biestadt. The trail is quite gradual until you hit about 13,000ft. Here it becomes a bit steeper as you make your way up.
at about 13,800ft you will hit the section of talus field that makes this a class 2 climb. It is quite easy to navigate your way up the last 200ft to the summit.
Enjoy a short walk along the the ridge to the summit of Mt. Bierstadt! From there you will have fantastic views of the Sawtooth Ridge and Mt. Blue Sky!
Final Tips:
Start early! Especially if you are going on a weekend. The parking lot fills up extremely fast, so we always start our climbs before sunrise. Also, it is extremely common for afternoon thunderstorms to happen. We are always down off the summit by 12pm when climbing 14ers.
Bring layers. The weather at elevation can change extremely quick so being prepared for sun, wind, rain, snow is crucial. We ALWAYS carry rain shells and extra insulating layers.
Stay on designated trails. Many of the environments are extremely fragile so please read and pay attention to signs that ask you to not walk in certain areas.
Most importantly.. Have fun! Take your time to enjoy the view, wildflowers, and animals you will come across during your hike!
