This was a difficult trail Two days and I was only able to find and ride about 20 miles of the trail. This is cattle country and there are livestock trails that have been used since the end of the 19th century by vaqueros from South America to add to the confusion.
Bears Ears Trail is not well marked and I was confused more than once.
There are three short trail spurs that leave the reservoir and campground area, these all intersect with Trail #1144 up the drainages of Cottonwood and Taylor Creeks (approximately 1-1/2 miles from the recreation area).
The first day I took the horse trail from Freeman Reservoir to Bears Ears Trail then followed Bears Ears to Rd 110. This was a tough ride up and down through a beautiful aspen grove. Some rocky some smooth. I got lost and barely made it back before dark. The second day was even harder! Took the trail from the lake to Bears Ears Trail to Sand Point and was planning on ridding the loop in a clockwise direction. At every intersection it was a coin toss on witch way to go! The description I read said that here were only a few steep sections. It must have been reviewed for hiking I thought there was lots of climbing all the way past Drainage Divide! Had to push my bike up to Buck Point 10,500 ft. This side of the mountain is mostly Spruce forest. The trail is steep and rocky. I had to bail on West Prong Road (rd.133) back to RD 110. My chain broke a couple miles from camp.
This trail is definitely a challenge and I will be back.
If you like hard rides with a sense of adventure and not afraid of being lost or caught out after dark this is a good ride. . I consider myself lucky to have made it back by dark both days.
Bears Ears Trail can also be accessed from Black Mountain and California Park
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