Hiking – Lair o' the Bear Park

MEET PROMPTLY AT 9:30 a.m. Parking lot across from Rocket Gas, Morrison exit from 470.

From I-470, take Morrison exit west, and immediate right turn towards Rocket Gas and RIGHT AGAIN into gravel parking lots EAST across the street from Rocket Gas Station. Try for gravel lot furthest right. My car is a chocolate brown 2019 Subaru Outback.  
CALL 720.278.4770 if you can't find us or need to cancel!

No family? Don't want parking hassles or too many people at Wash Park's Turkey Trot? Let's get Thanksgiving exercise with a small group and a shorter hike/walk at nearby, comforting and beautiful Lair O The Bear, Jeffco's Open Space Park (Varied terrain/trees!). Pace is relaxed, casual but YOU NEED SPIKES (Poles help!) as path is snow-packed, icy! Allow three hours (10am to 1pm?) for possible 6 mi of entire park IF conditions allow and we choose to do it all! Obviously, less time if we do 3 mi! Either choice is enjoyable!

Depending on snow conditions we'll choose one of these (Group chooses!):
1) We walk east on fishing paths along burbling Bear Creek (or on regular path above) to Little Park and back. Then UP to Bruin's Bluff (The only UP but it's gentle! 277 ft elev gain.). Ups/downs on its top, also gentle. At bottom, we head west to Creekside Loop along Bear Creek. Approx 3 mi if we stop after Creekside! 
2) Or continue west past Dunafon's Stone Castle to pond at west end of path and back straight to parking lot (This completes the whole park, about 6 mostly easy, flat miles except for Bruin's gentle UP!!).
3) Or depending again on snow conditions, we only walk west, include Creekside Loop along Bear Creek, and then on west, past Dunafon Stone Castle to pond at west end and back to parking! Approx 3 mi! We need your FLEXIBILITY as snow conditions and group determine how far we'll walk and which path! Should be a fun Thanksgiving jaunt!