Mount Bierstadt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mount Bierstadt | |
|---|---|
 A marmot posing in front of the peak of Mount Bierstadt |
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| Elevation | 14,060 ft (4,286 m) |
| Location | Colorado, USA |
| Range | Front Range |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Evans |
| First ascent | 1863 by Albert Bierstadt |
| Easiest route | 3 mile hike |
Mount Bierstadt is a mountain in the Front Range region of the Rocky Mountains, in Clear Creek County, Colorado. It is one of 54 fourteeners (mountains with peaks over 14,000 ft in elevation) in Colorado. It is located approximately 1.5 miles WSW of Mount Evans. The nearest major city is Denver. It was named for Albert Bierstadt, a popular painter of Colorado's Rockies of the 19th century.
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.
The most popular base from which to begin ascent of Mount Bierstadt is Guanella Pass, located to the west. From Guanella Pass, it is an approximately hike of 3 miles, with a climb of 2,391 feet. The trail passes descends slightly into the fairly level marshlands surrounding 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 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 ft elevation), which occupies the bottom of the valley separating Bierstadt and Evans.
