Bear Creek is one of Telluride’s defining mountain landscapes, extending south from the end of Pine Street into the San Juan Mountains. The Bear Creek Trail follows the valley through the Lower Bear Creek Preserve toward Bear Creek Falls, passing forests, meadows, streams and dramatic rock formations along the way.
Bear Creek Falls is the best-known landmark in the canyon, reached by roughly 2.5 miles of hiking from Telluride. Lower in the preserve, Bear Creek also passes through the narrow, moss-covered rock grotto commonly known as Little Hawaii. Because the Little Hawaii area has experienced damage from social trails and heavy visitation, this site identifies the location in photographs but does not provide off-trail access directions.
The surrounding terrain rises steeply toward Ballard Mountain and the high country above Telluride. Trails from Bear Creek connect with the Wasatch, La Junta and other routes into the surrounding mountains, while waterfalls and smaller cascades descend from side drainages into the main valley.
The photographs below document Bear Creek across seasons and years, including Bear Creek Falls, Little Hawaii, mountain streams and cascades, wildflowers, autumn foliage, winter ice, surrounding cliffs and views of the canyon from elsewhere in the Telluride valley.
