I haven't hiked a Colorado 14'er since Quandary Peak in 2006 and decided it was time to start hiking them again. I had hiked Mt Bierstadt 22 years earlier in 1997 with Donna Whitsitt.
It has been far too long since I stood atop a 14er. I hadn’t hiked one since a solo trip up Quandary Peak in the spring of 2006. After completing the 52 Hike Challenge in 2018, I wanted to include at least one 14er as part of my 2019 challenge.
Fourteeners are Colorado mountains over 14,000 feet, and the exact number in the state is still debated. Some say there are 58, others 54, and some even 74—you can decide which list to follow. After monitoring the weather for a few days, I decided to hike Mt. Bierstadt solo in the afternoon and descend during sunset. (Always be prepared to turn around if severe weather approaches, and remember that conditions can change quickly in the mountains.)
Mt. Bierstadt is located in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and has an elevation of 14,065 feet. Named after landscape artist Albert Bierstadt, it is considered one of the “easier” 14ers (ranked 48/58 by difficulty). I first hiked this peak on August 21, 1997, with my hiking partner Donna Whitsitt. During that trip, we started a little after 9:00 a.m. and summited shortly after 1:00 p.m. Back then, the marshland was not covered with the wooden walkway that exists today—so we enjoyed plenty of mud.
The trail begins at the Guanella Pass Trailhead (11,669 feet) and descends slightly before climbing again after the marsh area. From there, the trail remains well-defined all the way to near the summit. Along the way, I saw several mountain goats in various stages of molting. As I hiked, I met a few other solo hikers, and we ended up forming a small group. Ricky, from Texas, was attempting his first 14er, while Sam and Christine were both from Colorado.
We reached the summit a little after 6:30 p.m., took photos, and congratulated one another. The views from the top were incredible. Looking across the Front Range, I could see other 14ers, including Grays and Torreys Peaks. Seeing those views again reminded me how much I had missed them, and I’m looking forward to hiking more 14ers in 2020.
Details:
- 14,065 Feet
- Round Trip Distance: 7.80 Miles
- Elevation Gain: 2396 feet
- Difficulty: Class 2
- Route: West Slopes
- Rank by Elevation: 38/53
- Time: 5+ Hours
- Date Hiked: July 29, 2019 (Second Time)
All Trails Map Link
Mt Bierstadt trail sign. Bierstadt is on the right and the Sawtooth Ridge is on the left.
New wooden path across marsh area. This was a welcome change.
Cairn on the Trail, marking the trail.
Mountain Goat, there were several I saw on the way to the top.
Looking across the Front Range, Grays and Torreys Peak are off to the right.
Mt Bierstadt Summit Marker, and a rock painted with the elevation.
Summit Selfie
Sunset on the Front Range, that might be Gray Wolf Mountain?
