Chewaucan Crossing to Bear Creek Trailhead

Chewaucan Crossing to Bear Creek Trailhead

Rating

            4 out of 5 for first 2 miles and last 1.5 miles

            2 out of 5 for rest of the trail

Mileage

            Chewaucan Crossing to Little Bear Creek                                                  5.0 miles

            Little Bear Creek to first road crossing Bear Creek                                    1.0 miles

            First road crossing Bear Creek to second road crossing Bear Creek          1.0 miles

            Second Road crossing Bear Creek to Bear Creek trailhead                        1.5 miles

           

Elevation Change

            Chewaucan Crossing to Little Bear Creek                                                  1314 feet

            Little Bear Creek to first road crossing Bear Creek                                        40 feet

            First road crossing Bear Creek to second road crossing Bear Creek            157 feet

            Second Road crossing Bear Creek to Bear Creek trailhead                          266 feet

GPS Coordinates                                                    Latitude                            Longitude

            Chewaucan Crossing                                    42  36.904                        120  36.350

            Little Bear Creek crossing                            42  38.100                        120  38.879

            First crossing of Bear Creek                         42  38.138                        120  39.867

            Second crossing of Bear Creek                     42  38.229                        120  40.776

            Bear Creek Trailhead                                    42  38.525                        120  42.312

Trail Description

The trail begins across Road 33 from the Chewaucan Crossing Campground.  The first 2 miles consist of gentle switchbacks  climbing almost 1000 vertical feet through a ponderosa pine forest above the Chewaucan Valley floor.  This section is quite nice although views are limited because of the trees.  As the trail begins to turn west the vegetation becomes thinner and eventually turns into privately held pasture land.  There are a few views south up the Chewaucan Valley, but there is not much exciting to see until you reach the upper reaches of Bear Creek nearer the Bear Creek trailhead.  

The trail first crosses Little Bear Creek at a road after 5 miles.  From there it another mile to a road crossing Bear Creek with the trail switching from the north side of the creek to the south side.  Bear Creek is crossed back to the north side again at a road after another mile.  The last 1.5 miles follow the north side of Bear Creek to the Bear Creek trailhead are quite nice with ponderosa pines and quaking aspens along the creek.

            

                                                            Looking south up Chewaucan Valley

Driving Directions to the Trailheads

Chewaucan Crossing Trailhead

From 31 in Paisley take Road 33 south for 7.5 miles to the Chewaucan Crossing Campground.  The trailhead southeast begins across a footbridge in the campground.  The trailhead west begins across the road from the entrance to the campground.

Bear Creek Trailhead

From 31 in Paisley take Road 33 south.  After 1 mile turn left on Road 3315, which rises along the west ridge of the Chewaucan Valley.  After 5.1 miles take the left junction.  After another 3.1 miles take the right junction and continue another 5.2 miles to the Bear Creek Trailhead.  The trail heading west is on the south side of Bear Creek and the trail heading east is on the north side of Bear Creek.