Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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39.98220°N / 105.3019°W |
Route Type:
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Hike |
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Time Required:
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Half a day |
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Difficulty:
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Class 2 - Trail |
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Approach
See the GETTING THERE section on the main page.
Start from the NCAR Mesa TH for the most direct route, or from Chatutauqua Park and follow the Mesa Trail south for 2-3 miles.
Route Description
This description is for hikes starting from the NCAR mesa trailhead.
From NCAR, follow the NCAR trail (weather discovery trail) west a couple hundred yards to a trailhead sign / sign for Mesa Trail. Follow this trail west, climb past a water tank and continue to trail junction. It is approx 1/2 mile from the start to here. Take the left fork downhill about .1 miles to another junction (Mallory Cave / Mesa Trail junction). Turn left and hike approx .3 miles to a junction with a wide dirt path. Take a right and continue .4 miles to the Bear Canyon Trail. Take a right and follow the Bear Canyon trail for 1.7 miles west to the junction of the Bear Peak West Ridge and Green Bear trails. Take a right on the Green Bear trail and follow this north for .6 miles. At the next junction, go right, and continue about .2 miles to the summit.
Descend the same way, or take one of the trails heading off to the north (Ranger Trail, Greenman Trail to Saddle Rock Trail) to Gregory Canyon, then back to the Mesa Trail at Chautauqua meadows for a long 'Tour de Green'.
Total distance to summit: 3.8 miles (7.6 miles roundtrip, if descending the same way).
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Essential Gear
Standard hiking gear for a day hike is recommended. The small instep style crampons that runners use are handy in the winter if the trail is icy. The trail crosses and recrosses Bear Creak numerous times, so waterproof shoes may be handy, although it's generally easy to hop across on rocks.
Miscellaneous Info
If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.