What is the best way to get to the Beartown TH
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- Hoot
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Re: What is the best way to get to the Beartown TH
Thanks Matt!
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Re: What is the best way to get to the Beartown TH
Was at that trailhead in mid August, A 4x4 4runner won't have an issue getting to the trailhead coming from either direction. As a time reference it took us 5 1/2 hours to get to the trialhead from Gunnison via rio grande side non stop and about 4.5 hours (with stopping and sitting down for dinner) to go back over stony pass/Silverton to Gunnison. Stony pass is highly recommended.
- TravelingMatt
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Re: What is the best way to get to the Beartown TH
I think I'd go Stony --> Cinnamon --> Lake City --> Gunnison with that kind of vehicle, but perhaps you wanted to hit the Ouray Brewery or somesuch.Garrett wrote:Was at that trailhead in mid August, A 4x4 4runner won't have an issue getting to the trailhead coming from either direction. As a time reference it took us 5 1/2 hours to get to the trialhead from Gunnison via rio grande side non stop and about 4.5 hours (with stopping and sitting down for dinner) to go back over stony pass/Silverton to Gunnison. Stony pass is highly recommended.
I got to Ouray via Stony in just over two hours IIRC. I was not parked all the way in on the Beartown road, but that included a brief stop in Silverton and construction on 550.
You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough. -- William Blake
- Hoot
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Re: What is the best way to get to the Beartown TH
Thanks for the time reference Garrett. I won't be going through Gunnison, but based on 3 hours from Gunnison to Rio Grande Reservoir (Google Maps), I'll estimate about 1.5 hours from the reservoir to Beartown. That should get me to Beartown around sunset. My goal is to be past Timber Hill before dark.Garrett wrote:As a time reference it took us 5 1/2 hours to get to the trialhead from Gunnison via rio grande side non stop
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Re: What is the best way to get to the Beartown TH
1.5 hours is probably reasonable. Plenty of good camp spots to be had once you turnoff toward Beartown. Good luck on Jagged, it's well worth the effort.
- Hoot
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Re: What is the best way to get to the Beartown TH
I enjoyed Jagged 9 years ago. I'm going for the lesser climbed eastern Grenadiers on this trip. Thanks.Garrett wrote:Good luck on Jagged, it's well worth the effort.
- GeorgiaTyler
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Re: What is the best way to get to the Beartown TH
silverton -> stony. easy and awesome. if you fish the headwaters of the rio grande is amazing. plus you can climb canby mtn and stoney pass peak 13k
Climb up Pints down
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Re: What is the best way to get to the Beartown TH
Gotcha, original poster was doing Jagged. Lesser climbed Grenadiers are even better.Hoot wrote:I enjoyed Jagged 9 years ago. I'm going for the lesser climbed eastern Grenadiers on this trip. Thanks.Garrett wrote:Good luck on Jagged, it's well worth the effort.
- Hoot
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Re: What is the best way to get to the Beartown TH
Here's a quick report on the road from Rio Grande Reservoir to Beartown from last week. The road is narrow and does get very rough around Timber Hill but was not a problem for my 4Runner. The leaves along the way were spectacular! Here are my times driving fairly conservatively.
- Creede to Beartown Continental Divide trailhead: 51 miles, 3 hours
- Route 149 to Beartown Trailhead: 31.7 miles (all dirt), 2 hours, 40 min
- Ute Creek Trailhead (west end of Rio Grande Reservoir) to approach intersection (rough 4WD): 9.2 miles, 1 hour, 25 min
- Approach intersection (near Rio Grande River crossing) to Beartown Trailhead (4WD): 5.16 miles, 45 min
- Creede to Beartown Continental Divide trailhead: 51 miles, 3 hours
- Route 149 to Beartown Trailhead: 31.7 miles (all dirt), 2 hours, 40 min
- Ute Creek Trailhead (west end of Rio Grande Reservoir) to approach intersection (rough 4WD): 9.2 miles, 1 hour, 25 min
- Approach intersection (near Rio Grande River crossing) to Beartown Trailhead (4WD): 5.16 miles, 45 min
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Re: What is the best way to get to the Beartown TH
Hoot, when are you going next week. Myself and a superior hiker to me are planning same and would like to go via RGR due to not the longer time to Silverton, but all the road closures on I70 and US 50. Maybe we could pool.
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Re: What is the best way to get to the Beartown TH
- Hoot
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Re: What is the best way to get to the Beartown TH
Hi Beth. Yep. Sorry I won't be headed there next week. Beautiful area though!