Date Hiked: May 22, 2010

Distance: 10 mi (RT)

Elevation Gain: 2,200

Elevation Min/Max: 7,776 to 9,696 ft

Managing Agency: Jefferson County Open Space

Fee: None

Directions:

From I-70 exit onto Hwy 74 (Evergreen Parkway) and head south. Just south of Elk Meadows Park, turn right (west) onto Stagecoach Road and look for the Stagecoach Trailhead on the right.

Hike Description:

The hike up to Bergen Peak, in Elk Meadows Park, links the Bergen Peak trail; the Too Long Trail; and the Meadow View Trail for a 10 mile quad buster that is one of the biggest hikes in the Denver Foothills. The trail gains 2,200 ft of elevation gain, but since it is over about 4 miles, it’s a lot of up, but never too steep. This is a great fitness hike!

The trail begins at the Stagecoach Trailhead and begins on the Meadow View Trail.  After a good warmup of a mile of gentle hiking, turn right onto the Bergen Peak Trail. The next 1 ¾ of the trail are switchbacks taking you up, up, and up through pine forest with some nice foothills views every now and then.  The switchbacks stop for the next mile or so but the climb continues up to the junction with the “Too Long Trail.” Turn right to stay on the Bergen Peak Trail and start the final push up to the summit. Switchbacks take you up to the rocky but forested summit. The trees thin out but the trail never really gets above “treeline.”  That being said, there are plenty of rocky outcrops providing amazing views of the surrounding area and the Front Range peaks to the west, including Mt. Blue Sky and Longs Peak. After you refuel at the summit, head back down the Bergen Peak Trail to the Too Long Trail junction.

This time, turn left and head onto the Too Long Trail.  You can also go back the way you came, but you don’t really save that much mileage by doing so, might as well finish out the loop! The Too Long is a nice way to descend and see a bit more of the park, but at some point you will be agreeing with the trail’s name, just keep walking.  When you get back to the Meadow View Trail you’ll still have two miles to go before you get back to the trailhead.  Luckily, Elk Meadows Park is very pretty so at least you’ll have some nice scenery to accompany your aching knees.

Bergen Peak is a bit of a mixed bag. It’s a beautiful hike through the Front Range foothills but it is long and lacks the mountain majesty of the high peaks hikes that you can do in the Front Range Mountains just a bit to the west. This hike is great for fitness training or as a warm up for larger mountain hikes, or if you just want a big hike with lots of mileage but you don’t want to stray too far from home.