Burning Bear Trail #601

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From Burning Bear Trail #601, 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 visitors 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. Visitors then leave the meadow area and begin climbing through a stand of lodgepole pine. At about 2.5 miles from the trailhead visitors 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 general south westerly direction. Fifteen minutes down the ridge visitors will cross the Burning Bear Creek as it now drains west. From this point the trail follows the creek to the Hall Valley trailhead on an old road. Approximately 8 minutes from the stream crossing visitors will pass the remains of another log cabin. The trail is identified by diamond shaped metal markers (blue and gray) nailed to trees. The Hall Valley Trailhead (west end of the trail) is marked by sign posted along Park County Road 60.

This 5.5-mile trail ranges in difficulty from easy to difficult. Elevation on the trail begins at 9,560 feet and climbs to 10,740 and finally descends to 9,545 feet.