| About Pike National Forest |
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| Burning Bear Trail |
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Length, One-way:
5.5 Miles
Usage:
Moderate
USGS Maps:
Quads: Mt. Evans, Montezuma, Jefferson
Trail Number:
601
Recommended Season:
Summer
High Point:
10,740 Feet
Handicapped Accessible:
no
Ending Elevation:
9,545 Feet
Elevation Gain:
1,180 Feet
Beginning Elevation:
9,560 Feet
Difficulty:
Easy
Reservation:
No
Season:
Late Spring - Late Fall
From Bailey, Western Trailhead: From Bailey drive west on Highway 285 for 14.9 miles. Turn right (north) on Park County Road 60 (also designated as Forest Service Road 120) and drive 3 miles to a parking area on the left side of the road. The upper parts of Park County Road 60 are not recommended for low clearance vehicles, but the portion up to this trailhead is accessible to all vehicles.
Location Information
This 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. Allow approximately 2.5 - 3 hours to hike the entire trail. The hike from the Geneva Creek Trailhead to the ridge summit will take about 90 minutes at a moderate pace. This trail description 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 by 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 the remains of another log cabin. The 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.
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