Route:

updated 10/06

Bear Creek Lake Park has some surprisingly fun trails. The trails are mostly flat, except for the climb to Mt. Carbon, and the North Park Trail area. The City of Lakewood regularly updates the trail system, so there may be some changes to the map and descriptions.

Bad Weather Running: It's a good winter location. The footing stays pretty good, even on snow and ice. If the trails are muddy, we stick to the roads and bike paths.

Elevation (approx)
Start: 5,760'
High: 5,780'/5,560'

Start: Dirt lot at the corner of Morrison and Rooney Roads, just W of C-470, just across from the gas station.

Routes
Trail: Carefully cross Rooney Road to the bike path. Head down the bike path, go left, and cross under C-470 into the park. Before the park road [1], go right on the bike path, across the bridge, then an immediate left onto the trail. Follow the trail to Skunk Hollow [2]. Here we split.

Slower runners go straight across the road, and pick up the trail (white line) along the S side of Bear Creek.

Faster runners cross to the right, and head up the hill to the next junction [3]. Here, you can take a sharp left, through the horse fence, and down the hill. Or, continue straight to the next left, then down. Merge with the slower runners and go right.

Where the trail opens up [4], slower runners stay straight, faster runners go left. Slower runners continue past the exercise stations, up the hill, around a horseshoe curve (please don't cut the trail), and down to the picnic shelter and volleyball court. Faster runners will follow the white and/or blue Cottonwood Trail to the same point.

Cross the dirt lot, staying to the right, upper side. At the other end, run between some boulders, and down the trail to Turkey Creek [5]. There's a new footbridge across the creek. Slower runners should cross the bridge. Then go left to the base of Mt. Carbon [6]. Go left, and follow the road around the lake. At the S end [7], you can go left on the trail, or continue up the hill another 100 yards, then go left on the road. Follow either one W, back past the park entrance, and to the start.

At Turkey Creek [5], faster runners usually go right (they may cross here if running behind the dam). Follow the horse trail up the hill, then down, alongside the creek, to the paved bike path [10]. Go left across the bridge, then an immediate left on the trail. Then, you can either stay left on the single track, or take the wider path, Cowen Trail. Continue out to the base of Mt. Carbon.

From there, one option is to climb up Mt. Carbon, then follow the Carbon Loop trail, behind the back of the dam, by the golf course, then back up the path on the S side. The trail no longer accesses the top of the dam, so this is a much longer route. When you get back to Mountain View, you can follow the road (black line) or trails (white and red line) W, alongside the N side of Bear Creek, back to the start.

The other option is to go left around the lake. Then, you can play on some of the North Park Trails at [8] or [9].

Road option: If it's muddy, please stick to the pavement. Follow the same start as above, but stay straight, rather than crossing the bridge [1]. Enter the park road (black line), and pass the toll booth. Stay left at the start line, and continue on the road to the base of the dam, Mountain View.

Slower runners should turn around here, and return the same way to the start.

Intermediate runners should go right, around the chain, and across the lake [7]. At the base of Mt. Carbon [6], continue up the road to the bike path [11]. Go right on the bike path (Bear Creek Trail), and follow it all the way back to the beginning bridge [1], and the start.

Faster runners may go left at Mountain View, and go out-and back to the top of the dam, or possibly down the bike path to the golf course. Upon returning to Mountain View, follow the intermediate route to the bike path.

Photo - : Looking North West towards the Dakota Ridge Hogback (see white angled line right side),