Bear Creek Falls (Telluride)

For other features with similar names, see Bear Creek (disambiguation)

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Difficulty:‌1A I (v1a1 I)

Raps:‌

Metric

Overall:
Approach:	⟷2.4mi	↑1100ft
Exit:	⟷2.4mi	↓1100ft

Red Tape:‌

Shuttle:‌None

Vehicle:Passenger

Rock type:Sandstone

Start:

37.9057, -107.8121

Parking:

37.9348, -107.8118

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Condition Reports:

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Weather:

Weather forecast

Waterflow

Best season:

Apr-Oct

winter				spring				summer				fall
Dec	Jan	Feb		Mar	Apr	May		Jun	Jul	Aug		Sep	Oct	Nov

Regions:

Download: KML / GPX | Open in CalTopo | Printable Map

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Introduction[edit]

While ropewiki is not a hiking website, questions have come up about Bear Creek Falls (Telluride) and if it has been descended as a canyon.

This is a popular hike with a congested trailhead on a nice wide path.

This waterfall is a confirmed nesting site for the Black Swift, listed as a Species of Special Concern by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The swifts migrate from Brazil annually to occupy this site from late May until late September, raising a single chick. The swifts are susceptible to disturbance from human activities near their nests, including noise and movement, direct disturbance or destruction of their nests, and trampling of vegetation. Canyoneering/climbing at this waterfall during the Black Swift nesting season (late May - late September/first frost) is likely to cause direct damage to nests, eggs, and young, and disturb adult swifts enough to cause them to abandon their nest and offspring. Click here for more information on the Black Swift.

Approach[edit]

One could potentially link Upper Bear Creek Falls, Bear Creek Falls and Lower Bear Creek Falls as a waterfall descent by hiking up the Bear Creek Trail from town, then hiking further up on the Wasatch Trail.

Descent[edit]

With considerable stream walking between the drops, the number of people generally taking photos at the base of the falls and with so many better canyoning options nearby, Bear Creek Falls (Telluride) is not known as a canyoning descent.

Wide hiking trail
Bear Creek Falls (about 100')
Lower Bear Creek Falls (about 30')

Exit[edit]

Return the same way on this out and back trail or check out https://ropewiki.com/Little_Hawaii_(Telluride) on the way back, making this a loop trail.

Looking up La Junta Creek from the Bear Creek Trail
Looking up La Junta Creek from the Bear Creek Trail
Looking up La Junta Creek from the Bear Creek Trail

Red tape[edit]

Beta sites[edit]

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/colorado/bear-creek-falls-via-bear-creek-trail

Trip reports and media[edit]

Late season low flow photos from Sept 2020

Background[edit]

Incidents

Credits

Information provided by automated processes. KML map by (unknown). Main photo by (unknown). Authors are listed in chronological order.

In all habitats live animals and plants that deserve respect, please minimize impact on the environment and observe the local ethics. Canyoneering, Canyoning, Caving and other activities described in this site are inherently dangerous. Reliance on the information contained on this site is solely at your own risk. There is no warranty as to accuracy, timeliness or completeness of the information provided on this site. The site administrators and all the contributing authors expressly disclaim any and all liability for any loss or injury caused, in whole or in part, by its actions, omissions, or negligence in procuring, compiling or providing information through this site, including without limitation, liability with respect to any use of the information contained herein. If you notice any omission or mistakes, please contribute your knowledge (more information).