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Trail - 4.8 miles, limestone Five Accesses: |
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This trail system, located in northern Columbia links two of the city's most popular community parks, the 533-acre Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Area and the 81.5-acre Albert-Oakland Park. In general, the trail follows the natural drainage system of the Bear Creek and runs in an east/west direction across the northern part of the city. The limestone trail is approximately 4.8 miles in length. Construction of the trail began in 1996 and was divided into four phases: Phase 1 - Garth to Creasy Springs, Phase II - Creasy Springs to Cosmo Park, Phase III - Garth to Hwy. 63, and Phase IV - Hwy. 63 to Albert-Oakland Park. The final phase of the trail was completed in 2001 and the trail was dedicated on November 4, 2001.
Access: Cosmo Park - 1615 Bus. Loop 70 West
1.5 miles (approx.), limestone
This portion of the trail winds through the Bear Creek Nature Area in the north end of Cosmo Park where one can frequently see beavers and other wetland wildlife. Parking is available at trailhead near the Columbia Skate Park within Cosmo Park.
Access: 3201 Creasy Springs Road
1.0 miles (approx.), limestone
The trail connecting Garth to Creasy Springs consists of approximately one mile of 10-foot wide crushed limestone trail. This section includes a 450-foot boardwalk built on the face of a steep hillside.
The boardwalk was one of the most challenging features in construction of the two phases of the trail that were built by Columbia Parks and Recreation construction staff. The boardwalk was built on the side of a rocky tree-lined bluff with minimal impact on vegetation. The structure required 18 concrete support structures that had to be hammered into solid rock and constructed at the edge of Bear Creek. This section of the trail also includes a bridge over Bear Creek that provides a spectacular view of the creek below and a close-up view of the beautiful flora that grows on the Missouri limestone bluffs.
Access: 2799 North Garth Avenue
1.0 mile (approx.), limestone
This phase extends a distance of about 1 mile from Garth Avenue eastward to Hwy. 763. The trail runs along the north side of Bear Creek throughout this distance, and there are no bridges involved with this section of trail. The 10-foot wide gravel trail runs underneath Garth Avenue, so users don't have to cross the road. The Garth Avenue parking lot also serves the Garth Nature Area, which has looping gravel trails around a wetland area connecting to the Bear Creek Trail. A fenced dog park is also located southwest of the parking lot.
Access: Albert-Oakland Park - 1900 Blue Ridge Road
1.3 miles (approx.), limestone
This section of the trail was completed in 2001 and
dedicated on November 4, 2001. The trail is a 10-foot
wide gravel surface with two 10-foot wide bridges
over the Bear Creek. Much of this section closely
parallels the creek offering attractive views of
the waterway and its limestone outcroppings.
| BCT #1: Adopted | BCT #12: Adopted | BCT #23: Adopted |
| BCT #2: | BCT #13: Adopted | BCT #24: |
| BCT #3: | BCT #14: Adopted | GNA-A: Adopted |
| BCT #4: | BCT #15: Adopted | GNA-B: |
| BCT #5: | BCT #16: | GNA-C: Adopted |
| BCT #6: Adopted | BCT #17: Adopted | GNA-D: Adopted |
| BCT #7: Adopted | BCT #18: | GNA-E: Adopted |
| BCT #8: Adopted | BCT #19: | GNA-F: |
| BCT #9: Adopted | BCT #20: | GNA-G: Adopted |
| BCT #10: Adopted | BCT #21: Adopted | |
| BCT #11: Adopted | BCT #22: |
Program Information and Order Form
Bear Creek Trail winds across northern Columbia as shown on the map below, connecting Albert-Oakland Park to Cosmo Park.
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