The trail gets quite exposed at times, make no mistake you are climbing a 14er on this hike, take all the same precautions that you would on any other 14er. This route is named in gerry roachs 14er book as combo 3. Feb 08, 2017 mount bierstadt, colorados friendliest fourteener, is now less demanding than ever. Thanks to an expansive valley floor, views of the surrounding peaks including other front range 14ers torreys peak, grays peak, mt. Colorado s 14ers are among the most soughtafter mountain peaks in the country. This guest post was written by ben and jenna thomas colorado natives, photographers, and authors of international travel blog wild imagining.
The trail is wellmarked with steady switchbacks to the top. Colorado s famed 14,000plus foot peaks draw a crowd of hiking and mountain climbing enthusiasts. Mount bierstadt, west slopes route outdoor project. Mount evans featured on 14ers maps 1 of 16 is the 14er peak most prominently visible from denver and one of only a handful where one can drive almost to the summit.
Formed in 2000 by breckenridge, colorado resident bill middlebrook, 14ers. This is a great first 14er if youre new to tackling colorado s highest summits. In addition to the peaks i listed, there are plenty of other good starter peaks out there. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. In response to seven hiking related deaths on the 14ers of the elk mountain range in 2017, mountain rescue aspen created a mountain safety class that they put on, free of charge, around the state. Mount bierstadt is considered one of the most accessible 14ers in colorado, nearby denver and well maintained, but that doesnt mean its a stroll in the park. In winter this makes a great multiday winter ascent. The mount bierstadt hike is a popular trail and a great introduction to hiking a colorado 14er. With high clearance 4wd its fairly straightforward hiking from the trailhead. Bierstadt west slopes trail is classified by 14ers. Along with mount evans, bierstadt is the closest 14er to denver.
Summit a fourteener, mount bierstadt, or go for an easy hike with your family high in colorado s rocky mountains. Evans road near,000 and make the high traverse up bierstadt s east ridge, across the sawtooth, up mt. Besides the joy of the hike itself, bierstadt is a stunning wildflower hike in july and august. One of the keys to a successful summit is to make sure that youre properly acclimated. Below is a list of the their most important tips for hiking a 14er in colorado during the summer. Later in the summer i would expect this to be true however at the end of june i encountered a different fate. Another 14er i summited in the winter, mount bierstadt is one of the easiest mountains to climb.
Considering the moderate difficulty of the hike and the easy driving distance from denver, mount bierstadt is allaround the most accessible 14er in colorado. The boulderites guide to hiking your first 14er your. Soon after leaving the trailhead hikers will reach the colorado trail ct. We suggest checking multiple resources before departing on any. Because it is generally considered an easy climb, along with its accessibility from nearby denver, mount bierstadt is one of the most popular mountains to climb in colorado. Sunday afternoon i headed down towards buena vista, co. Be able to tell your friends that you conquered the sawtooth. Mount evans is unlike almost every other 14er in colorado. Hiking mount bierstadt one of colorados most popular 14ers.
Colorados 14ers ranked by popularity outthere colorado. This book is particularly affordable for the quality of content and print quality, very impressed. Bierstadt is already at 12,000 ft, which makes this peak one of the easiest 14ers to hike in colorado. Individual peak stickers are available for each fourteener. Protrails mt bierstadt, guanella pass mount bierstadt. While mount elbert, the highest point in colorado, was regarded as the mostclimbed fourteener, the nonprofit believes that more are flocking to mount bierstadt. Trail counters used by the us forest service on mount bierstadt and at three trailheads serving 14ers. In short, youve got options on this trail near the top of guanella pass. The ultimate guide to hiking colorados fourteeners 5280. Mount bierstadt hike colorado 14er full guide and gps. Colorados 14ers ranked by difficulty outthere colorado. Starting the hike at the guanella pass trailhead, the most popular route up the mountain is via the west slopes.
