Description: Several family friendly trails around the parking area and along the creek. Further up, it connects to some very nice trails that have become very popular with mountain bikers. Not too steep climbs, with pretty good footing much of the way. Higher up, the trails connect to O'Fallon and Pence parks. You can even connect to Falcon with a short road section.

Much of the trails are shaded, providing good protection from wind and sun. This means that the trails hold snow through the colder months, and can be icy and muddy. So, we usually avoid this over the winter.

Routes: This is an out-and-back. Use time to determine where to turn. The return trip is 5-10 minutes faster. There is an optional loop for the faster runners.

Head west on the Creekside trail from the lot. Follow the creek, up the canyon, for 1.2 miles (1). Look for the Bear Creek single-track trail coming in from behind you on the left. If you get to the chain across the trail, or hwy 74, you've gone ~30 yards too far. Take a sharp left and head up the Bear Creek Trail. There are mile markers every 1/2 mi, starting from this junction. About 1.3 mi up, it flattens out in a clearing, around a right bend (2). This can be a good place to regroup. About 2 mi up, it crosses a few other trails. Feel free to explore. Remember to stay on the Bear Creek Trail to get back to Lair. Follow the Bear Creek Trail out as far as you want to go, then return the same way.

Fast: A little past the 2 mi marker, as you are coming downhill, look for a small trail (possibly overgrown) and brown marker up the hillside on the left (3). Go left up the steep hill. Continue over the top to the dirt road (4). Take a right down the steep hill for ~1/4mi (5). Then, take a sharp right back onto the Bear Creek Trail. Follow the Bear Creek Trail back.

Jefferson County Park Information on Lair O' The Bear - Updated May 2, 2007