Bear Creek, Mountain Scrub, and Yellow Jacket Loop

Bear Creek, Mountain Scrub, and Yellow Jacket Loop is a moderately challenging hike located at Bear Creek Regional Park in Colorado Springs. This hike explores some of the western half of the park. This loop is 3.9 miles long and gains 541 feet of elevation.

This hike starts from the Bear Creek Nature Center parking area. The nature center has educational information about the park. Begin hiking east past the nature center and cross over Bear Creek. After 0.1 miles of hiking, you will come to a junction and turn right.  Shortly after, you will take a left. Over the next 0.2 miles, you will encounter 2 junctions. Go right at both junctions. The second junction will lead you on to Mountain Scrub Loop. As you are hiking here, you will have periodic views of various peaks of the Front Range. Continue on Mountain Scrub Loop for 0.1 miles before turning left onto Creekbottom Loop. After 0.1 more miles, you will turn left onto Coyote Gulch Loop. Shortly after this, you will turn right. 0.1 miles later, turn left onto Bear Creek Regional Trail. 

You will now be hiking slightly downhill. After 0.7 miles you will come to a junction and go right. Continue on the up and down trail for another 0.5 miles to reach another junction. Turn right here. The trail encounters multiple junctions over the next 0.8 mile, so it is wise to pay close attention to your map. After those 0.8 miles, you will have completed a small loop. Continue hiking west on Bear Creek Regional Trail. After 0.5 miles, you will come to a junction and go right. Follow this trail for 0.8 miles to return to the parking area.

Bear Creek Regional Park is open for hiking year round from 5am-9pm. There are no associate fees to hike here. Dogs are allowed on most of this trail, but they must be on a leash at all times.