A very nice park and place to get on some trails. I like getting out in nature every now and then and this was a perfect place to do so. The weather was gorgeous on the day that I went with friends and a local pup. Once we arrived, we were able to quickly find a parking spot. We trekked about 3 miles on a very easy trail and I may have broke a small sweat. There a few creeks and lots of greenery adding to the outdoor beauty and ambiance. I didn't see much wild life but it was still great. I was so busy enjoying myself that I didn't think to take a single picture. I see why it is such an attraction and would definitely consider coming back. read more

The trail was closed when I showed up but there was no indication on the website. It looked like an easy hike. The water levels are super low right now so getting in the creek was only half the joy. But I made the most of it. Nice little easy hike. read more

This is a nice flat nature walk and an avid spot for mountain biking. Parking fills up very quick so I recommend starting early. It was a great start to our day of hiking as it was not intense at all and just a relaxing nature walk. read more

Lair o' the Bear Park - Hiking Near Me - Idledale, Colorado

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This is a beautiful park that's suitable for easy hikes with kids- we had our 5 yo and newborn in a stroller. Although we couldn't do everything with the stroller, we were able to explore the main trail (packed dirt). We saw several families with their bikes and it's leashed dog friendly. The pit toilets were seriously the nicest I've ever seen- impressive! Glad this park is close to home- we'll definitely be back! read more

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This was a very beautiful and beginner friendly hike. A lot of shaded areas. I loved seeing the different creeks. We even got to see a castle. read more

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Absolutely stunning- plenty of shade, family and dog friendly. Mixed use so occasionally you get scared by bikes, but worth it for the beauty. Gets REALLY busy, even at 9am on a Saturday, so get there earlier than you expect. Love the castle at the end of the trail as well as the more moderate hikes toward the end of the trail. Super fun! read more

Lair o' the Bear Park - Hiking Near Me - Idledale, Colorado

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I love this one on repeat and recently my kids got into biking at 4/6 and now we bike it! It's awesome and if you don't make it get that's ok cause there plenty of water to fish in and jump in! read more

This is such a great place to have an evening picnic, go bike riding or just walking around enjoying nature and the view. read more

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This was my first hike at Bear creek. Now I understand why this is such a popular area. It is great for kids as it is a mild hike with not much incline. We first took the bear creek trail to the private castle. It was icy and many people were wearing tracks but we did not. Due to the short distance we opted for doing part of the bluff trail as well. If we had more time we would have completed that trail or done a large loop. read more

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Great snow hike. Def bring micro spikes as the trail is really icy right now. Views at the top are spectacular and peaceful. Great parking lot. Make sure you know where you are going or have navigation like a garmin or AllTrails. read more

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This hiking spot on the west side of greater Denver is truly one of my top favorites. You can choose between trails with mild elevation gain or opt for flatter paths, all offering beautiful views. With numerous spots along the creek, it's a perfect retreat not far from the city. I love that this trail easily connects with other parks. The best moments to visit, in my opinion, are early in the morning or during the evening when the light creates a special ambiance. read more

I find it odd to review a hiking trail/park on Yelp. But here we are--largely because this is such a fun, local spot. Judging by the crowds on sunny days, I'd say most people know about it already. That being said, Lair O' the Bear is such a versatile find. By that I mean that it's relatively flat (easy for newbies or guests to town) but I can be challenging if you opt for the high routes; the park has lots of spots to play in the water or wade in (perfect for kiddos and great for my thirsty pup in the summer); the footing is quite easy. This is my go-to summer spot for a chill, easy run. Downsides are that it is indeed crowded if you go later in the day (mornings are peaceful) and it is basically frozen all winter since the canyon is pretty shaded. read more

Lair o' the Bear Park - Hiking Near Me - Idledale, Colorado

A great park with plenty of trail options! The trials are well maintained and shaded in some areas with a nice breeze from the creek. Was pretty crowded but parking wasn't hard to get and the people do spread out over the park with most congestion being in the beginning. A nice easy hike before hiking season really begins this summer when the snow melts more in the mountains. read more

