Preparation

My preparation for this trip began in December 2024, when I emailed the park office to inquire about areas where I could camp. The website stated that there was no camping allowed near the Beartown Rocks trail, but I was unsure how far away I needed to be from it. After some back-and-forth, they sent an image of a map outlining exactly where I could not camp.

To complicate matters a little, I was doing this first backpacking trip while my partner was out of town. I left information on the trail I would be hiking with my neighbors and a local cousin. Luckily I had reception at the trailhead, so I knew I could check in with family on both ends of the trip.

Hike In

I reached the Clear Creek State Park office around 1:45 PM and checked in with the park rangers to see if there were any new camping restrictions. She mentioned the Beartown Rocks restriction and their current burn ban. I reassured her I would not be building a fire or using a stove and said I would be up near the Pine Run Loop trail. She was super nice and gave me a few paper maps of the area.

I easily found the Pine Run Loop trailhead further down the road, but make sure you have a vehicle with some ground clearance. The side of the road has a sharp dip plus a steep grade into the parking lot. I gathered my gear, checked in with my family, locked my car, and began hiking the trail heading west. I was unsure if there was a “correct” way to hike the trail, but I chose to go clockwise, as that route had me walking down the steepest elevation changes.

The temperature was in the mid-70s, and the trail was gorgeous in the afternoon sun. However, the gnats started on me immediately, especially in the shady pine areas. My bug head net impeded my vision a little, but not having bugs in my face was worth it. However, it may have been why I missed a turn or two on the trail. This was especially true in the early parts of my hike, as the trail blazes were quite far apart and the path was not immediately obvious under the thick layer of pine needles.

Camp

After hiking for about a mile, I began to descend the slope near where I wanted to camp. I spotted some promising spaces to the south and began searching for trees to hang from. With no dead trees or branches nearby/above, I hung my hammock and tarp. However, I quickly realized an error in selecting the area since the rocky ground made securing the tent stakes difficult.

Once my hammock and tarp were in place, I started my ramen noodle cold soak dinner. Then I walked to a nearby stream with my filter kit and filled up on water for the night and morning. I sat in my camp chair, read a book, ate dinner, and enjoyed a quiet afternoon. I changed into sleep clothes around 8:00 PM and hunkered down for the night.

It was a quiet night with lows in the mid-50s. I woke up around 2:30 AM and 6:00 AM for sips of water and bathroom breaks. I got up around 8 AM, changed, brushed my teeth, ate breakfast, and started packing my gear. However, I should have paid more attention to the overcast skies.

Hike Out

Despite having only a 20% chance of showers, it started raining around 9 AM. I only had my hammock left to pack, so I quickly stuffed that away, donned my rain jacket and pack cover, and started hiking out.

The rain only exacerbated the already wet conditions on this section of the trail. I encountered three to four downed trees on the trail. Unlike the hike in, most of the trail out was obvious and easy to follow. One of the runs turned the trail into part of a stream, making for some wet walking. But I soon made it to my car and was on my way back home. I was tired and stinky but happy.

Summary

This was a great first backpacking trip with comfortable tempareatures and a relatively easy hike. The trail was a little difficult to follow in some spots, and conditions were understandably wet. But this trip had me hooked and I’m ready to tackle more backpacking trips as soon as possible!

General takeaways

• Take a moment to check in with the park rangers. While I spoke with rangers from the adjacent state park (not the state forest where I camped), they were helpful and excited to chat about the conditions.
• Be prepared for anything, like dense bugs in late April and chilly mornings.
• One piece of gear I don’t own yet is rain pants. However, I’m considering a rain kilt. They’re cheaper, lighter, and based on where I got wet, will cover me well enough.
• Instead of waterproof shoes, I went with quick-drying ones. On the hike out, I stepped in quite a bit of water. They dried incredibly quickly, and I did not feel weighed down at all.
• Merino wool socks, which paired well with my new shoes and helped keep my feet dry and cushioned.
• I do not own a satellite locator, and my spouse was out of town when I went on this trip. I shared my general location with a nearby cousin and my neighbors. I checked with them when I arrived at and left the trailhead.

Lessons I Learned the Hard Way

• This might be TMI, but dig a cat hole when you first get to camp. Digging one when you really have to go is no fun at all!
• A 20% chance of showers is still a chance of showers! Watch the sky to help predict when the rain will start.