As experienced colorado hikers, they share with us their favorite beginner fourteeners so. Bierstadt offers a nice climb a bit closer to denver. There are a variety of routes to the summit of varying difficulty, but expect this to be one of the busiest 14ers in colorado in the summer due to the ease of access and proximity to denver and the front range cities. We took our fourlegged friend, who managed the route better than we did. Bierstadt or grays peak but we opted to hike 14,036 mount sherman, a rounded peak that looms above the western edge of south park. The 14,065foot 4,287 m fourteener is located in the mount evans wilderness of pike national forest, 9. The locals guide to the 12 easiest colorado 14ers for. Bierstadt georgetown 2020 all you need to know before.
A beginners guide to hiking a 14er get ready to hike your first colorado 14er with these tips hiking one of colorado s 14ers is a quintessential summer activity for many outdoor enthusiasts, and tackling these 14,000plus foot giants is a fulfilling challenge. Aug 04, 2014 the sawtooth is a great traverse that connects mt. Locate the bierstadt trail and begin descending east toward scott gomer creek 2. I would not suggest attempting this mountain solo in the winter but it is a perfect solo hike in the summer. This is one of the easiest 14er routes in colorado depending on how far into the trailhead your vehicle will get you. The above information does not replace the need to consult additional maps and colorado fourteener guidebooks for more detailed route descriptions. The mount bierstadt hike might be the best introduction to a colorado 14er. Bierstadt is stunning and its really cool to see the crowd of people on bierstadt from another 14er.
Give them as commemorative gifts to your climbing partners. Bierstadt west slopes hiking trail, georgetown, colorado. Apr 28, 2019 colorados famed 14,000plus foot peaks draw a crowd of hiking and mountain climbing enthusiasts. Bierstadt trail on guanella pass summit a fourteener, mount bierstadt, or go for an easy hike with your family high in colorados rocky mountains.
An introduction to hiking colorados 14ers denverdavis. They say this is the easiest of the 14ers but a mountain is still a mountain. Beginners guide to hiking a 14er rocky mountain health plans. Evans and lush valley are a constant source of eye candy as well. Evans west ridge, and return to the car down the road. Mount bierstadt is a high mountain summit of the colorado peaks in the front range of the rocky mountains of north america. This is perhaps colorados easiest and most accessible 14er, just an hour and change from denver over georgetowns guanella pass. Bierstadt provides some excellent views, including but not limited to one of the denver skyline on clear days.
Today i bring you on a hike to the summit of mt bierstadt, co. The ultimate guide to hiking colorado s fourteeners. If youre interested in climbing a 14er, read the route description to make sure its within your ability and then print a version for the trail. Though widely considered the most attainable of all colorado 14ers, considerable effort is still required. This day was another hiking day with a challenging loop of two 14ers on the agenda. The locals guide to the 12 easiest colorado 14ers for beginners. Evans wilderness area, which requires dogs to be on leash. Explore the trail snapshot and profile below for hiking, camping, and trail map info. With a list of over 50 colorado 14ers, there is a lot of hiking, scrambling, mountaineering to be had. Bierstadt trail on guanella pass day hikes near denver. It was named for albert bierstadt, a popular painter of.
The colorado mountain club has an unwritten rule saying a summit of a fourteener is only valid if it has at least a 3,000foot elevation gain. Mount bierstadt is one of colorados easier and more trafficked 14ers. Mount bierstadt is one of colorados most popular, and easiest fourteeners. The view from the top is wonderful because you can see all the tourists on mt. The oncefearsome or at least highly annoying willow swamps at its base have been tamed with boardwalks, and a newly rebuilt road to 11,669foot guanella pass makes it a snap to drive to the trailhead, an hour from denver. Five of the easiest 14ers in colorado for beginner hikers. With new numbers from the forest service, the nonprofit projects the 14,065footer off interstate 70 attracts between 35,000 and 40,000 hikers during the busiest months.
