Hike Up Mt Bierstadt

Mt Bierstadt, a fourteener with a summit of 14, 065ft, is a popular choice among hikers both experienced and intermediate. Many people opt to climb Bierstadt as their first fourteener, due to the relatively easy trail and proximity to Denver. A downside of this accessibility is the high traffic that occurs as a result; between 6am and midday on a weekend, the trail is alive with crowds of families, groups of friends and copious dogs threading up and down the side of the mountain. However, it is well worth joining the crowd for the incredible scenic views of the Rockies you get both during the ascent and at the summit.

The ideal time to begin the hike is as soon after sunrise as you can manage; with the increased chance of storms after midday, ideally you would need to be off the summit before this occurs. Most people begin around 6am; as the morning draws on, the busier the trail becomes. There is a parking area with toilets, and road parking available at the beginning of the trail at the top of Guanella Pass.

The first section of the hike fills you with a misguided sense of hope, with the quaint winding footpath, wooden footbridges, and meadow-like surroundings providing a very pleasant and mild beginning to what becomes an incredibly tiring walk. The trail then reaches the true base of the mountain and begins to curve upwards through more rocky terrain, until it reaches a grassy plateau where many people opt to stop and take a well-deserved break. It is the optimum picnic area; the views are breath-taking, and the rest is much needed before the next gruelling section. The first section of the walk could be done on its own without the rest of the ascent as an alternate gentler hike, which could be done at any time of day.

The next section is where the true work begins, as the previously clearly-marked trail fades away into a wandering trail of loose sandy ground, rocks and boulders. The trail continues this way, becoming steeper and steeper until it reaches the ridge and turns sharply left to begin the final ascent to the summit. Again, this is a prime place to rest, eat and rehydrate, and take plentiful scenic photographs.

When looking up at the final section, which can be covered in snow for a good portion of the year, it simply looks like a huge pile of impossibly big boulders. This is where the walk switches from a hike to a scramble, requiring you to climb up and over the boulders to reach the summit. The summit itself is incredibly exposed, and can therefore be bitter on a wintery day (and a little unstable if the wind suddenly picks up).  After you have taken the obligatory summit pictures, there are two options; either follow the crowd and begin your descent (which is almost as taxing as the ascent due to the awkward rocky surface), or break away to continue your hike, crossing the Sawtooth over to the summit of Mt Evans.