Pike National Forest
Burning Bear Trail #601

The Burning Bear Trail is about 5.5 miles long and is rated as everything: from easy to difficult to most difficult. The trail is used most in the summer and early fall.

Elevations:

• Trail beginning: 9,620'
• High Point: 10,740'
• Trail ending: 9,540'

Access: The east trailhead is located about 0.2 miles west of the Abyss Lake Trailhead: Go to Grant on US 285, turn north on Park County 62 (the Guanella Pass Road) and go 5.5 miles, the trailhead is on the right side just before the Burning Bear Campground. The west trailhead is in the Hall Valley on Park County Road 60, about 2 miles north of US 285.

Notes: As this trail climbs over a ridge (with some serious switchbacks on the eastern side), you might want to allow 3 hours to hike it one way. From the east trailhead gate, the route passes through an open meadow and then crosses a large bridge over Geneva Creek. Another few minutes of crossing meadow and you'll come to a fork in the path: go left. The first mile is pretty flat, then you reach a stand of lodgepole pine and start heading up. Another 1.5 miles brings you to an old log cabin and the bottom of the switchbacks. About 3.7 miles from the trailhead you'll gain the summit of the ridge (marked by a 6-foot tree stump sporting 2 metal diamond-shaped markers). 15 minutes later you should be almost down the other side and crossing Lamping Creek. From here you'll follow an old road down to the trailhead in the Hall Valley.

USGS Maps: Montezuma, Mount Evans, Jefferson