The hike features stunning views from the trailhead, and is one of the better 14ers for those looking to start trying the bigger mountains in colorado. Elbert is the highest point in colorado, and the second highest mountain in the lower 48, the hike via the northeast ridge is relatively easy, and relatively safe. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Its not much more than an hour outside of denver and the easiest route, the west slopes, only requires a 3 mile, 2391 foot ascent up a class 1 trail to reach its summit. Hiking colorado fourteeners is on many bucket lists, here is your ultimate guide. This site includes directions, trailhead access, elevation, gps points, maps, photography and other links and resources useful for hiking mount bierstadt. This popular mountain is an easy drive from denver. From the easiest hikes to the most challenging climbs regional hiking series meehan, chris on. For those looking to get into beginner 14ers, there is a wide range of beautiful peaks to choose from. There are a variety of routes to the summit of varying difficulty, but expect this to be one of the busiest 14ers in colorado in the summer due to. From the easiest hikes to the most challenging climbs regional hiking series paperback july 15, 2016 by chris meehan author 4. An introduction to hiking colorado s 14ers over the past few years, ive dragged a number of friends up 14ers with me, answering a lot of questions about.
It gets its name from several aretes jagged knifelike rock formations that line up to look like the teeth of a saw. Lincoln and grays peak are good to start with but i wanted to get some firsthand knowledge to help me out. If youre willing and able to drive even further, there are countless other options. Hiking mount bierstadt one of colorado s most popular 14ers. This is a popular mountain being relatively easy and closes to denver so start early to beat the. This hike makes for a great introduction to hiking 14ers and one of the best bangforyourbuck hikes in the front range. Or maybe it was a library book my husband brought home, called the colorado 14ers. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and snowboarding and is best used from june until september. Also, make xref the names in the index list bierstadt, see mt bierstadt, p47 e.
Nice ride up guenella pas to the parking for mt bierstadt. A man and his yellow lab were beginning the climb from bierstadts shoulder up the gnarly boulder field to the summit and the dog was lunging at the end of the leash, pulling. Two more after that and i started to hike the 0014000 foot category. Parking is about 11,000ft but as you leave the parking the trail goes down to 10,500ft. Aug 23, 20 coming down off mount bierstadt, i crossed paths with one of the most obnoxious dog owners ive ever seen on a mountain. Jul 24, 2014 mount bierstadt 14,065 ft is a mountain in the front range region of the rocky mountains. Bierstadt west slopes trail is a great one to get you started, but it is still not without its challenges. Mount bierstadt is one of colorado s easier and more trafficked 14ers. Mount bierstadt hike map looking for an amazing hiking adventure. The ease of access, extremely beautiful views and close proximity to denver make it so popular. Evans road near,000 and make the high traverse up bierstadts east ridge, across the sawtooth, up mt. Of course, experienced climbers will enjoy this relatively speaking easy mountain as well. While absolutely packed on any summer weekend with beginning hikers, experts, and trailrunners alike, mt. Allinclusive transportation from your denvers union station enables you to skip the hassle of navigating mountain roads and enjoy the stunning natural scenery.
I went with a large group of people and we got started early before 5am from guanella pass trailhead. Situated within the front range and a little over an hours drive west of denver, it is one of the easiest and most accessible ascents to reach this states magic number 14,000 ft 4,267 m. Download the 2018 colorado 14er hiking use report in pdf. Evans and you get a great view of the sawtooth ridge and abyss lake. This has become one of the busiest summer 14er routes so the colorado fourteeners initiative cfi has recently made some major trail improvements to support the increased traffic. All mountain excursions require planning, and adequate gear.
Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the colorado rockies on an 8hour tour to breckenridge. There are no easy 14ers with the exception of driving to the top of mount evans and pikes peak in your airconditioned car. Colorados fourteeners, 3rd ed from hikes to climbs. Bierstadt is a bit steeper in spots than grays or quandary, but that just means you get to the top all that much faster. Colorado 14ers for those coloradoans on here, what 14ers have you hiked that would give a relative beginner ive hiked only one 14er a nice taste of colorado s 14ers. Often referred to as mt bierstadt, this mountain is a member of the colorado 14ers club. If youre ready to lose your 14er virginity, mount bierstadt holds a reputation for a great starter 14er. Besides the joy of the hike itself, bierstadt is a stunning wildflower hike in july and. If you are hiking in the early or late part of the season be sure to be ready for some snow and ice as you hike this spectacular colorado peak. Most mountaineering enthusiasts recommend starting with mt. According to the guide books, mount bierstadt is supposed to be one of the easier 14ers.
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