Bee Branch - Mitchell Ridge Loop. This loop is approximately 30 miles and includes all the 4 star areas of the Sipsey. It also offers some diversity, getting you out of the canyons for quite a few miles while still going through the best of these lovely canyons. The trail is best done in three days because there are two logical camping places, although it is possible to do it in two days. Start at the Sipsey River Recreation Area trailhead. Take TR209, ford Borden Creek at an easy ford, pass Fall Creek Falls, and wind your way to the Bee Branch Junction. Here you will set up camp for the night and then continue your exploration all the way to Ship Rock and the waterfalls on the other side of Ship Rock on TR206. Return to camp for the night, a 9 to 11 mile hike depending how far you explore after setting up camp. The second day you will trek the East Bee Branch, it isn't long so take it slow and enjoy the scenery. At the end of the Bee Branch Trail take TR204 to TR224 to TR223. After two to three miles on the forest road trails you will find TR210 branching off to your right. Unless you feel like finishing out 210 this second day you will have to dry camp that night, so it is essential to find water which shouldn't be hard during wet weather but may be much more of an issue in dry weather. Camp along 210 the second night, you will find some nice places on top of the ridge that offer views through the trees of the wilderness. The third day you will take TR210 all the way down to the FS224 Trailhead, crossing over Hagood Creek on the TR208 bridge. Then follow TR200 through the cave and along Borden Creek back to TR209. Your car is about half a mile from this junction.

 Two days of exploring. Here is a suggestion for spending two days and a night deep inside the wilderness that gives you flexibility as to what you do and only requires you to carry your gear 6 or 7 miles (you can add some luxuries). Start at the west County Road 60 trailhead. Take TR201 into the wilderness. There is supposed to be a nice cove to camp at the end of this trail, or you could hide your pack and set up camp on the other side of the river where there are lots of nice spots after a day of exploring. From here you can spend the day exploring up Quillan Creek, Parker Branch, and Hubbard Creek. I hear that Quillan and Parker are especially beautiful. The next day you can explore The top part of TR209, the bottom of TR206, and the Bee Branch. To do this you will have to ford the Sipsey. Then you will head back down TR209 till it fords the Sipsey again to TR202 which will take you back to the trailhead. The base hike here (201-209-202) is about 8 miles long, to that you could add many more miles of exploring.

 Day hiking Bee Branch. Bee Branch is accessible via two possible day hikes, starting out at the West CO 60 Trailhead or at Thompson Creek Trailhead. From CO 60 take TR202 to TR209. Here ford the Sipsey River at a fairly deep ford which might not be viable when the water is high. TR204 is about a mile northwest on TR209. Follow it until there is a split, at which point you will take the left turn. This is the East Bee Branch Trail and will take you down beside the waterfalls into the Bee Branch Canyon and back out to TR209. Follow this to the point where you ford the river again and then take TR202 back to the trailhead. This is approximately 12 miles so be sure you are up to it if you do this as a day hike. Not suggested in the winter when there are only 10 hours of light in the day. The Thompson Creek Trailhead option is shorter and doesn't require fording the river but you will have to take nasty Forest Service Roads to get there. From Thompson Creek take TR206 south, around Ship Rock and Eye of the Needle, past the 209 - 202 ford (at which point TR206 becomes TR209), and TR205. You will find the East Bee Branch turnoff about a mile past 205. Here follow the Bee Branch Trail through the canyon, beside the waterfalls, and out to TR204. Take TR204 to TR224 which you will follow north. Just before the turn off for TR208 turn into the woods and follow White Oak Hollow back to TR206. When you get to 206 you are a quarter mile from the trailhead. You also might take TR208 back to the trailhead, but it will be less interesting. This trail is 9 to 10 miles.

 Day hiking the Cave. For an easy and beautiful day hike, start at the Sipsey River Recreation Area and follow TR209 to TR200. Follow this to the FS224 trailhead for a total distance of just over 3 miles. You can then turn around and return the way you came which is quite pleasant or have a car at this trailhead (providing it is accessible after the ice storm). To add mile and a half to this hike at the junction of 200 and 209 ford Borden Creek and follow TR209 north to the Fall Creek Falls. A large waterfalls and a good trail to it. Thus this day hike can be 3, 4.5, 6, or 7.5 miles. My wife did the 7.5 mile one without any complaints, so it should be considered easy.

The Sipsey Wilderness

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Last Updated: April 2003

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