Site 1
Campground
Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
Colorado · Hiking · Near Idaho Springs
Burning Bear
Photo: jaygannett, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 11.8 mi
- round trip
- 935 ft
- climb
- 10,757 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun, Sep
- best months
Caution at last check
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 18 h ago
Is Burning Bear open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 8 alerts for Pike and San Isabel National Forests.
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Interlaken Hotel Tree Hazards
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Sharpe Fire Update
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Turquoise Lake Road (County Road 4) Closure
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Downed and weakened trees on South Platte Ranger District
Agency alert covering South Platte Ranger District · USFS · South Platte Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Burning Bear is a hard hike in Colorado's Pike and San Isabel National Forests, on the South Platte Ranger District. It is an out-and-back route of about 11.8 miles, rising from a low point of 9,577 feet to a high of 10,757 feet, with a total elevation gain of 935 feet. The trail is on natural surface and open to both horses and bikes. Forest Service manages the land, and the parking area is simply labeled "BURNING BEAR." The trail is open seasonally from about June 16 to March 31. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Cabin Creek weather station, at about 10,000 feet, show July highs near 69°F with lows around 46°F. Winter highs there typically sit near freezing. The Terminal Moraine Interp Loop and Epaulet Mountain both start about 0.1 mile away, and Burning Bear Campground is about 0.2 mile off. Geneva Park Campground lies about 1.5 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsUser:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHistoric house-museum in Georgetown, Colorado, United States
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)
More in Idaho SpringsGo with a guide
- Mineral Belt Trail Guided WalkRoamze · $25 per person · 36 mi away
- Lostfork Basecamp4 mi away
Terminal Moraine Interp LoopHikingPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.1 mi- Epaulet MountainHikingPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.1 mi
- Burning Bear CampgroundCamping0.2 mi
Geneva CreekCanoeingPhoto: Plazak, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)1.3 mi- Geneva Park CampgroundCamping1.5 mi
North Fork South Platte RiverCanoeingPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)3.9 mi- Mount Evans SideRock climbing5.8 mi
The ApronsRock climbingPhoto: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)6.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Abyss LakeHiking · Next doorPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Geneva CreekHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: jaygannett, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Mount Blue Sky RidgeHiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: gregor_y, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Mount EdwardsHiking · ~14 min drivePhoto: QKC, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- WhitesideHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: jaygannett, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Sawtooth Ridge TraverseHiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: versute, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Silver Dollar LakeHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Epaulet MountainHiking · Next doorPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Mount Blue SkyHiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: regexman, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Buno ConnectorHiking · ~4 min drive
Also worth it near here
Best time to visit Burning Bear
Best months: June and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
32° / 12°
8 wet
Feb
31° / 11°
8 wet
Mar
38° / 17°
9 wet
Apr
43° / 23°
10 wet
May
53° / 31°
9 wet
Jun
64° / 40°
9 wet
Jul
69° / 46°
13 wet
Aug
67° / 44°
14 wet
Sep
61° / 38°
10 wet
Oct
50° / 29°
7 wet
Nov
39° / 19°
7 wet
Dec
32° / 12°
8 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cabin Creek, CO, 10 mi away at 10,020 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