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Needed a walk even though it was super windy, and boy am I glad I did! Even though it was just about a mile walk and a mile back because of the wind, Lair of the bear was absolutely beautiful! Everything is starting to turn green and starting to bloom. Since moving to Colorado exploring new places to walk/hike has been one of my favorite things, I can't wait to go back. read more

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Terrific day. Very clean. I didn't bring my dog this time but amazing how many Great Photos we were able to get . If you like hiking this spot is a Must. read more

Lair o' the Bear Park - Hiking over the stream. - Hiking Near Me - Idledale, Colorado

I was never a big hiker back in California- but Colorado just has a charm to it. It seems to beckon one outside- to bask in both sunlight, and it's beauty. I have been to this parks so many times. I haven't been completely around it yet, I always walk a little this way or that. Yet, there is plenty more to see always, like the castle I discovered last visit! I encourage fellow Coloradans to get out and explore nearby parks. Whether it be for exercising, or wandering aimlessly- it's always guaranteed to be a lovely time. read more

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A number of reviews suggested that Lair 'O the Bear was an "easy stroll" near Denver that would be "perfect for someone hiking with kids." That was exactly the type of thing my wife, two small kids and I were looking for. We decided to give it a go. Lair O' the Bear is about forty minutes outside of Denver in the Red Rocks area. There is a small parking lot that we had no problem finding space in (it was relatively early in the morning on an overcast and rainy day). We took to the main trail which is paved and along a river. There were a few people biking, walking dogs and fishing during our visit. About three quarters of a mile into our walk we arrived at a bridge that crossed the river. We took some pictures here (it was a very scenic spot) and then decided to go across the bridge and start hiking "the bluffs." These hikes are a little more challenging than the paved main trail. The bluffs offer actual inclines and declines and require a bit more maneuverability at parts. It still wasn't anything that my five year old couldn't handle. The bluffs provided some great panoramic views of Lair 'O the Bear and the surrounding mountains. It was very impressive to a bunch of people from flat, flat Florida. After about a mile walk on the bluffs we turned around and headed back to the main trail and the car. When we returned to the parking lot I noticed a few historical signs that explained some of the history of Lair 'O the Bear. One sign talked about a farm that used to be there and described what remained of it. You could actually see some of the flowers that the farmer originally planted around their house. I would've loved to explore a bit more but my five year old was wet and tired and hungry. No fighting that. I would agree wholeheartedly with those who said this is a great place for out-of-towners, out-of-shapers and people with kids to get their hiking fix. If that sounds like you, be sure to check out Lair 'O the Bear. read more

Great place to stroll, hike, relax, fish you name it. Definitely not a hiker m, so I look forward to coming back with some chairs to sit next to the creeks and have a lazy afternoon! read more

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I highly recommend hiking all the way to the top. It was a great experience and a remarkable demonstration of Mother Nature up there. Lots of mountain bikers too...beware! read more

This was one of our dogs' absolute favorite places - They'd go nuts here like nowhere else, which was pretty wild and fun to be a part of. It has so many areas, and even when I was too pregnant or our kiddo was too little to handle multiple hours of hiking, this was absolutely perfect! It's wonderful too just in general :) There's some really cute areas - I've have some kiddos put on some really goofy and sweet improv shows there. Honestly will never forget this place as it's just a place we had so much fun at! read more

Really a gorgeous site to see. Not a very difficult hike either so definitely kid friendly! read more

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Lair O' the Bear is an incredible park. It has hiking/biking trails, a stream, picnic areas with grills, a bathroom with toilet paper (no sink), and friendly park rangers. We spent the day at Lair O' the Bear on the 4th of July weekend and we were fortunate to find: 1) A parking space (the parking lot was completely full and we had to circle it a couple times for someone else to leave). 2) A picnic site with a grill. There were only about six picnic sites complete with picnic tables and grills. We saw many large groups that brought their own tables, grills, and chairs. I don't think that it was within the park rules to bring a grill; however, the park rangers didn't police it. They seemed to be on the look out for more egregious offenses. Although we were there for an all-day picnic and hiking, we saw that other folks used the park for other forms of recreation. Numerous people (ranging from serious cyclists to children) road mountain bikes on the trails. Some people wore bathing suits and splashed around in the shallow portions of the streams. Still other people went fishing. For picnicing, we had to bring nearly everything! We brought charcoal, lighter fluid, matches, coolers, portable speakers, cornhole boards and bags, plates, cups, plastic ware, hand santizer, etc. We filled two cars with everything we would need for an all day excursion at Lair 'O the Bear. I don't recall any electrical outlets. The hiking trails were a lot of fun. They were long enough where we could hike the entire trail in about an hour, hour and a half. People hiked them wearing flip flips but sturdier shoes are better. There were some trails that had gradual inclines that went to spectacular views. There was a good amount of wildlife including birds, bugs, a couple of snakes and a deer. It was pretty cool. read more

