The Burning Bear Trailhead provides access to the Burning Bear Trail. This trail description begins at the east end of the trail at the Abyss Lake Trailhead and proceeds west to the Burning Bear Trailhead. From the east trailhead gate, the trail leads northwest 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 hand 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 lodge-pole pine. At about 2 ½ miles from the trailhead, you will 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. The high point of the trail is marked by a six-foot dead tree stump having two metal diamond shaped markers. From this ridge, you will cross the Burning Bear Creek as it now drains west. From this point, the trail follows the creek all the way to the Hall Valley trailhead on what appears to be an old road. About 8 minutes below the stream crossing, you will pass by remains of another old log cabin. The trail is identified by diamond shaped metal markers nailed to trees along the way. Most of the markers are blue, the remainder being a gray color. The Burning Bear Trailhead (west end of the trail) is marked by signs posted along Park County Road #60.
Directions
From Bailey drive west on U.S. Hwy 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.