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Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 12 mi (19.3 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation: +551/ -538 ft
Total: 786 riders
Mountain Biking Lair O' The Bear / Bear Creek Trail
#34 of 1,392 mountain bike trails in Colorado
Trail starts with a wide smooth trail leading west out of the parking lot along Bear Creek. Continue on this trail for 1.5 miles to the Bear Creek trailhead. Here the trail switches to singletrack with an initial 1.5 mile climb with a few technical sections and switchbacks . Once at the top continue on the singletrack which has some nice downhill and fast rolling sections. A good climb up to the turnaround point at Parmalee Gultch Road return the way you came. It's just as fun going back.
First added by ameyer on Aug 18, 2004. Last updated May 4, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: yes
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Take I-70 west from Denver to C-470. C-470 east to Morrison Rd. Morrison Rd west for about 7 miles to Lair O' the Bear open space park on the south side of the road.
Featured in
We decided to ride this on a sunny December day against the best judgment of a trusted advisor, and I'm glad we did! This is a really nice trail that was surprisingly snow free. The climb was moderate but steady, at times granny gear steep but very ridable. In the trees on smooth dirt with occasional rocky patches making it interesting. Downhill is fun, fast and mostly a blast. You could ride this at top speed, but there are many trail users that might not like it.
| ThankAbsolutely beautiful trail just outside of Denver. The trail is well marked, excellent speed on the descent and a few technical pieces. Ride it!
| ThankLots of icy patches on BCT but all could be ridden through and the rest of the trail was either dry or just wet. The first mile of double track along the. Reek was flowing water, slush and ice. Definitely sketchy.
| ThankExcellent after work Trail
| ThankSome challenging rock features but you can choose to skip them
Only concern is the quantity of hikers, ergo best to ride early AM or mid day on work days
the downhill gets really fast and flowy hence you need to extra careful with fellow trail users
Great trail, but crowded. Get out early!
| ThankI'm pretty new to mountain biking. Most the trail is pretty chill, but about 3 or 4 sections rocky enough I had to get off the bike and walk through them.
| ThankGreat place for single track riding gets a little rocky and crowded on weekends so get there early
| ThankThis trail is a must-ride in the front range. Just get to the trail hard super early on weekends because the parking lot will fill up fast.
| ThankPretty fun ride with the occasional tech rock. For me it was an hour out and forty-five back so you get the up hill out of the way first with the fun down hill back.
| ThankGreat trail. Lots of trail traffic on the weekend. Go early for parking.
| ThankThe beginning was a bit crowded but once you climbed and got away from the crowds it was nice. I loved how it was in the trees and shade. Lots of climbing and then a quick rush down. Some technical parts, but super easy.
| ThankOne of my favorite rides in the front range! A great descent well earned after the climb. Careful of the really loose sand and dirt on the upper reaches.
| ThankFront range Classic
| ThankI am a novice rider. I just started riding this year, last time I had a bike was early high school. This was my first real mountain bike trip, besides riding dirt trails near Bear Creek Lake. I had a blast on this trail, and I cannot wait until I get out again. I did do the bike hike a couple of times for fear of breaking my face, especially going back down over the rock gardens. I got to this trail at 5:45 am on a Saturday morning and there were only two cars in the lot. On the way back down the lot was full. I believe it is best to get to this trail at the crack of dawn to avoid trail traffic. Anyways, I loved this trail, and I will go back for sure.
| ThankProbably my favorite ride so far on the front range. It has a little bit of everything. A couple of short rock gardens, a hard climb, nice flow after the first 3 miles, and great downhill on the way back. I have not had too much trouble with hikers after the 1st mile, which is really where the MTB trail starts up the mountain. Not that many hikers even go up that route. I have never run into that many people on this trail. I rode it last on July 5th. A lot of traffic on the initial trail out of the parking lot, but not much up the mountain. That was at 2:30 in the afternoon. Great trail to ride in the afternoon because of all the shade.
| ThankLots of people, but it's understandable since it's the day before a holiday. Trail definitely kicked my tail, but I'm very much a beginner. It was a fun challenge and I did do the hike a bike a few times on some technical spots. Getting to go back down is definitely worth the climb.
| ThankI always start this out-back from the Pence Park parking area off of Parmalee Gulch Road. Its a nice trail that is very flowy right away. Your veiws are only that of houses. It's climb alittle go down alittle which is very nice.
| ThankTons of hikers on a weekend, I would stick to weekdays. Due to the out and back, the crowds got tiring creek.
The riding itself was beautiful, fun, and flowy on the downhills. I look forward to riding it again on a weekday.
| Thankreally enjoyable trail, both up and down
pretty, natural environment
enough technical obstacles, without being too much
- quite a bit of traffic, on a weekday
| Thank- only one out-and-back trail on offer
Whoever was in charge of this trail design did a great job building in some flow that makes it really fun for mountain bikers. This is a true multi-use trail, not just a hiking trail that cyclists can use. While I wouldn't describe this trail as technically challenging there are plenty of optional features throughout to keep it interesting, and the rolling flowy upper section is a ton of fun both ways.
| Thank