BEWARE THE BEAR TRAIL RACES
Sunday, Oct 15, 2023
Bear Creek Lake Park, Lakewood, CO
The original Bear Creek Lake Park trail race - the one with the best courses, and the best prices.
5km. 14.2km. 5+14.2 Double. Free Kids 1km.
2022 Results
5k
14.2k
5+14.2 Double
Courses: 5k, 14.2k, Kids 1k
Almost all dirt courses, single and double track, on a mix of short, steep hills, rollers, and not quite flat terrain. A great introduction to real trail racing for trail novices, with just enough of a challenge to keep veterans on their toes.
All courses will be well marked with a Won't-Get-Lost guarantee.
5+14.2 Double means running the 5km race, taking a short break, then running the 14.2km race.
Race day schedule
These are approximate:
7:00 - Park gates open.
7:30 - Packet pick up and race day registration begins.
8:20 - 5km & double reg and pick up ends.
8:30 - 5km race starts.
9:05* - 14.2km reg and pick up ends.
9:10* - Kids 1km starts.
9:20* - 14.2km race starts
*Times are approximate, based on the status of prior races. If there are no kids, the 14.2km pickup will end and race will start early.
Volunteers
Volunteers are needed for registration and pickup, parking, finish line, and aid stations. Volunteers can race for free (limited to need).
Directions and Parking
Bear Creek Lake Park is located at 15600 W. Morrison Rd, just E of the town of Morrison, Red Rocks Ampitheatre, and the Bandimere Speedway. Take hwy C470 to the Morrison exit. Go E 1/3 mi to the park entrance. Turn R into the park.
The races start/finish at Coyote Crossing. Proceed past the toll booth (tell them you're with the race so you don't have to pay), Go left at the Y after the toll booth. Head E ~1.3 mi. Take the first left up a steep hill.
Please carpool to reduce your environmental impact.
5KM COURSE
~350' of climbing
No Aid Station for 2020.
No cut-off, but anyone not finished before subsequent races start may be held for a minute or two ~1/3mi before the finish.
Opening loop: Both the 5km and 14.25km will follow this opening ~0.6mi loop. Start just E of the dirt parking lot by the pavilion. Head down the wide dirt road, Just before the gates at the bottom, go left onto the single track and across the footbridge. Shortly thereafter, go left at the fork heading back towards the W. Cross the footbridge and continue up the trail. As the trail flattens out, stay left at the fork and head back toward the pavilion.
Big loop: Continue past the finish, around the N side of the pavilion. Veer left onto the single track and follow it around the back stop and the S side of the meadow. At the W end of the meadow, take a sharp left down the short, steep, and rocky trail.; this is different than the 5km. Take a sharp right at the bottom up a ~7% grade. The trail curves right at the top. Continue E to the footbridge. Go left across the bridge then right on the other side.
Follow the double track path along the canal N and out towards Morrison Road. Go right on the trail alongside Morrison Rd, across the culvert.
On the other side of the culvert (no aid station for 2020), go right, downhill, back into the park. Continue down the trail along the W side of an open meadow. Take the first left at the NW corner of the bottom of the bluff.
Climb the steep hill, 15%-20%. Stay left as the trail starts to flatten out. There's a short, steep drop, then a fairly flat stretch along the N side of the bluff. The trail veers right and drops into a small canyon. It curves right at the bottom of canyon to a fast and gradual downhill double track. Take a sharp right at the next trail junction. This trail climbs ~7% for ¼mi. It flattens out below the top of the bluff. At the 3-way junction, take a left and head downhill. Stay straight through the first trail junction. Go right at the next.
This will take you onto the trail you took on the opening loop, across the footbridge, left at the fork, then to the finish at the pavilion.
14.2KM COURSE
~850' of climbing
Aid Stations for 2020: By the finish between laps, approx 4.70mi.
Cut-off: 1:15 (that's 1 hr 15 min from the start, not 1:15pm) at the end of the first big loop, approx 4.70mi, ~16:00/mi pace.
Opening loop: Both the 5km and 14.25km will follow the same opening ~0.6mi loop. *Start at the W end of the ballfield. The start will be cross-country style, spread wide across the field. Head E towards and around the N side of the pavilion. Go right past the parking lot chain, then left on the wide dirt road, Take the dirt road down the steep hill. Just before the gates at the bottom, go left onto the single track and across the footbridge. Shortly thereafter, go left at the fork heading back towards the W. Cross the footbridge and continue up the trail. As the trail flattens out, stay left at the fork and head back to the pavilion.
*The start may be moved to the 5km start to accommodate COVID start waves.
After the opening loop, do 2x the big loop.
Big loop, ~4.1mi: Continue past the finish, around the N side of the pavilion. Veer left onto the single track and follow the trail around the back stop and the S side of the meadow. At the W end of the meadow, take a sharp left down the short, steep, and rocky trail.; this is different than the 5km. Take a sharp right at the bottom up a ~7% grade. The trail curves right at the top. Continue E to the footbridge. Go left across the bridge, then left on the other side.
Follow the double track service road as it rolls to the W. It dips in the middle, then continues W out towards Morrison Rd. Go through the gate, then take a sharp right onto a single track. Follow this flattish trail back to the E alongside Morrison Rd. The trail splits as you come to the W side of the bluff. Veer right at the fork, and follow the fence line to the top of the bluff. The climb starts moderately steep, nearly levels off, then 10%+ to the top. The trail turns right at the top, through the fence line. It descends 15%+ steep and rocky at first, gradually flattening out. At the end of the single track, go left onto the wide, dirt path (merging with the 5km course).
Follow the double track path along the canal N and out towards Morrison Road. Go right on the trail alongside Morrison Rd, across the culvert. On the other side of the culvert, (no aid station for 2020), go right, downhill, back into the park. Continue down the trail along the W side of an open meadow. Take the first left at the NW corner of the bottom of the bluff.
Climb the steep hill, 15%-20%. Stay left as the trail starts to flatten out. There's a short, steep drop, then a fairly flat stretch along the N side of the bluff. The trail veers right and drops steeply into a small canyon. It curves right at the bottom of canyon to a fast and gradual downhill double track. Take a sharp right at the next trail junction. This trail climbs ~7% for ¼mi. It flattens out below the top of the bluff. At the 3-way junction, take a left and head downhill. Stay straight through the first trail junction. Go right at the next. This will take you onto the trail you took on the opening loop, across the footbridge, left at the fork, then to the pavilion.
Do the big loop twice. After the second loop, stay right to cross the finish line.
KIDS 1KM RUN
The kids race is FREE. It will not be individually timed or scored. They will follow the opening loop, downhill on the dirt road, back up on single track. Parents are encouraged to accompany their kids on the run.