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After hearing about this place over the past couple years, I finally made it out, and I think all that talk made it a little disappointing. It was a nice summer weekend day, making the area was super crowded: arriving at 10am, the big parking lot was full and many cars were parked along the main road. There are hiking opportunities from short strolls in shade along the creek (with plenty of scattered picnic areas) to moderate treks connecting into the adjoining parks -- these seemed particularly appealing to mountain bikers. Not a bad place to go with your kids/dogs/lunch, but I'll be sticking with the Boulder County open space options that are closer to home. read more

If you're local, you already know this is more leisurely stroll than a hike, but if you have little ones, out of towners, out of shape ect, than this might be a great option. Lots of shade in this out and back trail that follows bear creek on both sides. So there no real elevation gain, a lot of tourists and some bikes, but if you have a pup that loves to swim, they're aren't a lot of options better than this trail. Plenty of calm areas not too deep they can Romp around in without having to follow them downstream. Some good fishing spots as well, but I prefer the areas off 6th going to Blackhawk for fly fishing. read more

Lair o' the Bear Park - Hiking Near Me - Idledale, Colorado

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This is a great family hike. With the castle only a little more than a mile down one of the trails it peaked the interest of the kids the entire time. Much of the trail is in the shade which makes it nice for hot days. The creek is pretty and the castle is definitely a fun attraction read more

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This is great spot to take your family ! kid/dog friendly, it's free however, very busy on the weekends. the parking lot is not big enough for all the traffic. there's picnic tables but no grills read more

Lair o' the Bear Park - taking break in a rest area near the trail - Hiking Near Me - Idledale, Colorado

A beautiful place to spend the weekend with the family , the area has many gorgeous views and it is served by a public restrooms , Parking can be challenging sometimes but still we enjoyed this place a lot ! read more

Lair o' the Bear Park - Hiking Near Me - Idledale, Colorado

This is a beautiful area for hiking and cycling. Close to Denver, but still boasts great mountain views. Go up the road to Corwina, park at the western most parking lot, and hike up to Panoramic Point. It's about 3 miles round trip, and is a pretty steep climb at points, but well worth it for the views. Can be treacherous in the winter, but if you're up for a challenge, it's still fun! read more

Lair o' the Bear Park - View from Panoramic Point. - Hiking Near Me - Idledale, Colorado

My friends and I were out on hiking expeditions southwest of Denver, and we stopped at the Lair o' the Bear Park. It was a lovely drive to reach the trailhead parking area; we drove through lots of rocky canyons and trees changing colors. The park has several trails of varying lengths, which is excellent for visitors wishing to spend time from a few minutes to a few hours on the trails. It was a bit unnerving to see a park sign warning us of mountain lion activity and what to do in case of an encounter (fight back? Really?!), but we figured it was doubtful for the big cats to be out and about in mid-afternoon. Since we were headed to another hiking spot afterwards, we ended up taking a shorter loop for about 0.8 mile. The trail took us through open woods and over Bear Creek; the grade was easy and we completed it in under 30 minutes. Other trails are of intermediate length with higher grades, and we decided to try them when we return! read more

We loved our "hike" here. It's closer to a "nature walk" than a hike but it's a beautiful way to spend the day. The autumn gold was out and divine. This is a perfect hike for families with young kids. It's just long enough and not too difficult or too boring. I'd love to go back. read more

Lair o' the Bear Park - Hiking Near Me - Idledale, Colorado

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Not for relaxing or "getting away". The juxtaposition of nature to nonstop loud cars and motorcycles is something to consider. If you want to talk and walk the path or swim with kids you prob won't notice but if you are hoping to nap in a hammock ugh nope. Headphones would go a long way. read more

