Date of Trip: August 13th – 14th, 2005
Location: Morrison, CO
Elevation: 5773 ft.
Lucky Arrival
We arrived around 10:00 AM on a cloudy Saturday morning with no camping reservation. A concert was scheduled at Red Rocks Amphitheater across the highway that night. We were given the last campsite available. The website for Bear Creek Lake Park is excellent.
Things We Did At The Park
We rode a paddle boat, fished with bobbers off a dock, and hiked Owl Trail along Bear Creek. The visitor center had a wildflower garden, a bull snake, a bird watching window, and an amphitheater. The night time star show at the amphitheater was cancelled due to rain that night!
Campground
We chose a non-electric tent site in view of the playground. The campsite was also in view of Highway 470. We saw and heard a car crash that night on the highway. It was sad and strange to watch the emergency vehicles arrive while sitting around the campfire.
Town Visited
We quickly drove through Morrison to look for a place to eat for lunch. We didn’t find anything so we headed up to Red Rocks.
Nearby Places Visited
Dinosaur Ridge We stopped at site 4? on the dinosaur tour that showed the big prints along the steep hill on the road. The entire walking tour would have taken at least 2 hours on foot. Guided tours were available.
Red Rocks The visitor center was beautiful. We ate at their food bar. They had a more expensive Sunday brunch, too. I really enjoyed the historical movie and tour through Red Rocks Visitor Center. The combination of geography and music history creates a feeling of timelessness. The view reminds us of Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.
Things to do next time
* Go to a show at Red Rocks
* Do a more extensive Dinosaur Ridge Tour
* Reserve a Yurt at Bear Creek Lake Park
* Swim at the beach at Bear Creak Lake Park