Mount Bierstadt

Bierstadt is one of the 14ers you should do...it is very accessible and minimal exposure to drop-offs.....unlike Longs or Capital (where death is a slight possibility).Done this hike many times and have actually had to administer First aid to either drunk or unprepared tourists ( like the amount of people with flip flops and shoes not for hiking is pretty amazing).So what I'm saying is it gets hella busy on the weekends.I suggest Mondays or Wednesdays and parking in the upper lot.Gorgeous views.Take at least a liter of water, sunscreen, and a snack.

They say you never forget your first, right?Well, like many Coloradans, Mount Bierstadt goes down as my first 14er. I've been gearing up this summer with longer hikes. 11, 12, 13+ miles, in hopes of building up my endurance. Without this "training" I would've been ill-prepared for Bierstadt. Bierstadt is known as a beginner 14er, and one of the more popular ones with its close proximity to Denver. My buddy and I got to the trailhead at 6:30 am on a Monday morning and the parking lot was nearly full. You've been warned. As far as the hike goes, I'm not going to lie, it was more difficult than I anticipated. Eight miles round trip, just under 3,000 ft. elevation gain, five hours in total. I've never seen the destination from the parking lot before, which gives a unique perspective to the hike. Once you get into the thick of the trail, you feel it. The combination of the thin air paired with the strain on my quads and hamstrings was more intense than I expected. Am I doing a poor job of selling the hike? Probably. But you know what? Pain is weakness leaving the body. No pain yields no gain. And when you complete the final rocky climb (not as technical as it's made out to be), 360 degree views of Colorado glory await you. It's magical.I haven't cracked open a beer at 9:30 am since college. This one was well-earned if you ask me. Bring some snacks, take photos, and soak in the views that so many people will never see. A hike I will never forget. Not for the faint of heart, but doable with determination. Bierstadt, you magnificent bastard. Until we meet again!

Great 14er! The hike was pretty challenging and the parking lot does fill up like any other 14er parking area, but still worth doing. The scramble at the end is also challenging but worth doing to get the views at the end. As you go down it does get extremely hot and there isn't any shade. Make sure to bring lots of extra water and sunscreen.

I have done this peak around 10 times now in the last 3 years. Went up again today. This is later in the season than I would normally like to go for a 14er but the weather looked promising with 41 degrees as a high at the top.I have taken many folks up on this peak for their first 14er from teenage girl scouts to friends. It is always a pleasure and a new experience each and every time.Currently have also done Mount Sherman and Quandary Peak and this one is my favorite to take folks up on their first 14er.This one is absolutely beautiful in the summer with all of the wild flowers. Every time i have been up have seen several mountain goats. Have also seen marmots, pica, white tail ptarmigan and hawks. If you are bringing your dog be sure to have them on a leash or they have very good voice recall! Dogs chasing the mountain goats is not cool and can cause harm to the goats.Generally on the weekdays in the summer it is good to arrive by 630. if you are going on a weekend i have heard even earlier though I have not done this peak on a weekend. The parking lot is small and can hold around 30 cars, there is another small lot across the road for cars and cars do tend to park on the roadside. There are pit toilet bathrooms at the trailhead. There is no hand sanitizer so you will want to bring your own. There is also NO TRASH CANS! so plan on packing out what you pack in! People frequently are leaving their garbage on the trail and it makes it not pleasant for everyone else coming up there to enjoy. If you can feel free to bring a trash bag with you to pick up garbage on your way down. There are no other trash cans along the trail, nor bathrooms. (please do bring a plastic bag with toilet paper in it for if you need to go to bathroom along the trail and put the tp in your plastic bag and haul it down with you!)The first 3/4 mile or so is down hill and flat. There are lovely bridges to walk across and there is a stream to cross over that you will need to walk on the rocks. It then starts to climb. There are many stunning views along the way, be sure to pace yourself and enjoy the hike.The views at the top are stunning and the feeling of summiting a 14er is pretty dang amazing. There is not a lot that can compare to that.It may be one of the easier 14ers in the state but it is by no means easy. Please be sure to properly prepare and also bring electrolytes with you. Also be sure to check the weather forecasts at mountain-forecasts.com. Thunderstorms in the afternoon are common in the summer. You dont want to be on the peak during a thunderstorm so be sure to summit by 11 am especially through the summer.

