Round Trip Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 6885 - 6910 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 45 mins.
Trailhead: Mears Bay
Fee: $7/vehicle
Attractions: Paved trail, fishing access
The Mears Bay trail is located in the Ridgway State Park north of the town of Ridgway, Colorado. The trail is a paved path that travels around the east side of Mears Bay providing access to fishermen, hikers and mountain bikers. From the end of the trail hikers and mountain bikers can access the Enchanted Mesa trail which connects the Dutch Charlie area of Ridgway State Park with the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk area that is located below the dam along the Uncompahgre River.
The Mears Bay trail begins in the Dutch Charlie area at the south end of the picnic area just beyond the swim beach.
As the trail heads south and east from the parking area it is met by the Porcupine Run trail that leads up to one of the campgrounds.
The trail crosses the slough at the upper end of the bay and turns back to the north along the eastern shoreline.
You might notice a mile marker at this point. The Mears Bay trail is one segment of the the longer Uncompahgre River trail that begins in the town of Ridgway and ends at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk. This is the 4 mile point of the longer trail.
Numerous benches and shelters along the trail provide visitors with a place to sit down and relax while they take in the beautiful scenery around the bay.
A variety of watercraft can be seen harbored at the marina in one of the few slips that are available or moored offshore at a buoy.
Mount Sneffels (14,157) and the other peaks and high alpine ridges above the Dallas Creek area make a pleasing backdrop to the scene that is sure to leave you in awe.
The paved path comes to an end 1 mile from where it began across from the boat launch area. At this point the 2.6 mile long Enchanted Mesa trail begins along a dirt singletrack that leads to Pa-Co-Chu-Puk.
