State: Colorado
Location: Pike & San Isabel National Forests
Length, One-Way: 5.5 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 9545 feet
Maximum Elevation: 10740 feet
Best Season: Summer, Fall
Difficulty: More Difficult
Usage: Moderate
Black Bear
Trail Information
The Burning Bear Trail is a pleasant 5.5 mile trail follows the Burning Bear Creek west from Geneva Creek, over a ridge and down the Burning Bear Creek on the west side of the ridge. The creek drains west into the North Fork of the south Platte River in Hall Valley. The trail is accessible for hikers, horses and bicycles. The hike from the Geneva Creek Trailhead to the ridge summit will take about 90 minutes at a moderate pace.
This description of the Burning Bear Trail begins at the east end of the trail at the Geneva Creek Trailhead and proceeds west into Hall Valley. From the trailhead gate the trail leads north west in an open meadow for about 200 yards and then crosses a big bridge over Geneva Creek. About 20 minutes from the trailhead you will come to a fork in the trail that is marked by a sign post. Bear left at this junction. The right fork leads back into the meadow and eastward to the Guanella Pass Road. The first mile is relatively flat. You then leave the meadow area and begin climbing through a stand of lodgepole pine.
At about 2.5 miles from the trailhead, you will come to remnants of an old log cabin on the left. Above this point, the trail becomes steep following a series of switchbacks to the ridge summit at 3.7 miles. A six-foot tree stump that has 2 metal diamond-shaped markers designates the high point of the trail. From this saddle, the trail begins to descend in a general south westerly direction. Fifteen minutes down the ridge you will cross the Burning Bear Creek as it now drains west. From this point, the trail follows the creek to the Hall Valley trailhead on an old road. Approximately 8 minutes from the stream crossing you will pass what remains of another log cabin.
The Burning Bear Trail is identified by diamond shaped metal markers (blue and gray) nailed to trees. The Hall Valley Trailhead (west end of the trail) is marked by sign posted along Park County Road 60.
Directions
This trail has two trail heads. The east end of the trial is in the Geneva Creek Valley adjacent to Park County Road 62. The west end of the trail is located in Hall Valley on Park County Road 60. Changing weather conditions, type of vehicle and intermittent maintenance of Park County Road 60 will dictate access to the west trailhead. For these reasons the access description will be limited to the east trailhead. From Bailey, drive west on U. S. Highway 285 for 10.8 miles to Grant. Turn right (north) on Park County Road 62 (sometimes called the Guanella Pass Road) and drive 4.9 miles to the trailhead. The trailhead is located on the left (west) side of the road on top of the switchbacks and is marked with a cross-country skier symbol. There is limited parking at the trailhead, additional parking is available at the Abyss Lake trailhead 0.2 miles further.
October 17, 2008
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October 21, 2008
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