Located in Evergreen, just 45 minutes from Denver, Bergen Peak offers an excellent conditioning trail for higher elevations without the need for a long journey into the deep mountains. Though lengthy, its gradual elevation gain provides a great workout while allowing you to enjoy an extended immersion in nature. And being able to say you summited a (near) 10,000 foot peak is just some more icing on the cake.
Trail Info
Know before you go
There are several trailheads to start this hike, with the most common being the East or South Trailhead. This post focuses on starting from the South/Stage Coach Trailhead.
The trail is popular with mountain bikers, so stay alert and aware of your surroundings. As with all dual-use trails, a little caution goes a long way.
The official summit doesn’t offer any views, as it’s marked by a simple sign surrounded by trees. However, the best views on the hike are just before the summit, and if you’re a peak bagger, it’s worth the extra few minutes to check it off your list.
Other trails nearby
The Meadow View loop doesn’t offer the sweeping panoramic views, but it provides a pleasant perspective of the park's natural beauty.
Aldefer Three Sisters Park, located nearby, features a great network of hiking trails worth exploring.
The Trail
I chose to start my trail along the South/Stage Coach Trailhead, following the Meadow View Trail.
This trail features beautiful foliage throughout, making it a great escape into nature—mostly. The main downside is the noticeable highway noise in certain sections, which can detract from the otherwise peaceful experience.
There are a few junctions along this trail, all of which are obvious. The first is here, continue to the right along the Meadow View Trail.
The next is here, where you make a hard left to follow the Bergen Peak Trail.
Keep your head up as you start to ascend Bergen Peak trail as you may get some glimpses of some nice foothill views.
And also don't forget to take in that lovely foliage.
The trail follows a series of switchbacks before this long straight(ish) ascent.
At ~3.5-4 miles (depending on starting location) you will hit the final junction. Veer left for Bergen Peak and the final approach to the summit.
This quick detour offers some nice views looking north toward Rocky Mountain National Park. While the scenery is lovely, I personally prefer the views on the other side of the ridge.
These are the views you’ll find at the final lookout, a slanted open area just before the summit. From here, you can take in stunning sights of the Mount Blue Sky Wilderness, home to a prominent 14er in the area.
But you haven't reached the official summit. That requires you to hike a few minutes farther.
While there aren’t any views, the sign marking 9,708 feet makes it feel like a true accomplishment.
And the good news is you can get those views on the way back down. Pretty awesome hike so close to Denver!
SS Reflections
I discovered this trail while "doom scrolling" the AllTrails map, searching for peaks near Denver, checking their height, and seeing if a trail existed that led to the summit Voila, that’s how I found Bergen Peak. It turned out to be much more impressive than I expected. For casual hikers looking to up their game or peak baggers looking for a conveniently located leg burn, it's definitely a gem worth exploring.
Other helpful resources
Day Hikes Near Denver's post about Bergen Peak