We stop by in a spot here every summer and leave home at 7 in the morning and leave Lair 'O the Bear Park around the time the stars come out. I've been a frequent visitor for many years and love the views, the tall, tall mountains, trees and rivers. Though they are freezing cold. I found a little, deceased, yellow butterfly one time, and took it home. it's been four years and I still have it in my little, heart shaped box. This park has brought me lots of important memories in which it involves my beloved family and friends. Some of the photos I even edited from my own personal camera, and tweaked the colors to look like a utopia. read more

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I didn't particularly enjoy this hike. The trail was narrow and we have three dogs, which meant we were constantly having to jump into the foliage to allow people to pass, and it was not very pleasurable. There were a lot of people there and a lot of other dogs. It's a Saturday, so I understand, but the parking lot was completely packed and the narrow trail with so many people and with dogs, definitely not an enjoyable experience for me today. I'm sure it's great for other families and on weekdays. read more

I love this park! But be forewarned, it becomes a royal shitshow on weekends. Bear Creek Road is a major thoroughfare for those who live in the foothills, and trucks use it too. If you need to park on the road, pull your butt off the road. There's always one or two jerks who feel like it's probably just fine to park halfway in the road--in a curve of a 45mph mountain highway. Dummies. So, if you score a parking spot, make your dreams happen. Bring a picnic, bring your leashed dog. Bring your family if you want to spend time with them, too! The main trail is super easy and scoots along the side of Bear Creek. Keep going, and you can see Dunafon Castle. Pretty cool! If you want more of a challenge, head up Bruin Bluff. You can actually link up from Lair 'O the Bear to Corwina and O'Fallon parks via steep trails. Kinda awesome you can get to where you wanna go via trails. Yep, it's one of the most popular trails in the Denver area. There are lots of parks and trails further out that give you more solitude if that's what you're seeking. Bear Creek gives no solitude, especially in the summer. read more

I have been going to hike the loop at Red Rocks for years now but lately it's way more crowded than usual so we went to check out this lil hike that's further up the main road. Lair 'O the Bear has a large parking lot, port a potty out front, and was also pretty packed. It's a really short trail that runs along a large creek or is it a river?? Anyway the scenery is beautiful, and we saw some folks fishing along the banks. There are two trails here, I tried the main which is about a mile ish and super easy. Almost too easy and short to be considered a hike for me but fun to do with kids, out of towners, or those times you know you should do some kind of exercise on the weekend that requires you to get out of your pajamas and still feel good about stopping for a margarita on the way back because you worked out that day...can I get an amen. read more

Great simple trail. We didn't know what to expect but there was a river along the trail and we stumbled upon a castle, awesome rocks placed interestingly and a huge mountain later down the trail. Its a family friend trail and great for beginning hikers or someone looking to take a stroll. read more

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This was a great find. It was the perfect day to sit by the creek, enjoy a beer, and read a book. read more

Lair o' the Bear Park - Bear creek - Hiking Near Me - Idledale, Colorado

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This is a great trail for families with young children. It's beautiful, cool and heavily shaded. A jogging stroller was mostly easy for the majority of trails. Dogs are allowed on a leash though many are off leash which I personally really like. There are many nooks off of the trail that you can sit and relax in while dipping your feet in the river. Just an all around easy, beautiful trail. read more

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The rewards always come at the end...and the Lair 'O the Bear is no exception. This trail is a long steady climb with rocks, narrow trees and a boulder thrown in as a natural pathway to get up and down. I still can not ride the entire trail up with out stopping numerous times to catch my breathe or check my confidence...by that I mean, walk my bike past that section. The trail is so well maintained, but it still has many difficult sections for those of us who are not advanced Mountain bikers. The trail is just over 6.5 miles to get to the top/end. Once you get to the top, the rewards kicks in! That pain in the butt, at times technical climb, has become a free flowing ride of delight, with nice carving turns, rock, roots and drops...slight berms and a few tight hairpins/switchbacks. If only we could always just ride downhill...then again, if we could always just eat pizza and never do another crunch. read more

Our favorite spot in Colorado to relax and get a little hiking in.