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Hiking to Bergen Peak

August 14, 2017 By Jeff Hester 2 Comments

Hike to Bergen Peak

Bergen Peak in the Jefferson County Open Space is a short 30 minutes from Denver. At an elevation of 9,708′ it provides a good view of Mount Evans to the west, as well as a good portion of the front range.

Trail Details
Summit: 9,708′
Distance: 9.6 miles
Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous
Elevation gain: 1,890 ft
Dogs: Yes
When to go: Mid-April to Late November
Download GPX
The trail is well-maintained and well-marked, yet climbs nearly to 10,000′. It’s the perfect start to the Colorado Rockies Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge™, giving low-landers a chance to acclimatize and prepare for the higher elevations to come.

Getting to the Trailhead

The trail begins at the Elk Meadow Park trailhead on Stage Coach Boulevard, just north of the town of Evergreen (map). Most of the trail is within the Jefferson County Open Space, but a portion crosses into neighboring Bergen Peak Wildlife Area, where hunting is allowed in season. There is a restroom a short distance from the parking lot, but no other facilities on this trail. Bring your own water.

Parking for Bergen Peak Trail
Toilets near the trailhead to Bergen Peak

Hiking to Bergen Peak

The trail begins at the north end of the parking lot. At about 0.3 miles, take a left at the junction to follow the Meadow View Trail.

The lower section of the trail runs along the meadow

After another 0.6 miles, bear left again to take the Bergen Peak Trail. This climbs close to the ridge line before veering north.

Most of the trail to Bergen Peak is forested
One of three junctions en route to Bergen Peak
Shade on the trail to Bergen Peak

Bear left again at the final trail junction with the Too Long Trail and the final mile to the summit.

View from an overlook near the top of Bergen Peak
Looking out over the Colorado Front Range
Yoda approves of Bergen Peak
Radio tower atop Bergen Peak

You can take the same route back, or if you want to extend the hike, take the Too Long Trail back down toward the meadow and back to the beginning.

Bergen Peak Trail Map & Elevation Profile

© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download

Bergen Peak Tips & Resources

  • Bergen Peak is a Colorado Mountain Club Classic. For more details, check out Colorado Summit Hikes for Everyone (affiliate link).
  • Dogs are allowed, on leash. There’s also an off-leash dog park in a meadow south of the parking lot.
  • The trail is shared with mountain bikes and equestrians. Hikers yield to horses and bikers yield to both, although it’s often more courteous to allow bikers to pass, especially when they’re climbing. We came across one couple biking and no horses on our hike.
  • Get the latest on the trail at the official Elk Meadow Park website.
  • After the hike, grab a burger at the Little Bear Saloon & Restaurant in Evergreen. The stage at this old-time western venue has hosted John Denver, Willie Nelson and many others.

Bergen Peak Weather Forecast

The location could not be found.

The Colorado Rockies Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge

Colorado Six-Pack of Peaks ChallengeBergen Peak is part of the Colorado Rockies Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge, a self-paced hiking challenge that takes you up six, iconic peaks–each one a bit higher and tougher.

It’s a challenge in itself, or great training for still bigger adventures. Learn more and sign-up here.

Originally hiked on June 27, 2017.

Thanks to Bryan Martin of Big City Mountaineers for joining me on this hike. 

Related

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: 8-10 miles, Colorado, dog-friendly, moderate, out of bounds, peakbagging, Six-Pack of Peaks

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Jeff H

About Jeff Hester

I'm an avid hiker and backpacker. My wife Joan and I are on the trails every weekend. I started SoCal Hiker to share my passion for outdoor adventure.

Comments

  1. Sam Taylor says

    June 17, 2020 at 3:01 am

    Nice Article

    Reply
  2. Rob Bender says

    December 12, 2020 at 7:36 am

    The off-leash dog park adjacent to the trailhead parking lot has been closed for two years or so now not to be reopened. The above comment on the dog park needs to be removed from this description of the Bergen Peak trail.

    Reply

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About Jeff Hester

I created SoCal Hiker while preparing to thru-hike the John Muir Trail. My goal? Create guides for the best hiking trails throughout Southern California--and occasionally beyond. I personally hike each trail to create these guides, sharing practical advice on gear and outdoor skills. Read more...

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