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Bear Creek National Recreation Trail
Follows the path forged by miners looking to extract and transport gold in the 1800s.
Guide Sections
Use Bear Creek National Recreation Trail's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.
Bear Creek National Recreation Trail Details
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
3.5
Estimated time
Region
N/A
Bear Creek National Recreation Trail follows the path forged by miners looking to extract and transport gold in the 1800s. The first portion of the trail is filled with switchbacks and moderate elevation gain. Expansive views of the rugged Sneffels Range can be seen along this section of the trail. From here, the trail can get narrow at points, and with loose rocks and steep sides, hikers need to be aware of the dangerous terrain. The trail flattens at points, meandering through woods and meadows, and passing 2 abandoned mines--the Grizzly Bear, and the Yellow Jacket Mines. For hikers planning more than a day hike, not far beyond the Yellow Jacket mine is the Horsethief trail, which leads to a popular spot referred to as the 'Bridge of Heaven.'