Bear Creek Spire  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  6,400' Lat, Long:  39.9726, -105.2868 Map Page Views:  871. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  George Bell on Apr 22, 2002 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

Subject to Seasonal Closures MORE INFO >>> The following crags are closed 1 February to 31 July: Ridge Two Ridge Three Ridge Four Achaen Prnouncement Back Porch Argonaut Dreadnought North Ridge Bear Creek Spire Details. All East Face routes on the following formations are closed 1 April to 1 October (routes on the North, South & West Faces remain open): The Hand Mallory Flatironette Shark's Fin Finger Flatiron The following routes on Der Zerkle are closed from 1 April to 1 September: Sunnyside One East Face Left East Face Right Details. This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment Flatirons Climbing Council Preserving climbing access in the Flatirons

Description 

Bear Creek Spire is the first large crag encountered on the north side of Bear Creek when coming from the east. It's south and west faces are festooned with rotten overhangs and there are no known routes there. The rock is evidently much more popular with Peregrine Falcons than climbers, as it is the only crag in Bear Canyon that lies in the closure (Feb 1 to Aug 1).

There is a huge eye bolt 75' south of the summit of unknown origin and intended use. This crag is perhaps of interest only to climbers who are interested in reaching seldom visited summits. The easiest route, the Northeast Corner, is technically easy but somewhat friable and covered with treacherous pine needles.

Getting There 

Leave the Mesa Trail where it crosses Bear Creek and bushwhack up the north side of the creek (nasty going unless you find the faint trail). For the Northeast Corner route, scramble up the gully east of the rock for several hundred feet.

Alternatively, one can follow the trail up into Bear Canyon, and at some point before the first stream crossing, bushwhack back east down stream to the Spire. If you are aiming for the NE Corner route, it is easier to climb up west of Bear Creek Spire to the notch north of it, and then descend SE to the start of the route (compared to going around the south side).