City Lights Ridge–Black Bear Trail, 8 sights
14.7 mi · ▲ 3,326 ft · 6 hr 34 min
City Lights Ridge–Black Bear Trail, 8 sights is a 14.7-mile out-and-back in Golden Gate Canyon State Park near Cottonwood, CO. The route reaches City Lights Ridge at the turnaround, 7.4 miles in. It climbs 3,326 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 56/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
City Lights Ridge–Black Bear Trail, 8 sights
14.7 mi · ▲ 3,326 ft · 6 hr 34 min
Elevation 8,132–9,382 ft
Out & Back · Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Trailhead: Black Bear Trail · 39.83298, -105.40853
Weather Sep 4: Drizzle, high 80°F / low 52° · precip 15% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:30 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Black Bear Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Horseshoe Trail, heading NE.
- 2 miBear right onto Mule Deer Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Coyote/Mule Deer Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Mule Deer Trail, heading W.
- 1.2 miContinue straight onto Snowshoe Hare Connector To Mule Deer Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Service Road, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Snowshoe Hare Connector To Mule Deer Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Snowshoe Hare Access Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Aspen Meadows Campground Road, heading N.
- 200 ftBear left onto Snowshoe Hare Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Aspen Meadows Campground Road, heading E.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Snowshoe Hare Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Buffalo Trail, heading E.
- 1.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Mountain Lion Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Burro To City Lights Ridge Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miReach City Lights Ridge, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Mountain Lion Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn left onto Buffalo Trail, heading NW.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 1.2 miTurn left onto Snowshoe Hare Trail, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Aspen Meadows Campground Road, heading W.
- 200 ftBear left onto Snowshoe Hare Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
- 200 ftBear right onto Snowshoe Hare Access Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Aspen Meadows Campground Road, heading W.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Snowshoe Hare Connector To Mule Deer Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Service Road, heading S.
- 100 ftSharp left onto Snowshoe Hare Connector To Mule Deer Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Mule Deer Trail, heading W.
- 1.2 miSharp left, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Coyote/Mule Deer Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Mule Deer Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Horseshoe Trail, heading S.
- 2 miTurn left onto Black Bear Trail, heading SE.
- 200 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Black Bear Trail Trailhead
- Black Bear Trail & Horseshoe Trail 3.6 mi · ▲ 913 ft
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