Pogwatigue Perambulations: Black Bear Trail / Golden Gate Canyon SP

Yesterday, I pushed a little higher in to the mountains for a hike that if it wasn't as long as my last one was a whole lot harder. I drove to Golden Gate Canyon State Park, which it about fifteen or twenty miles northwest of Golden. Along the way, I stopped in the historic mining town of Central City, at its heyday the largest city in the territory.

After I paid my day-use fee at the park's visitor center, the lady recommended a route that she said would "keep me busy." The 'busiest' section was the hike up Black Bear trail. Even in the summer it would be a tough hike with a lot of steep sections including some scrambling over boulders. This early in the year, there was plenty of snow to add to the challenge.   I stopped to rest at a wonderful spot near the highest point on the trail, Ralston Roost, with spectacular views into the canyon below and of the snow-capped peaks in the distance.

The worst part of the hike was probably the descent down the backside from this peak.   The snow was especially deep here and with each step it seemed I punched through up to my knee.   Keeping to the trail was a challenge in its own right, but I eventually found my way back to terra firma. At the end of Black Bear Trail, I turned north along Mule Deer trail and followed it as far of Frazier Meadow, named for an early homesteader whose cabin--or at least a few vestiges of it--is still visible.

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From the meadow, I began the return hike. I could have made a pretty direct hike down Horseshoe Trail back to the road, but decided to investigate a short side trail that the map indicated led to another historic structure. It was another collapsed cabin, but without a sign to explain its backstory. In deep snow again, I struggled my way back to the main trail.   The rest of the hike was pretty easy other than some icy spots. It paralleled a brook so covered in snow, I heard the water babbling over rocks more than I saw it coursing downstream.

Trip Statistics
Length: 6.3 miles
Time: 4 hours 54 minutes
Moving Average: 1.6 MPH
Trailhead Elev.: 8,200 ft.
Peak Elev.: 9,320 ft. ft.
Net Elev. Gain: 1,120 ft.
Cumulative Elev. Gain: 1,500 ft

Elevation Profile