Originally published in The Mountain Connection, May 2002.

With the drought and wildfires that have raged through the backcountry of Colorado this year, some of our wilderness has been closed to visitors. Unfortunately, it has been necessary to close the Pike National Forest this year. This may have left you wondering where you can go to experience the great outdoors without having to travel a great distance.

Luckily, we have many recreational opportunities very close to home. One of those areas is the Mount Evans Wilderness. Located so close to Conifer, Evergreen, Idaho Springs, and even Golden and Denver, many people don't realize the many areas to explore that is offered by Mount Evans.

Besides the obvious trip to the top of a fourteener by car to the top of Mount Evans, there are opportunities to hike, fish, and explore this high mountain environment. One example is the Mount Goliath Natural Area on the road to the top of Mount Evans. Located at 11,000 feet this natural area has a three-mile trail through a high alpine environment. The trail wanders through a grove of bristlecone pine trees, which are one of the oldest living things on earth. These trees are probably at least a 1,000 years old.

Another attraction is Guanella Pass on the west side of Mount Evans. The pass is accessible either from the north or south. You can drive west on highway 285 to the town of Grant. There, turn right onto county road 62, also known as the Guanella Pass road and follow it north to the pass.

You can also take I-70 west and get off at the Georgetown exit. At the west end of town there are clear signs to the Guanella Pass road. You then follow this road south to the pass. Much of this road is dirt but is accessible to two wheel drive vehicles through the summer. Both routes climb very quickly up through pine forests to top out at the 11,669-foot elevation pass. Here it is a tundra environment with very low growing trees and vegetation. You may also be able to see marmots and pikas living in the rocky slopes.

One of the primary lures of the pass is access to Mount Bierstadt. Another fourteener, this peak has a steep but very accessible trail to the top of the peak. Please be aware that you are hiking at very high altitude and that this could be a concern if you have heart or respiratory problems. Also, you will definitely want to start your climb early in the day to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms. You are in very high country and the terrain is very exposed.

From the top of Mount Bierstadt you have a panoramic view of mountain ranges in all directions and the adjoining Mount Evans across a small saddle. Some hardy hikers/climbers attempt to bag two fourteeners in one day by traversing the extremely rugged Sawtooth Ridge that runs between the two mountains. This hike is only for the very experienced hiker, as the ridge has extreme drop-offs on both sides and is not recommended for the average weekend explorer.

Several other trails lead to nearby mountains and lakes both at the pass and along the road at lower elevations. There are fishing opportunities at some of the high alpine lakes and the creeks that run down from the pass.

Because of the easy accessibility of Guanella Pass, it attracts many people to the area. So avoiding the crowds is another reason to get an early start. But the beauty and remote character of the high mountain country is a strong attraction. Many of us don't often take advantage of being able to live in a beautiful state with such a variety of environments. So look a little closer to home and you may find a special outdoor experience quite literally in your backyard.