Watch the Sunrise at Guanella Pass

Idaho Springs, Colorado

5.0/5

based on 1 reviews

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Distance

1 miles

Elevation Gain

100 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Matthew Eaton

Guanella Pass is an easily accessible pass that crests at 11,670’ in Colorado’s Front Range and the views are not to be missed. There is ample parking at the high point and many trails lead from this point which make for countless opportunities to photograph the sunrise or sunset (astro is great here too!).

From Denver, take i70 to Georgetown and simply follow the signs through town to the top. This pass can also be accessed from the south via US Highway 285 at the town of Grant. Guanella Pass is closed in the winter, typically from about the last week in November through the last week of May. Watching the sunrise in winter is still possible from Guanella pass, but will require a ¾ mile hike from the north side.

With a bit of hiking, the compositions from Guanella Pass are endless, but my personal favorite is of the scenic Sawtooth Ridge along the north side of Mt. Bierstadt. Its jagged outline makes for beautiful photos with the sun rising behind it. You cannot miss the Sawtooth from anywhere in this great alpine tundra. Explore and enjoy!

Note that the alpine tundra is a very delicate environment so travel within these areas is not to be taken lightly. Please be sure to research ways to care for this special terrain, and its extremely variable weather.

There are several campgrounds along Guanella Pass Road and countless spots along the road for car camping. Also be aware that in the summer, crowds will be heavy as Mt. Bierstadt is an extremely popular 14er, and the trailhead leaves from here as well.

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Reviews

Explorer

Korey Taylor

Explorer

Watch the Sunrise at Guanella Pass

07/12/20

Guanella Pass truly offers a spectacular sunrise. I would recommend camping in the dispersed camping along the road and set your alarm early to drive to the top of the pass before sunrise. Another excellent way to watch the sunrise is to start hiking Bierstadt with a headlamp before the sun comes up.

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Bierstadt, Evans, and The Sawtooth Loop

Starting from the oddly poorly marked Guanella Pass Trailhead (Google maps directions to Guanella Campground and then drive about two miles past it to the south), the trail heads southeast toward Bierstadt, and much of your route to the first summit is visible from the parking lot. The trail to Bierstadt starts out at just over 11,000 feet and stays nearly flat for the first mile, allowing you...

Mount Bierstadt

If you’re ready for your first 14er, Mount Bierstadt holds a reputation for a great “starter” 14er. Of course, experienced climbers will enjoy this (relatively speaking) easy mountain as well. Besides the joy of the hike itself, Bierstadt is a stunning wildflower hike in July and August. Thanks to an expansive valley floor, views of the surrounding peaks (including other Front Range 14ers Torre...

Hike to Square Top Lakes

Starting from Guanella Pass, right across from the Bierstadt trailhead, Square Top Lakes is definitely a hidden gem. Most people here are attempting to do the 14er, but if you've already bagged that one (or are just looking for some high altitude hiking to get you ready for it), Square Top Lakes is perfect. The hike begins by immediately descending a few hundred feet into a small valley. From t...

Camp at Guanella Pass

This is a beautiful campground that serves as a great basecamp for many different outdoor activities in the Front Range. Whether you are looking for a casual day fishing or trying to knock one of the nearby 14ers off of your bucket list, this is an excellent place to begin. There are also abandoned “ghost towns” and the historic Georgetown nearby for those interested in local history.There are ...

Silver Dollar Lake Trail

Guanella Pass, which connects the charming and historic town of Georgetown in the north to the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Grant to the south, is a recreational outdoorsman’s dream. Volumes could be written on what this 22-mile scenic byway has to offer. Silver Dollar Lake Trail is just one tiny portion of the area, but this little 2-mile stretch of trail is packed with such beauty that you feel ...

Watch the Sunset from Mt Evans Road

Leave Evergreen, CO and access the Mount Evans Road and Mount Evans Recreation Area from Squaw Pass, CO 103 at Echo Lake.Drive along the slopes of Mount Evans, a Colorado 14er standing at 14,264 ft. 5 switchbacks down from the summit, on a tight hairpin turn, is a small parking area near 13,900ft. From here, hike ¼ mile down to the open area above a band of cliffs and towards an unnamed point....

Watch the Sunrise at Guanella Pass

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Leave No Trace

Nearby

Bierstadt, Evans, and The Sawtooth Loop

Mount Bierstadt

Hike to Square Top Lakes

Camp at Guanella Pass

Silver Dollar Lake Trail

Watch the Sunset from Mt Evans Road

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