Mount Bierstadt - West Slopes Route

The route begins at Guanella Pass Trailhead at the top of the pass, just above treeline. From the parking area, follow a well-marked trail east across gentle Class 1 terrain. Wooden footbridges cross several small creek drainages through a willow corridor before the grade steepens noticeably about a mile in. Approaching the two-mile mark, the trail bends south and the terrain becomes increasingly rough - log steps and loose rock on the switchbacks demand steady footing, though the route does not exceed Class 2. Turn left where the trail gains the summit ridge on an E/NE bearing. The summit comes into view a short distance up the ridge; a brief scramble on solid rock reaches the high point. Experienced hikers looking to extend the day can continue to Mount Blue Sky via the Sawtooth - a low Class 3 traverse. Return the way you came.

Mt. Bierstadt is named after first summiter Albert Bierstadt, a German-American painter best known for his dramatic landscapes of the American West. At 14,065 feet, it is the 38th highest peak in Colorado.