Summary
On the north side of Bear Creek Canyon, an old trail climbs over mossy logs and granite blocks into a charming little valley that ends with views with on all sides.

Location
West of Colorado Springs

Hike
This old path is unmarked by modern Forest Service signs but still worn by generations of hikers whose collective knowledge of these beloved hills predates any official trailheads. The trail probably started as a short foray spurring off from the 1880s mule road up Bear Creek to Lake Moraine and then to the summit of Pikes Peak. Now you can find Sesame Canyon by walking a half-mile up the High Drive. When you start, Bear Creek will be on your right. Within a few minutes you'll cross an old stone bridge leaving the creek on your left. In less than a quarter of a mile, you'll cross the creek again. Immediately, look for the Sesame Canyon trail darting up a small stream bed on your left. The trail is clear but easy to miss. Sesame doesn't get the crowds other areas do. When we sauntered up on a wintry afternoon, no tracks had blackened the frosting of snow since the last squall two days before. We were alone except for a raven that followed us from tree to tree, croaking inquisitively. The trail ascends a small valley, through mossy pine and fir woods. In less than a mile, Sesame Canyon climbs to a ridge that also hosts the Captain Jack's multi-use trail. Hikers know ?the Captain's" as a gravelly mountain bike sluice where speeding bikes can make them feel like a deer in headlights. But Sesame doesn't show the wear of wheels like its neighbor trail, so bikers must rarely visit. In fact, we stepped aside only once for a mountain biker creeping her way down the steep trail. Besides the curious raven, she was the sole character we met. Just as we were thinking how surprised we were to see her riding a trail as steep and narrow as Sesame, her tire caught on a rock and she neatly pitched off her bike into the rocks, suggesting that maybe she wouldn't choose to ride Sesame again. The trail reaches a ridge after a half-mile. Here, hikers can turn right to hook up with Captain Jack's or left to go out to an overlook of the city. We went left and the raven followed us and lighted on a close branch. The view was gorgeous, sweeping all the way out to a dark storm on the plains. We chose to focus more immediately on the swirl of snow coming down on us, and the white flakes brushing off the raven's wings.

To get there
Drive south on 26th Street to a four-way stop on Lower Gold Camp Road. Drive through the stop to where 26th Street dead ends in about a mile at the exit of the High Drive. Park on the left.

Trip Log
2 boots, 3 miles round-trip, 1,000 feet elevation gain.

Details
Information: Pike National Forest, 636-1602.
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