Bergen Peak via the Too Long Trail - 9.6 Miles Round-Trip

Bergen Peak (9,708’) is located in Evergreen CO between the Denver foothills and Continental Divide. Elk Meadow Park spans 1,140 acres below the peak, and a well-maintained trail network that funnels several different starting points onto the Bergen Peak Trail up to the summit.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

While most visitors begin at the trailhead on Stagecoach Blvd, consider the equidistant Elk Meadow Park Trailhead on Lewis Ridge Road, a route that follows the Too Long Trail to the Bergen Peak Trail.

This is a compelling alternative highlighted by travel through the meadows and lighter use. You may extend the hike by returning south on the Meadow View Trail to form a loop around Elk Meadow back to the trailhead. This adds only .5 miles and nominal elevation gain to the hike:

From the trailhead on Lewis Ridge Road, veer right off the Sleepy S Trail to pick up the Painters Pause Trail. Painters Pause runs north to the Founders Trail (.45 miles : 7,655'), where you can divert a few steps to see an historical cabin.

The Founders Trail edges northwest across the meadow to the Meadow View Trail (1.05 miles : 7,825'), which turns south and steepens in thicker timber on the west side of the meadow to the Too Long Trail (1.5 miles : 8,055’).

The Too Long Trail climbs methodically on winding switchbacks with expanding views across Elk Meadow Park and peaks to the east.

Variously steep and moderate grades pass through open hillsides and intervals of ponderosa, lodgepole and fir to 3.0 miles (8,895’) - an 840’ gain in just 1.5 miles from the Too Long split. Travel moderates through 3.5 miles (9,137’) to the Bergen Peak Trail split (3.75 miles : 9,207’).

The Bergen Peak Trail climbs steadily on winding switchbacks through mixed conifer and aspen. Note large blocks of quartz scattered about these hillsides.

The trail moderates and wraps to an east-facing outcrop just below the summit, where it all but fades amid rock and root. This is a fine stopping point (as views are quite expansive), but it’s not the summit.

To reach the summit, turn uphill past the radio tower and follow a faint but intuitive path to the Bergen Peak sign (4.8 miles : 9,708’). The rather anonymous summit is in sight of the radio tower and ringed by thick timber, with limited views and room to explore.