Berrian Mountain Hike Trail Guide & Information
Berrian Mountain is a local’s favorite hike located in Evergreen, Colorado. The hike is short (under 5 miles) steep (995 ft of elevation gain) and offers great views along the way. This hike is somewhat of a hidden gem, but is part of the Denver Mountain Parks jurisdiction. The hike is family friendly, dog friendly and accessible year round.
Berrian Mountain Quick Facts
Virtual Trail Guide : Berrian Mountain
Berrian Mountain Hike Rating: ★★★ (⅗ Stars)
Distance: 3.3 Miles RT
Elevation Start: 8,182 ft
Highest Point: 9,151 ft
Total Elevation Gain: 995 ft
Estimated Time to Complete: 1-2 Hours RT
Difficulty: Moderate Difficulty System Explained
Class: Class 1 What does this mean?
Season: Year Round – Expect snow December- April
Directions to Berrian Mountain
Trailhead: S. Armadillo Trail Rd
Getting Here: From Highway 285 in Aspen Park, Colorado take CO73 towards Evergreen. Drive about 2.5 miles to Gray Fox Drive for about a mile and bear right onto S. Armadillo Trail. Continue for 2.2 miles until you reach the unsigned and unmarked trailhead on the right side of the road.
Fees: There is no fee to hike Berrian Mountain.
Parking: Parking for Berrian Mountain is EXTREMELY limited (think less than 5 cars) but usually is not very busy. There are no restrooms at the trailhead and parking is along the road, so please be respectful of residents when parking.
Summary
Camping: Camping is prohibited on this hike and in Denver Mountain Parks in general.
Dogs: Berrian Mountain is a dog friendly hike. Please be respectful of others by keeping your dog on the leash and picking up after them – basic things, I know.
Make it a Loop: Berrian Mountain is an out and back hike with options to hike at neighboring Flying J or nearby Meyer Ranch parks for more hiking options.
Trail X Factors: Since this hike is a pretty low key spot to hike, trail finding can be an issue if you are not familiar with the area. Having a GPS or map (if you can find one) of the area will be helpful in guiding yourself to the summit. There are very faded/old trail markers along the way if you look close enough.
Mick’s Tip: This hike is a local hidden gem in Evergreen and one that locals are very protective over. When visiting, be sure to be respectful of residents (park off the road, pick up trash and dog poop etc. etc.).
Best Views: Without a doubt, the best views on this hike are the rock outcroppings near the summit. This spot is impossible to miss, but 100% worth checking out. Its a nice spot to catch the sunset as well since it faces due west.
Berrian Mountain Trail Route
Gear Needed
- Mickey’s Mountain Kit
- Backpack – this has been my go to
- Comfortable Hiking Boots – These are the ones that I use.
- Map of area or GPS – I use the Garmin inReach
- Microspikes in winter
- Optional: Snowshoes
- Optional: Hiking Poles
- Optional: Camera and Lens
- Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
- *Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.
Our Trip to Berrian Mountain: March 2020
I always love discovering new hikes, especially when they are close to home. My wife, Jackie, brought Berrian Mountain to my attention so we hiked it twice in the span of a week to get some awesome views and learn more about the area. Needless to say, this one will be added to the rotation of spots to walk the dog moving forward.
Berrian Mountain Virtual Trail Guide
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5 thoughts on “Berrian Mountain Hike Trail Guide & Information”
My wife and I were snowshoeing Meyer Ranch this past weekend for the first time and I became somewhat infatuated with Berrian for obvious reasons. The summit proposition is fairly intimidating from that vantage. Good to know that there are other options for access!
Yeah it looks much worse than it actually is from that angle, a solid hike none the less.
Regarding the history: My father, George Berrian, grew up on the ranch, which historically included Berrian Mountain, but spent his adulthood far away, with only the rare visit to Evergreen. Consequently my immediate family wasn’t able to do much exploring there. So I’m delighted with the virtual tour of Berrian Mountain. Thank you.
Dad’s sister stayed on the ranch, as did her daughter (my generation) and their families. I believe it’s the valley closest to the mountain and is visible in one of the northerly photographic scans you’ve made, where the roads are visible.
In the early 20th Century the region was populated with pioneers practicing subsistence living. They had carved a life fir themselves out of the mountain wilderness. Automobiles came late, and hunting and/or fishing trips could include the whole family on horseback, with cook wagon etc.
The original Berrian ranch was very large. The extended family logged, ranched, farmed and hunted. My dad’s immediate family had cattle (beef and dairy), lots of horses and hay fields, an ice house and, of course, lived in a log house. The trek to elementary school could be on horseback or on skis, probably home-made. Lots of adventures growing up. Eventually attending Evergreen High School gentrified my dad a bit. But there were only 4 kids in his graduating class.
In summer, Evergreen was a vacation spot for well-to-do city folks who massively out-populated the area residents.
The locals had been there for a few generations, worked hard physically, and prized the benefits of rural isolation and life style. But the clash of cultures in the summers made my father awkward because he lacked certain social graces around the summer crowd. strangers. The difference in lifestyle between residents and vacationers may be at the root of the locals not appreciating outsiders. Possibly.
Hi Linda,
Thanks so much for the insight and history regarding Berrian Mountain. Super interesting and thank you for taking the time to provide! Hopefully this spot will be taken care of by locals and visitors alike for generations to come.
-Mickey