Guanella Pass Trailhead

Posted On: 3/28/2025 By: mtn14
Info: Watch for rock fall on the road up to fist-sized. Mostly around the dam.

Posted On: 12/8/2024 By: Cruiser
Info: Winter closure is in place but the road above the closure is basically snow free which made getting to the summer trail head parking lot pretty painless. E bikes would make short work of the last 1.5m between the winter and summer TH.

Posted On: 12/3/2024 By: dwoodward13
Info: Gated at the Winter THs on 12/2 per Clear Creek Country (Naylor Lake turn north side, Duck Creek Picnic Area south side). https://www.clearcreekcounty.us/689/Guanella-Pass-Information

Posted On: 11/3/2024 By: Argysc
Info: Road open all the way, clear and dry. Parked at 6:30 am (3 cars total). Returned around 11:30am to about 15 cars total, spots still open in lower lot. Began snowing heavily between 10-11 am and forecasted to snow through the night.

Posted On: 8/20/2024 By: bigfoot1
Info: Grabbed the last paved spot at 7am on a Tuesday. Plenty of parking along road still available.

Posted On: 5/24/2024 By: schumi248
Info: Was just up at the top, today. Clear, dry and open to the top.

Posted On: 5/5/2024 By: jmanner
Info: Road is being plowed out. Its about halfway dry from the closure.

Posted On: 12/15/2023 By: HikesInGeologicTime
Info: Closed at winter TH. Road is coated with a few inches of unconsolidated snow, ankle-deep at worst, but rather annoying to walk through. Not worth flotation, though. Bathrooms are unlocked and stocked with TP. The mens side has a wad of TP in lieu of a door handle at the moment, but it otherwise appeared usable.

Posted On: 11/20/2023 By: Eagle Eye
Info: This is the last full week before the gate(s) closes "on or about Nov 26th" which is next Sunday -according to the CDOT website. Yesterday early morning starting from Georgetown the road had a few inches of powder on it, all the way to the summit but was easily drivable. I dodged a moose that came out of the ditch in one of the last switchbacks before the TH. Bathrooms open and TP there too.

Posted On: 11/13/2023 By: elarson8
Info: Trailhead for Bierstadt was accessible today. Some snow and ice on the road up, but for the most part excellent conditions.

Posted On: 10/21/2023 By: BillMiddlebrook
Info: Open, dry and busy today.

Posted On: 8/13/2023 By: BoardingHiker
Info: Moose was on the road on the way out. It's easy to speed on this road and I have almost hit a moose a few times in the AM. Stay safe out there. Both lots full by 530am. Only road parking.

Posted On: 8/10/2023 By: Ed_Groves
Info: Today was a Thursday and we arrived at the trailhead at 5:04 AM. There were tons of parking spaces at that time and on this week day. Maybe one-third of the spots in the main lot were in use. I assume the lot west of the road was empty and I know the spots along the road were empty as well. This was quite a bit different from the reports of packed lots on weekends. Everything was pretty full when we returned from our hike, though some people had left and those few spots were open. To avoid parking issues, come during week days if possible.

Posted On: 8/6/2023 By: ajschoenster
Info: We did the gully/couloir route from Guanella Pass that runs between Spaulding and the Sawtooth. We started at 545. Parking had already spilled over into the road at 530am. We took the trail over the boardwalk. Along the way we had to find a way over to the left and saw a number of trails or "trails". We choose one that appeared to have a lot of traction and ended up soaked to our knees and bushwacking. We eventually found the main "trail" as we walked through the hedges toward the tree line, however, the main trail seemed to easily disappear and reappear. Visibility is poor over the hedges and we mainly tried to veer toward the tree line on the right. We also kept our eye on the gully that was our ticket up and over the ridge. Be prepared to get wet and muddy and bring extra socks. The directions here on 14ers say to traverse through the stream coming down the gully, however, we stayed to right of the stream and took the light trail up and over the rock formation and then eventually crossed the stream as we climbed the rocks and trail. It is very steep and demanding, but, no equipment required. Walking poles can help on the way down, though I did not have any, but, my companions did. Cairns do help guide the way. However, in the gully it is pretty self explanatory, unlike the bog and unlike further up. As you reach the source of the stream and the gully broadens out there is just shy of half a mile of hiking that is confusing and "trailless". There are some cairns, but, you want to veer toward the right slightly as you are looking for a "hump of rocks" so to say, but, it really is the beginnings of Mt Evans summit. As you get toward the top of the ridge you will find the main trail between Mt. Spaulding (on the left) and Mt. Evans. You may see a few people coming from the Sawtooth on the right. As you approach the "hump" it is a lot bigger than it looks from the top of the gully. The Evans peak trail wraps around to the right or the west-southwest of the hump. There is is an inclination to climb over the hump(s), however, this is harder. Follow the cairns around to the right and pick the easiest way through the rocks. Eventually, you will see the Mt. Evans road, bear toward the road slightly and you will see the final summit stretch which consists of a series of switchbacks, which is somewhat welcome after that climb up the gully. Be prepared for tourists, "hikers" with all the gear and no dirt on their shoes and day drivers. The summit was packed with the drivers, but, we found a rock to sit on, got some photos and turned around early. Even by 1030am clouds were starting to bunch. Same story on the way down: lost trail multiple times, followed cairns, steep gully and got soaked in the bog as we lost the trail multiple times. There were reports of a bull moose in the bog area, however, we did not see one, despite all the scat. However, we did see Momma moose cow and her two calves swimming in the pond at the entrance to the Evans wilderness by the Bierstadt parking lot. We definitely stayed clear when they climbed up on the near shore. Definitely not a beginner hike. I would say, hard class 2, mayybe easy 3 in some sections. Easy to lose the trail in multiple sections all along the trail and requires confidence, trail knowledge and a map definitely helps to navigate this route. Most people on 14ers.com would find this an adventurous and good close front range hike.

Posted On: 5/26/2023 By: jjjeffries32
Info: Just checking to see if anyone knows if the road to the trailhead has been completely cleared, thinking about driving from Eastern Kansas to hike Mt. Bierstadt.