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Geoff Weatherford (geoffw)  > Colorado Trail Hiking > Ute Pass, with Conor and the bears, Zirkel Wilderness, CO August 2, 2007
Hiking with my son, Conor, in the Zirkel Wilderness area, CO. We went up Bear Creek, crossed Ute Pass, and then down Ute Creek. Please go to my trail blogging site (opens a new window) for a full description of the trip.
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Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > Photo of the early part of the trail number 1126.  Trail number 1126 goes all along the eastern side of the Zirkels and offers access to the other trails that actually go into the Zirkel Wilderness area.
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > The trail started off pretty nice.  Lots of aspen with just a gradual climb.  No other people on the trail then, or later.
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > Lots of small lakes in the area.
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > Trail number 1126 is a "multiple-use" trail.  Which means at some times during the year you can use motorcycles and ATVs on the trail.  So, this trail allows access to a large part of the wilderness that cannot be reached any other way since access roads to the area are fairly restricted (due to all the ranches).  That said, this trail sees minimal use in many areas, and then only during the hunting season.  I would rate the Ute Creek and Bear Creek trails as very "under utilized". 
The trail meandered past many of the beaver ponds in the area.
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > After a couple of miles (the exact length is heavily debated; depending on if the measuring is done at the beginning of the hike or the end of the hike), we came to one of the few signs we would see during the day.  Yes, this was the Zirkel Wilderness entrance.  Note how exactly "which" entrance is somehow missing?
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > The Bear Creek trail (or, my assumption is that it was the Bear Creek trail) followed a pretty stream up into a relatively narrow mountain valley.  It was very nice and the time went fast. 
We came upon the ruins of a cabin that, based on some nearby mine tailings, had probably been used by miners.  Conor takes a quick peek inside.
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > Conor managed to spot several grouse during the hike.  Here is one of them.
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > At times the trail led through fairly thick growth...........
Geoff Weatherford (geoffw) > OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Photo of the early part of the trail number 1126. Trail number 1126 goes all along the eastern side of the Zirkels and offers access to the other trails that actually go into the Zirkel Wilderness area.
 > Photo of the early part of the trail number 1126.  Trail number 1126 goes all along the eastern side of the Zirkels and offers access to the other trails that actually go into the Zirkel Wilderness area.
Photo of the early part of the trail number 1126. Trail number 1126 goes all along the eastern side of the Zirkels and offers access to the other trails that actually go into the Zirkel Wilderness area.
Camera: Olympus Corporation (C770uz) |
More details: exif |
Original size: 3000px x 4009px |
Current: 225px x 300px |
Other sizes: Small • M • L |
Keywords: rocky pass bear colorado creek mountains ute wilderness zirkel hiking hike
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