Second 14er for me - first since living in Colorado. The trail was extremely moderate in regards to 14ers, but still a challenge. Started around 7:30ish, plenty of parking. Trail was broken out, but on the way down, the sun really warmed up the snow and mad for slushy, loose snow. I highly recommend spikes, I think you can get away not wearing snowshoes. Barely any wind at the top, beautiful views all around as you start above tree line.

Well, I had to get at least one 14'er under my belt. I checked with a veteran 14'er climber and he said Bierstadt was a good one to start with. It took us most of the day but we were so glad we did it! It was by no means easy but we took our time with many, many stops. Once we got over 13,000 feet it seemed to get a lot more fun. I loved the scramble up the rocks at the top! All of us that climbed it are over 60 years old so it really felt like an accomplishment!

The high trailhead and relatively short hiking distance make this one of the easier fourteeners to hike.This is the prettiest 14er in my eyes. One of my first 6 ( six) 14'ers I climbed after moving to Colorado. I hiked and climbed everything that I can the entire 2015 starting in May. "Easy" is a word I know means relative to who's saying it. If you hike a lot this is easy. If you don't it won't be, period. I would say you need a moderate skill level to hike this beauty. You will start at a high altitude of 11,669. You end up at 14,060. A gain of 2,861 ft. Total miles is 8.2. Out and back. If you've hiked Ansel Adams in Ca. the gain when you hike that trail is about 861 ft shy of this climb. Originally called the "Chicago Mountains" by early miners, today's Mount Evans massif contains a kind of "romantic triangle" of peaks. German painter Albert Bierstadt, who was more interested in mining romantic scenery than in mining gold, arrived in the 1860s and soon began producing the stunning canvases of western scenes that made him famous. One of these was of the "Chicago Mountains;" and Bierstadt, in a telling gesture, bestowed his wife's name, Rosalie, on the highest peak. The Colorado Territorial Legislature, decided to move the wife's name to a rounded, unimpressive summit to the southeast and honor colorless Governor Evans on the highest summit instead. Later on, Bierstadt himself received his due on a peak to the southwest, perhaps out of some topographer's guilty feelings. Bierstadt, the hopeless romantic, would surely be disappointed for he and his beloved are now separated by the great gulf called "The Abyss."I've done this twice. I'm itching to go back. Let's go! #2000threview.

This was also my first 14er and I couldn't have been happier with the hike. There were amazing views throughout but it was the summit that blew me away. Not literally, either, as there was very little wind at the top and the temperature was comfortable. I just never imagine the spectacular views I would have once I finished! What an award!As for the hike, you should expect about 5 hours round trip. I would say you probably want to start hiking by 8AM. Make sure you bring warm clothes as it gets cold as you ascend. I have a little problem with altitude so I bring lots of GU (or Gel Bloks) and water. Any time I feel any lightness in my head or weirdness in my stomach I just pop one of these and drink tons of water.Also, remember to bring snacks and a lunch for the summit! Some people brought beer but I couldn't imagine once I was up there! And as someone else mentioned, you should be on your way down well before noon!This was one of the best hikes I have ever done! I would definitely recommend it to anyone!

All I can say is "wow"... certainly a challenge. 14,000 feet is no joke but the reward is so great! Stay hydrated and wear the right shoes and know you can make it!!! The path is very pleasant going up. Seems very popular, but not so many people that the hike gets overwhelmed.Saw some moose in the lake on the way coming down which was rad.Georgetown nearby is a cute little town!Nice hike, scenery, and overall an enjoyable experience (even the sore thighs the following day!)

This is the best 14er to do for your first one, especially if your entire group is inexperienced. Show up at 5:30 or else the parking lot will be full, but street parking is popular and ticketing is uncommon. I suggest you don't use the disgusting compost toilets at the trailhead. There are plenty of boulders/bushes for semi-private restroom stops PLEASE REMEMBER TO PACK OUT TOILET PAPER. There is a scramble at the top that requires balance and using your hands. We took our time, and it took 3.5 hours up and about 2 hours down.Don't bring your dog if it is not an experienced hiker. Do bring your hard-core hiking kid.