The Bear Creek Falls hike leads through a beautiful area with wonderful views of the town of Telluride and the rocky peaks to the north. Aspen groves along the way color the trail in fall. This 5-mile round-trip hike nets 1,100 feet of elevation gain and rewards visitors with terrific perspectives on the 80-foot Bear Creek Falls.
The trail starts right off South Pine Street in downtown Telluride. Parking can be difficult at times, especially in the summer, thus it is often better to park at the Mountain Village and ride the free gondola to town (note seasonal closures, especially at the end of the fall season, before the ski season begins). The trail begins immediately after you cross the bridge over the San Miguel River and enter the Bear Creek Preserve. The preserve covers 320 acres of Bear Creek Canyon, and it was established in 1995 through a partnership between the Town of Telluride and the San Miguel Conservation Foundation.
The broad path follows the creek south for just over 2.5 miles. While most people hike the trail, some choose to jog or mountain bike. Some spots offer great views of the creek and the ragged rock peaks to the east and south. About half way up, as the creek bends and the trail opens into a beautiful meadow, people have made many rock cairns by balancing rocks into small towers and arches.
In fall the trail is in the shade for most of the morning, which can be great, but make sure to dress appropriately. There are a couple of smaller falls along the way, but the 80-foot-tall waterfalls, with moss-covered rocks at the base, are the prize after the hike up. The Wasatch Trail continues, though, and it is possible to cross the pass and get to the small mountain town of Ophir. After the hike back to town, there are plenty of options to grab a bite or a drink.
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