Jones Park via Bear Creek Canyon

Bear Creek Trail (Trail #666) is a intermediate hike through a nice canyon that was part of old trail going up to Pikes Peak. You can either start where Gold Camp Road meets High Drive or drive the one way gravel High Drive from Cheyenne Canyon and save about one mile of hiking. The trail climbs through the forest, then the canyon opens up on the right side sloping sharply down. After passing Josephine Falls the trail stays closer to the creek. The trail ends when it meets Jones Park Trail (also known as Captain Jacks trail). Do not cross the stream, continue straight on trail #667. You will pass an old mining tunnel. Eventually you will reach a nice meadow in the valley called Jones Park. From there you can take number of other trails (continue on Jones Park trail, 7 Bridges, Pipeline Trail...) or summit some peaks in vicinity (Mount Kineo, Mount Arthur, Mount Garfield).

Directions: Take US-24 west and turn left on S 26th street. Drive for about 2.4 miles and park at the Bear Creek Park parking lot on the side of the street. Then hike via High Drive until you reach trail head in one mile. Alternate approach is to drive through N Cheyenne Canyon road past Helen Hunt falls all the way until you reach High Drive. This is a one way unpaved gravel road with bunch of switchbacks. Drive 2.4 miles and then park on the side by the trail head sign. This road may be closed in winter.