Mount Bierstadt West Slopes
The most popular fourteener in Colorado — a Class 2 hike from Guanella Pass with willows, marmots, and a straightforward summit just an hour from Denver.
Trail Weather
Mount Bierstadt is widely regarded as the easiest 14er in Colorado and is for many hikers their first 14,000-foot summit. The West Slopes route from Guanella Pass is just 7 miles round trip with 2,850 feet of gain, but begins with a famous willow bog (now planked over) before climbing through tundra to the rocky summit ridge. Total round trip typically takes 4-6 hours. The trailhead at Guanella Pass is paved and only an hour from Denver, making this the busiest 14er trail in the state — expect company on summer weekends. The Sawtooth traverse to neighboring Mount Blue Sky is a Class 3 expansion for stronger parties.