Sunrise Hike & Breakfast: Chief Mountain & Dandelion Cafe

I’m leaving town the next day…so let’s just do a shorter hike. I haven’t hiked Chief Mountain for 6 years because it’s such a short hike. But it might be nice at sunrise…with breakfast afterwards to make it worth the drive. We will be hiking up Chief Mountain in the dark and it is rocky, so make sure you have a good headlamp.

Hikes are always subject to date/time change or cancellation due to weather, trail conditions or closures, or other unforeseen circumstances. And if the weather looks terrible for sunrise that day, I may cancel the hike.

Difficulty: about 3 to 3.5 miles with about 950 feet elevation gain.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: Let’s do a short but steep & rocky hike up Chief Mountain and plan to be at the top shortly before sunrise. The trail travels through alpine forest, then breaks out into high-country tundra, eventually gaining panoramic views of surrounding mountains. The views are incredible at the top. Mount Blue Sky can be seen to the West and Mestaa’ehehe Mountain to the East. See the following hike in Alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/chief-mountain-trail

DOGS: 🚫 not allowed. Please no dogs on this hike.

ADDRESS/DIRECTIONS: We will meet at the Chief Mountain trailhead. Parking is along the road. To get there, you can click on the alltrails link above and click directions. Or if you use Google maps, you can type in “Chief Mountain Trailhead” for directions.

We wait 5 minutes for late arrivals…but no longer as that is inconsiderate to those arriving timely. So please allow extra time to get to the trailhead.

RESTAURANT FOR BREAKFAST: We will meet for breakfast after the hike at Dandelion Cafe on Bergen Parkway. The address is: 1552 Bergen Pkwy 305, Evergreen, CO 80439. Here is a link to their website: https://dandelions-cafe.com

IMPORTANT: This is a participate at your own risk event! Life is risky. I am not a professional guide and am simply hosting this event. By signing up for this hike you acknowledge that you are capable of performing this hike and that you are solely responsible for your own safety.

NO SHOWS: If you are a no-show to 2 hikes, you will be booted from this meetup group. So please change your RSVP to “not going” if you are unable to make it.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING: Water, snacks, layers of clothing, good hiking shoes/boots, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, gloves, hiking poles (if you find them helpful), and anything else you deem essential. PLEASE ALSO BRING A HEADLAMP AS WE WILL BE HIKING IN THE DARK.

WEATHER: Here is the NOAA forecast for the hike location. For hourly temps, wind, precipitation, etc., click “Hourly Weather Forecast” in the upper right. https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-105.523&lat=39.675

REQUIRED WAIVER: If you have not already done so, you must sign the updated waiver with our new meetup name prior to this hike. I will have copies at the trailhead that you can sign or you may print, sign, and bring it with you from the following website: https://www.dropbox.com/s/p728z28jjuwdzws/Waiver%20Corona.pdf?dl=0
If you choose to sign at the trailhead, please arrive early so that we can depart for the hike timely.