Hiking Mount Bierstadt

A Lunch Conversation That Sparked My Interest

A few weeks ago, over lunch with my manager and coworkers, I asked the question: “So, what exactly is there to do in Colorado?”

As if they’d been waiting for this question, everyone lit up and launched into a passionate tangent about their favorite hikes around Denver. When they mentioned Colorado’s “14ers” (mountains above 14,000 feet), I was immediately hooked.

They recommended that I start with Mount Bierstadt. It’s a super beginner 14er: only 7.2 miles round trip, and 2,726 feet of elevation gain. The views are also incredible, so it felt like the perfect introduction.

An Early Morning Start

I left my house in Denver at 3:15 a.m. on a Sunday and pulled into the trailhead around 4:30. After tossing a few extra layers into my pack, I strapped on my headlamp and began hiking in the darkness.

It was a little strange at first, but surprisingly easy to follow the path thanks to the number of hikers on the trail. Slowly, the sky began to lighten, and as the sun crept over the horizon, the views absolutely blew me away.

The Summit Experience

The trail itself was a great balance. It was mostly class 1 hiking, with some light class 2 sections near the top which made things nice and interesting. Reaching the summit was incredible. I felt super accomplished for completing my solo adventure, and the views in every direction were unbelievable.

The early wakeup call, and the long trek felt completely worth it at the summit. I was obsessed: I couldn’t stop thinking about my next 14er.

The Descent & Photography Highlights

On the way down, the landscape looked even better under the full morning sun. I pulled out my camera and started snapping photos. I took some of my favoriute photos from this trip, and my ultimate highlight was spotting a small group of mountain goats.

By 11 a.m., I was back at the trailhead. I was pretty exhausted, but I felt fulfilled and accomplished. I highly recommend this hike to anyone interested in entering the world of 14ers.

Gear Checklist

Here’s all I packed for the hike:

Tips For Mount Bierstadt

• Arrive early. I left Denver at 3:15 a.m. and the lot was nearly full when I arrived.
• Don’t risk parking in no-parking zones. A few unlucky hikers got towed. Definitely not fun when there’s no service.
• Summit before noon. Colorado is famous for afternoon storms. It’s safest to be below the tree line as early as possible.
• Bring extra socks. There’s a creek crossing with well-placed rocks, but accidents happen.
• Pack layers. It’s pretty cold at the summit, even in the summer.
• Be mindful of the altitude. Everyone reacts differently.