Mt. Bierstadt Information - Colorado 14er

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Mount Bierstadt is located 1.4 miles (2.2 km) west by south of Mount Evans and 43.8 miles (70.5 km) west by south of downtown Denver.

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. As with most peaks in Colorado, July and August make the best months for climbing Mount Bierstadt. Mt. Bierstadt's peak is at an elevation of 14,060 feet.

The most popular base from which to begin the ascent of Mount Bierstadt is Guanella Pass, located to the west. From Guanella Pass it is approximately a 7 miles (11 km) hike, with a climb of 2,391 feet (729 m). The trail descends slightly into the fairly level marshlands surrounding Scott Gomer Creek before reaching Bierstadt's western slopes. On the rocky upper regions of the mountain, the route of the trail is marked by a series of cairns. The trail levels about 200 feet (61 m) below the summit at saddle point before beginning the final ascent. Alternative trails cover the eastern slopes for longer hikes.

Once at the summit, a popular option is to continue the hike to nearby Mount Evans along a ridge known as The Sawtooth, an intermediate-level hike. Often such a trip will involve a detour down to Abyss Lake 12,650 feet (3,860 m) elevation), which occupies the bottom of the valley separating Bierstadt and Evans.

Albert Bierstadt's painting A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rosalie is based on sketches he made during his 1863 visit to the area. That painting shows either Mount Spalding or Mount Evans (it is ambiguous) from the Chicago Lakes, 3 miles (4.8 km) north-northwest, but Bierstadt and his guide William Byers climbed onward to the summit of either Evans or Spalding (the account is ambiguous).

The POCKET PALS hiking/climbing map for Mt. Bierstadt includes:

3 Trailheads:  Scott Gomer, Guanella Pass, and Mt Evans Road Trailhead.

5 Routes: East Ridge Loop, North Face Gully, Sawtooth Combo, South Ridge, and West Slopes.  

This map is available in both waterproof & tear-resistant paper and digital (GeoPDF) formats.

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