A memorable road trip to Bear Lake in Huerfano County

Bear Lake is an alpine lake at an elevation of 3.202m (10,505ft) above sea level, located in Huerfano County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Bear Lake

Where is Bear Lake?

The lake is located south of Cuchara, in the southern part of Colorado, within the beautiful San Isabel National Forest.

How long is the road to Bear Lake?

The road to the lake is very steep, hitting an 11% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Starting from CO-12, the ascent is 8.36km (5.2 miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 378 meters. The average gradient is 4.52%.

Is the road to Bear Lake unpaved?

The road to the lake is totally unpaved. It’s called County Road 422 (FSR422). 4x4 vehicle required.

Is the road to Bear Lake in Huerfano County open year-round?

Set high in the Culebra Range, of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the road tops out at 3.242m (10,636ft) above sea level. It is usually impassable from late October through late June or early July.
Pic: dogbarbill

 

 

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