THE BURNING BEAR TRAIL: GUANELLA PASS~GRANT, COLORADO

THE BURNING BEAR TRAIL:
Howdy Everyone!
~There is a camping posting for this weekend also.

~The Burning Bear Trail is one of my top favorite trails to hike. It's a very mellow hike where people can walk side by side with one another.
~I'll update on all weather conditions and temperatures
~Dogs on a leash

~Carpooling: The Fort parking lot located at: 19192 Highway 8, Morrison, CO 80465. Meet at the parking lot at 7:45 and leave no later than 8:00 I won't be able to carpool.

~Drive Southbound U.S. Hwy 285 through Bailey, then continue 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 at a turn in the road. There is a sign and gate on the left (north) side of the road at the trailhead. Parking is available 0.2 miles further at the parking area for the Abyss Lake/Burning Bear East trailhead on the right side of the road

~Remember to cross the road from the Abyss/Burning Bear parking lot where the trailhead for the Burning Bear Trail begins. You’ll see a metal cow guard gate.

~The Burning Bear Trail is a 7.5 mile round-trip hike, moderate hiking rating with an elevation gain of 1,353

From the trailhead gate, the trail leads northwest into an open meadow for about 200 yards and then crosses a bridge over Geneva Creek. From the trailhead we'll come to a fork in the trail that is marked by a sign post.
The first mile is relatively flat. We then leave the meadow area and begin climbing through a stand of lodge-pole pine. At about 2 ½ miles from the trailhead, we'll come to remnants of an old log cabin on the left. Above this point, the trail begins to steepen on a series of switchbacks to the ridge summit at 3.7 miles/7.4 mile round trip.

The high point of the trail is marked by a six-foot dead tree stump having two metal diamond shaped markers. From this ridge, we'll come to Burning Bear Creek where we usually turn around.

I'd ask you to leave comments about discussing carpooling from The Fort Restaurant located at: 19192 CO-8, Morrison, CO 80465.

Have a great week everybody.
Don