3 Reasons Why Mount Flora Should Be Your First 13er
Are you thinking about hiking your first 13er in Colorado? Or maybe you’re wanting to train for your first 14er, but you want to hiking something easier to prep?
If you answered yes to either of those questions, then you should definitely hike Mount Flora. Even if you’re not training for anything and just want to do a moderately challenging hike with phenomenal views, Mount Flora is a great option.
What is a 13er?
A “13er” in Colorado refers to a mountain peak with a summit elevation between 13,000 and 13,999 feet above sea level.
Colorado is famous for its 14ers (mountains over 14,000 feet), but the state actually has hundreds more 13ers —over 600 of them, depending on how you define prominence.
Many hikers and climbers actually prefer 13ers because:
They’re usually less crowded than the popular 14ers.
They still offer challenging routes, alpine terrain, and incredible views.
Some are considered more technical climbs than certain “easy” 14ers.
Mount Flora Details
Hiking Mount Flora (13,132 ft) is a classic Colorado 13er experience — it’s high alpine, accessible, and not nearly as crowded as many nearby 14ers.
Length: 6.3 mi, out and back
Elevation gain: 1,788 ft
Estimated time: 3 hours and 41 minutes
Visit AllTrails for up-to-date trail conditions and other valuable information.
FUN FACT: Mount Flora sits right on the Continental Divide, and the main hiking route to its summit actually follows a section of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT).
Reason 1: Large parking lot (so you don’t have to wake up at 3am)
The trailhead starts from the Berthoud Pass parking lot — a spacious lot that usually doesn’t fill up until 8:30 a.m.
You’ll still want to arrive in the morning to secure a spot and avoid afternoon storms, but you don’t need to get there at 3:00 a.m. like you do for other popular likes.
Located near Winter Park, it only takes about an hour to drive here from Denver.
Reason 2: Moderate difficulty with gradual elevation gain
In terms of Colorado 13er’s, Mount Flora is on the easier side.
Don’t get me wrong, this is still a challenging hike with significant elevation gain, but if you’re an experienced hiker, this shouldn’t wipe you out.
Keep in mind that you’re starting at about 11,000 ft. above sea level, so if you’re not acclimated to the high elevation this may be more challenging for you.
Regardless of the difficulty, always bring plenty of water, snacks, and weather appropriate hiking gear (I constantly had to shed layers and then reapply them through out this hike).
Reason 3: Amazing views the whole way
The views do not disappoint!
There are some hikes I’ve been on where there’s no view from the top, or maybe there is a lookout at the top but the trail to get there is in the woods the whole time.
This trail is pretty open with little tree coverage, so the views are excellent the entire way up.
Whether you’re a seasoned Colorado hiker or just passing through, Mt. Flora is worth the trip.
