Moose
Alces alces shirasi
DawnDusk
Resident herd in the willow bog at the trail's base — among Colorado's most reliable moose viewing. Keep 75 yards minimum.
Photo: NPS Photo — public domain
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Front Range · Hard
Mount Bierstadt
7-mi 14er from Guanella Pass — 11,669 ft trailhead, willow bog at the base
Arapaho National Forest
Distance7mi round trip
Elevation2,850ft gain
High point14,060ft summit
Typical time4–7hours
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7-mi 14er from Guanella Pass — 11,669 ft trailhead, willow bog at the base. Editorial intro forthcoming.
Trip facts
Typical duration4–7hours
Trailhead11,669ft elevation
High point14,060ft summit
Dogs: leashes required.
How you'll find it
From Georgetown, take Guanella Pass Road (County Road 381) south 10 miles to Guanella Pass. Trailhead parking at the pass.
Drive time
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We'll calculate drive time + a leave-by recommendation to beat the lot fill.
What you'll get
- 14,060ft summit — most climbed 14er in Colorado
- Non-technical route makes it ideal for first-time 14er attempts
- High trailhead at 11,669ft significantly reduces elevation gain
- Willow Creek willow bog at the base requires careful navigation
What locals know
Practical-craft notes for this specific trail — timing, route, photo, etiquette.
Trail tips
- Timing
Summit by 11am — afternoon storms are violent
Bierstadt's wide-open above-treeline ridge has zero protection from lightning. Be off the summit by 11am in summer. Start by 5–6am from the trailhead to have a comfortable buffer.
- Route
Willow bog at the base — boardwalks help
The first half-mile crosses a willow bog that's wet and slow on foot. There's a boardwalk in the worst section; stay on it (off-trail damages fragile habitat and your boots get soaked).
- Gear
Real boots — the bog soaks running shoes
Even with the boardwalk, the bog approach demands waterproof boots or you'll have wet feet for the rest of the day. Trail-runners-only crowd: bring gaiters.
- Weather
Most-climbed 14er — but still serious
Bierstadt's reputation as a 'beginner 14er' fools people into bringing too little. It's 14,065ft of altitude; even fit hikers feel it. Bring rain gear, layers, and 3L of water minimum.
- Photo
Sawtooth Ridge from the summit — Evans connector
From Bierstadt's summit, the Sawtooth Ridge connecting to Mount Evans is a knife-edge of black volcanic rock. Best photographed from the summit at mid-morning when side-light catches the ridge texture.
Where you'll start
Mount Bierstadt is the friendliest 14er trailhead in Colorado — paved access right to the pass at 11,669ft, free parking, no permit. Lot fills by 6am on summer weekends; arrive earlier or expect roadside overflow on the lower pull-offs. Overnight allowed for alpine starts. No park entrance fee (USFS).
Parking cost
Free
Overnight
Allowed
Overnight allowed for alpine-start climbers — Mount Bierstadt summits are typically 5–6 hours, so most start at 4am.
Park entrance
Free
Restrooms
Vault toilets
Fills by
6am summer weekends — Colorado's most-climbed 14er after Quandary
Cell service
Spotty
What's at the trailhead
- Restrooms — Vault toilets
- No potable water — bring your own from town
- Information kiosk
- Spotty cell service
If the lot is full
Lower roadside pull-offs along Guanella Pass Road can absorb overflow on busy weekends.
Access road
Guanella Pass Road paved to the pass year-round on the Georgetown side; the Grant (south) side is dirt and may close earlier in fall. Snow tires recommended Oct–May.
When to go
Highlighted months offer the best conditions.
Who shares the trail
The willow bog at the base of Bierstadt is the trail's wildlife highlight — moose are nearly guaranteed in summer, and the alpine talus above hosts pikas and marmots through September. White-tailed ptarmigan camouflage on the upper slopes year-round.
- Common
CommonYellow-bellied marmot
Marmota flaviventris
MorningMiddayAfternoonPhoto: USFWS — public domain
CommonAmerican pika
Ochotona princeps
MorningMiddayAfternoonPhoto: NPS Photo, Rocky Mountain NP — public domain
OccasionalWhite-tailed ptarmigan
Lagopus leucura
Year-roundYear-round alpine specialist on the upper slopes — perfectly camouflaged season-to-season.
Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, CC BY 2.0 — Wikimedia Commons
What to watch for
What to watch for
- Afternoon lightning — summit by 11am
- Willow bog at base can be wet and slow
- Crowds on weekends — arrive before 6am
- Snow on summit into June most years
On the map
Overnight camping
Mount Evans Wilderness allows dispersed backpacking — pitch your tent anywhere 200ft+ from water and trails. No permit, no fee. The flat areas near Scott Gomer Creek (below the willow bog) are the obvious overnight spots. Day-hike-attempt is the common approach since the road accesses 11,669ft directly.
Type
Dispersed backcountry
Permit
Not required
Water source
Scott Gomer Creek (below the willow bog) is the last reliable water source before the summit climb; treat all water.
Food storage
Bear-resistant storage strongly recommended (Mount Evans Wilderness has active black bear population). Hang bag 100ft from camp, 200ft from water.
Fire policy
Campfires PROHIBITED above 10,000ft (Mount Evans Wilderness rule). Backpacking stoves only.
Trail-tested picks for Mount Bierstadt
Curated for this trail's terrain, elevation, and typical conditions.
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