Burning Bear Trail

Trail Information:
This pleasant 5.5 mile trail follows Burning Bear Creek west from Geneva Creek, over a ridge, and down Lamping Creek on the west side of the ridge. Lamping Creek drains west into the North Fork of the South Platte River in Hall Valley. The trail is accessible for hikers, horses and bicycles. Allow approximately 2.5 - 3 hours to hike the entire trail. The hike from the trailhead on Geneva Creek to the ridge summit will take about 90 minutes at a moderate pace.

Description:
This trail description begins at the east end of the trail at the Geneva Creek Trailhead and proceeds west into Hall Valley. From the trailhead gate the trail leads north west in an open meadow for about 200 yards and then crosses a large 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 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 lodgepole pine. At about 2.5 miles from the trailhead you will come to remnants of an old log cabin on the left. Above this point the trail becomes steep by a series of switchbacks to the ridge summit at 3.7 miles. A six-foot tree stump that has 2 metal diamond-shaped markers designates the high point of the trail. From this saddle, the trail begins to descend in a southwesterly direction. Fifteen minutes down the ridge you will cross Lamping Creek as it drains west. From this point, the trail follows the creek to the Hall Valley trailhead on an old road. 10 minutes from the stream crossing you will pass the remains of another log cabin. The trail is identified by diamond shaped metal markers (blue and gray) nailed to trees. The trailhead in Hall Valley at the west end of the trail is marked by a sign posted along Park County Road 60.