The trail climbs steep switchbacks for the first mile, up a steep rocky slope. The views of Victorian Ouray are great. The route then enters Bear Creek Canyon, edging along a cut in the cliff face forming the north wall of the canyon. As the trail proceeds up the canyon, Bear Creek comes tumbling down in cascade after cascade, sometimes running what seems like a thousand feet below the ledge on which you find yourself walking. Landmarks along the way include Grizzly Bear mine and Yellow Jacket mine. Around Yellowjacket the trail forks. Heading east, it enters the American Flats section of the wilderness, added in 1993, and connects with the Ridge Stock Driveway. This country is alpine tundra, broken by the sharp point of Wildhorse Peak and the deep cut of Cow Creek Canyon. Backpackers can connect with the Horsethief Trail, and head northwest back to Dexter Creek Road just out of Ouray. This route crosses the Bridge of Heaven, a high ridge with more awesome views (and which makes another great dayhike destination out of Ouray). Hikers that take the right fork around Yellowjacket find themselves atop Engineer Pass.

From Ouray, follow Highway 550 south two miles to south side of tunnel. Trail begins on west side of road and crosses over tunnel to head east; parking on east side of road.

This spectacular trail is the legacy of miners who staked their claims along Bear Creek in the late 1800s. The views of Colorado alpine country are some of the best in the state.