Bear Creek National Recreation Trail

Looking back at a section of the ledge trail

A dramatic trail carved into a steep cliff face high above Bear Creek is just one of the highlights of this hike up a beautiful canyon to two scenic mine sites.
See Trail Detail/Full Description

• Distance: 4.4 miles (round trip) to Grizzly Bear Mine
  8.0 miles (round trip) to Yellow Jacket Mine
  
• Elevation: 8,470-ft. at Trailhead
  10,030-ft. at Grizzly Bear Mine
  11,130-ft. at Yellow Jacket Mine
  
• Elevation Gain: 1,560-ft. to Grizzly Bear Mine
  2,660-ft. to Yellow Jacket Mine
  
• Difficulty: moderate-strenuous
• More Hikes in:
  Ouray / Silverton / Southwest Colorado

Why Hike Bear Creek National Recreation Trail

No matter how many times I hike Bear Creek I still marvel at the effort and ingenuity that went into building this trail. In the 1870’s miners discovered large quantities of gold and silver in the Bear Creek basin southeast of Ouray. Accessing the claims proved difficult. A deep gorge, formed by sheer vertical walls rising high above the rugged creek, guarded the entrance to the basin. Building a trail in the steep rocky terrain along the creek bottom was not an option. Instead the miners blasted a narrow ledge into the cliff 700-ft. above the gorge.

Today, the Bear Creek National Recreation Trail follows this amazing route up beautiful Bear Creek Canyon. A series of long switchbacks with wonderful views of the Mt. Sneffels range climb 1,000-ft. up the east side of the Uncompahgre Gorge to reach the traverse of the ledge high above Bear Creek. Beyond Bear Creek’s gorge the trail wanders through forests and alpine meadows beside the creek’s tumbling cascades, visiting two scenic, abandoned mines along the way.

In places the trail is narrow with some exposure. This is not a good trail for small children or anyone with a fear of heights

Elevation Profile

Trail Resources

Trail Detail/Full Description / Trail Photo Gallery / Trail Map

Basecamp(s) Information:
Ouray / Silverton

Region Information:
Southwest Colorado

Other Hiking Regions in:
Colorado