There is a certain draw to hike a 14er when you live so close to many of them in Denver. Adam and I knew that we wanted to hike one while we were going to live there. We just did not know which one! We chose Mt Bierstadt as our first and here is our guide and reasoning on why it could be your first too.

There are 58 peaks that are 14,000 ft or more in Colorado. Some people venture to hike all of them. There are even some hikers who try to climb them all consecutively to win the record of fastest time to hike all 58! The record – 9 days, 21 hours, and 51 minutes by Andrew Hamilton! The peaks range from class one to class five, one being easy to five being difficult. 

Class 1Hiking
Class 2Scrambling
Class 3Advanced Scrambling
Class 4 Simple Climbing
Class 5Technical Climbing

We have a lot of experience with hiking, but not much experience with climbing – we have only rock climbed once while in Thailand! This made us only feel comfortable with our first 14er being rated a class 1 or class 2. After doing our own research, we decided on Mt Bierstadt, a class 2 14er. 

Mt Bierstadt is a popular 14er due to its proximity to Denver and being accessible to any skill level of hiker wanting to tackle a 14er. This mountain peaks at 14,065ft and is exposed throughout the whole trail. The trailhead at Guanella Pass Road is about an hour and 20 minutes from Denver city center.

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Things to Consider Before Hiking a 14er:

  • Hiking at Altitude
  • Weather
  • What to Pack

Hiking at Altitude 

The trailhead starts out at 11,628ft, a big difference from the altitude at Denver (5,280ft) and for those who have travelled for just a weekend or week trip. Be aware of the signs and symptoms of acute mountain sickness: throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea/ vomiting, swelling, and loss of appetite. The best way to treat altitude sickness is to descend to lower altitude. 

Prepare for the altitude by spending some time the day before at altitude in Denver or in the surrounding mountain towns. Eat a carb heavy meal, avoid alcohol, and drink lots of water the night before your big hike. I have gotten altitude sickness once while climbing Grays and Torreys Peaks. Our dinner the night before consisted of ground beef, black beans and sweet potatoes. I did not fuel appropriately for my hike and definitely paid for it. Think about how you would eat before a marathon. Carbo-load! 

Weather

The best time of year to climb your first 14er is in the summer months July – September, when most of the snow has melted off the tall peaks. You can climb the 14er during the snowier months, but this makes the hike more technical. Although the warmer months are recommended, thunderstorms are frequent and come out of nowhere during the summer. Be sure to check the weather for storms before planning your hike. You can check the conditions of any 14er peak at 14er.com before you go.

What to Pack

  • Microspikes: Depending on what time of year you go, you may need to bring microspikes with you in case of snow or ice near the top of the peak. 
  • LAYERS: Make sure to pack an extra pullover or jacket. We always warm up at the start of the hike as our heart rates increase with the challenging ascent. It tends to be cold and windy once you reach the peak, and we are back in our layers at this point. I usually keep some gloves and ear warmers in my pack because I hate being cold. 
  • SNACKS: Bring plenty of snacks to keep you fueled for your hike. You need calories to fuel you for your hike, especially at altitude. You can usually find us snacking on PB&Js and apples on our hikes. We also love Aloha Bars for their protein and calories. 
  • Plenty of water: We bring 3L camelbacks full of water each on our hikes. We usually have our hydroflasks full of water in the car for the ride back. Don’t forget extra water for your pup. We like this ___ for Kirby on our hikes.
  • Sunscreen: Most peaks are above tree level so there is plenty of sun exposure. You are also at increased risk of getting sunburned at higher altitude. Be sure to bring sunscreen, a sun shirt, and/or a hat to protect your skin. 
  • Trekking Poles: These might be useful for you during the scramble if you have difficulty with your balance. You might also benefit from bringing trekking poles if you get knee pain with going downstairs or downhill.

Mt Bierstadt Trail 

  • Location: Idaho Springs, CO 
  • Distance: 7.2 miles, out and back
  • Elevation Gain: 2,736ft

We set our alarms on July 13 to wake up at 430 am with the goal to start hiking around 600 am. We made some overnight oats to eat once we got to the parking lot. There is a parking lot and road parking at the trailhead, as well as a bathroom (don’t forget to pack your trash out!). The hike starts out flat over a boardwalk through some marshlands before sloping up the mountain. There were trail runners already running back down as we were heading up!

Why start your hike in the early morning? Colorado is known for its afternoon thunderstorms that roll in out of nowhere. You are left very exposed above the tree-line on a 14er, so it is better to not be caught up on the mountain when a storm comes in. Most hikers opt to start their hikes early with the goal of descending by midday to avoid the risk of exposure to lightning and high winds that tend to show up in the early afternoon. 

There are cairns throughout the trail to help guide the hikers to the summit. Everyone we passed was so encouraging and uplifting as we made the steep climb up. There is just something about the personalities and the camaraderie of the people who choose to hike a 14er. We love it 🙂

The scramble was a little tricky, but we managed and even got on our hands and knees at one point. Kirby had no trouble scrambling to the top, and almost was a liability to us! She was easily distracted by all the marmots popping out between the cracks of the rocks. We saw multiple dogs along the hike that did not appear to have an issue with the scramble. 

However, there have been cases of dogs running away and even a major story about one getting stuck while scrambling the Sawtooth Ridge at Mt Bierstadt. This is not the route we took. Please be mindful of your dog’s capabilities and experience before taking them on this hike.

We made the summit at 9:30 in the morning. There were a few cardboard signs at the top with Mt Bierstadt and the altitude written on it. We got the signature picture with the cardboard sign to commemorate our achievement. We had a snack at the top and soaked in the views of Grays and Torreys Peaks, Mt Blue Sky, Frozen Lake and Abyss Lake. 

The way down from the peak felt amazing! We just completed our first 14er, plus we were getting more oxygen to our brains as we were descending to lower altitude. We stopped by Georgetown on our way home for our usual post hike beer at Guanella Pass Brewery*. There is nothing better than a cold beer and great atmosphere after hiking a 14er. 

*Unfortunately, this brewery closed down February 2025. Fortunately, Georgetown has another great brewery, Cabin Creek Brewing, and we love their Hazy IPAs.

Do you want to make your hike more challenging or want to hit 2 14ers in one go? Consider these other routes: 

  • Mt Bierstadt and the Sawtooth Loop
  • Mt Bierstadt, The Sawtooth, and Mt Blue Sky Loop
  • Mt Bierstadt and Mt Blue Sky from Guanella Pass Rd

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or if you have fun stories to tell about Mt Bierstadt or your first 14er. Cheers and happy hiking!

EA

Interested in other hikes and their nearby breweries in Colorado? Check out our favorite Colorado Hikes here.