Lair O' The Bear
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Difficulty Rating (1-5 scale, 5 being the most difficult)
Physical: 3
Technical: 2-3
Navigational: 2
Lair is one of the most popular running, hiking and mountain biking trails in the front range. It sits mid-way between Morrison and Evergreen along Bear Creek. After a flat start along the creek, the main trail leaves the creek and climbs through the trees, to the top of Meyer/Parmalee Gulch, with connections to O'Fallon and Corwina parks. Perhaps the reason it is so popular is that the the trail isn't that steep, there are several flat and downhill sections along the way, and the trail is not that rocky. Also, within Lair, there are several hiker only trails that are popular with families. Also, there's fishing along the creek.
Weather and Seasons
The trails are mostly N facing and shaded, so this is primarily a dry season trail. While the shade and water are great in the summer, snow and ice make it difficult in the winter. However, with fresh snow, the trails are fun to run.
Driving Directions
Take hwy 74 ~4.5mi up from Morrison, then turn left into the park. Continue to the far, W end of the dirt lot. Meet by the gate. Bathrooms are off the S side of the other side of the lot.
http://g.co/maps/px5ss
Picnics: For picnics, we'll gather at the picnic tables a bit in from the start, off the N side of the trail.
Running Routes
The route is fairly easy to follow. It's a simple out-and-back on the Bear Creek trail, with few trail crossings. Faster runners may venture off the main trail on longer runs when there's lots of daylight.
Start by the gate at the W end of the lot. We'll start slow, staying together until the bridge crossing the creek. Please stay to the right on the wide trail and be alert for bikers coming the other way. It's 1.2mi along the river. Then make a very sharp left onto the single track (1). If you come to a chain, you've gone a bit too far.
There are mile markers along the single-track every half mile, starting at the bottom of the single-track. The initial climb is 1.3mi and flattens out at a clearing, around a right curve (2). This is a good place to regroup. It's flat to the 1.5mi mark, followed by a long downhill. Just past the bottom (3), faster runners will regroup and go left. All others will continue along the main Bear Creek trail. Use time to determine where to turn. It'll be about 5-10 min faster on the way back. If you see faster runners coming back, it's time to turn around.
For faster runners (level 4-5, when there's time (early/mid-summer), at (3), go left up the very steep, grassy and rocky hill. Continue over the top, then down the other side, ~1/2mi. At (4), go right down the steep, fairly wide path for ~0.2mi. Make a sharp right at (don't cross) the Bear Creek Trail (5), and return back to the start. 1-2-3-4-5-3-2-1. ~7.5mi
For a longer run, at (4), stay left and climb again. At the top (6), you have the option to go right on the short out-and-back trail for a nice view of Mt. Evans. Then continue down the other side on the steep and rocky trail. Make a sharp right at (don't cross) the Bear Creek Trail (7), and return back to the start. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-3-2-1. ~8.75mi
On Thursday nights, DTR has different routes at each run. The different routes are designed so that we can accommodate runners of different speeds and still start/finish at about the same time. See more info on choosing the appropriate route for you.
Physical: 3
Technical: 2-3
Navigational: 2
Lair is one of the most popular running, hiking and mountain biking trails in the front range. It sits mid-way between Morrison and Evergreen along Bear Creek. After a flat start along the creek, the main trail leaves the creek and climbs through the trees, to the top of Meyer/Parmalee Gulch, with connections to O'Fallon and Corwina parks. Perhaps the reason it is so popular is that the the trail isn't that steep, there are several flat and downhill sections along the way, and the trail is not that rocky. Also, within Lair, there are several hiker only trails that are popular with families. Also, there's fishing along the creek.
Weather and Seasons
The trails are mostly N facing and shaded, so this is primarily a dry season trail. While the shade and water are great in the summer, snow and ice make it difficult in the winter. However, with fresh snow, the trails are fun to run.
Driving Directions
Take hwy 74 ~4.5mi up from Morrison, then turn left into the park. Continue to the far, W end of the dirt lot. Meet by the gate. Bathrooms are off the S side of the other side of the lot.
http://g.co/maps/px5ss
Picnics: For picnics, we'll gather at the picnic tables a bit in from the start, off the N side of the trail.
Running Routes
The route is fairly easy to follow. It's a simple out-and-back on the Bear Creek trail, with few trail crossings. Faster runners may venture off the main trail on longer runs when there's lots of daylight.
Start by the gate at the W end of the lot. We'll start slow, staying together until the bridge crossing the creek. Please stay to the right on the wide trail and be alert for bikers coming the other way. It's 1.2mi along the river. Then make a very sharp left onto the single track (1). If you come to a chain, you've gone a bit too far.
There are mile markers along the single-track every half mile, starting at the bottom of the single-track. The initial climb is 1.3mi and flattens out at a clearing, around a right curve (2). This is a good place to regroup. It's flat to the 1.5mi mark, followed by a long downhill. Just past the bottom (3), faster runners will regroup and go left. All others will continue along the main Bear Creek trail. Use time to determine where to turn. It'll be about 5-10 min faster on the way back. If you see faster runners coming back, it's time to turn around.
For faster runners (level 4-5, when there's time (early/mid-summer), at (3), go left up the very steep, grassy and rocky hill. Continue over the top, then down the other side, ~1/2mi. At (4), go right down the steep, fairly wide path for ~0.2mi. Make a sharp right at (don't cross) the Bear Creek Trail (5), and return back to the start. 1-2-3-4-5-3-2-1. ~7.5mi
For a longer run, at (4), stay left and climb again. At the top (6), you have the option to go right on the short out-and-back trail for a nice view of Mt. Evans. Then continue down the other side on the steep and rocky trail. Make a sharp right at (don't cross) the Bear Creek Trail (7), and return back to the start. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-3-2-1. ~8.75mi
On Thursday nights, DTR has different routes at each run. The different routes are designed so that we can accommodate runners of different speeds and still start/finish at about the same time. See more info on choosing the appropriate route for you.