Bear Mountain is a varied 22 hole course located ten minutes or so off of 285. The course is private and you're required to sign a waiver and book a tee time before playing. Don't just show up and expect to be able to play.

The design here is very well done. Excellent use of the numerous different features of the property to make a very fun layout. There's some decent elevation here but nothing too drastic like the other two nearby courses. This one is much more accessible to a wider range of players due to this. There's a mix of more tightly wooded holes to go along with the more open ones around the house. There's not a single hole that's completely wide open though. There's always at least a tree or two to shape shots around. It's just an engaging round from start to end.

The baskets are a mix of different types. The majority of the ones we ended up playing to were Disc Nation Liberty's I think. I'd never heard of these but they're actually really nice. They're all portable but mounted down solidly and level. The tops look kinda like older Mach's the the cage of a Chainstar Pro. They also have a yellow number plate attached to the top with the hole #. I really liked these. There's also a few other random ones scattered about, these looked homemade but plenty effective. Most of the holes had at least two baskets per hole, some even had three. This was amazing to see. I wish I'd had time to play another round to some of the different pins.

The tee signs are really nice looking too. These have a basic hole map showing the multiple different pin positions, hole #, distances and a next tee arrow. Most of the baskets have a white wooden arrow pointing toward the next tee as well.

The flow of the course is pretty simple and the Udisc map was spot on the couple times I needed to check it. The first 14 holes play along the west side of the property, ending near the house. The rest of the holes play down and back up the eastern side of the property, ending right by the house. This is a great split that brings you back near your vehicle to refill on drinks or snacks and if you need to use the restroom. The wife certainly appreciated this. Dan also has water jugs up by the house for refilling, which both of us appreciated.

There's a pretty nice little pro shop in the garage too, with a solid selection of different discs and apparel. It's not your normal big name brands either. There's some MVP/Axiom/Streamline to go along with some RPM, Infinite, Mint discs and a few other smaller brands.

The tee pads are gravel. I don't have any issue with these but i know some people do, so worth mentioning. These were all nicely done for gravel though.

As nice as the tee signs were, there's clearly been some baskets added since these were made so there's taped over distances and whatnot.

Hole 1 plays over hole 3's fairway. With it being private and I'd assume not generally super busy this isn't a huge issue, but could be an issue if people aren't careful.

This was my second course up in the mountains and man what another gem this was. Gorgeous views from all over the course and just a fun place to throw a round or two. I'll be back here without a doubt if I make it back out this way again. Dan was a fantastic host and just an awesome dude in general. You can tell how much he loves the course and you can see how much work he puts into it. This is an absolute must if you find yourself out this way. Great course.

-Beautiful mountain views and scenery throughout the course.
-Great elevation.
-Some holes had tight fairways lined with trees on both sides like #2 but they still felt like there was enough room to throw.
-Signature holes were #10 at #14. The downhill bomber type of shots are so much fun!
-Private property. Dan is a great host and allowed us to jump in before a league round on short notice. Wish we had more time to hang out and talk all things Disc Golf.
-Pay To Play.
-There was a mix of concrete and some dirt tee pads, but they were all level and in great shape.
-Good baskets on every hole.
-Easy navigation.
-Off the fairway areas weren't too rough. You can only lose a disc here if you get stuck in a tree out of reach.
-Course design allows you to stop at your car. I always appreciate this opportunity to not overload my bag with water, Gatorade, etc.

-It would be great if all of the tee pads were concrete.
-This is not my home course and it will be a while before I can get back here for another round.

-This course is 100% worth the time and money to schedule a tee time.
-Pro shop with a nice selection of discs, shirts, etc.
-I love courses on private property because they are all passion projects and it is very easy to see all of the time, effort, sweat and love that has been poured into this course.

The most homey of the US-285 mountain courses, with a grassy mix of aspen and pine.

-Amenities: Mostly dirt tees (which were alright), with a mix of baskets that generally catch quite satisfactorily. Tee signs with maps and multiple basket/pin placements shown, and sometimes indicated via clothespins. Some next tee indicators.

-Hospitality: Dan is extremely friendly. He'll want to know where you're from, what you're hoping for from the course, and how he can help you. I know a lot of private course owners are friendly, but Dan has one of the kindest hearts I've seen among course owners.

-Environment: Really, really pleasant place. Unlike most courses in the area, Bear Mountain is grassy throughout. It also has a great mix of the two main trees - pine and aspen. There are also nice mountain views, though possibly not as great as Glen Isle, Bucksnort, or Beaver Ranch. Mixed in is some decor, from granite slabs to mining memorabilia. This is a place I'd love to picnic, even if there were no disc golf course.

-Layout Options: There are a lot of different holes to play out here. You can play the main 22 holes, but many of the holes out here have B tees and baskets that switch it up. Lots of holes have multiple baskets to choose from. There are also holes under construction in other parts of the property that you can check out if you want a less structured round.

-Shot Shaping/Gameplay: All par-3s, with holes ranging from meh to fantastic. Especially when considering the alternate baskets and tees, the variety is great. Holes (1)-(5) are a great start, with some downs, ups, and excellent use of the aspens and pines to require shot shapes. After that was a weaker section of the course with straight shots that didn't really enthuse. However, holes (10) then (14)-(15) are stellar and make you fall back in love with the course thanks to tight fairways, moderate to steep downhills, and perched baskets. The end of the course is merely solid again. Holes are longer than they look, but the distances on tee signs are accurate. Overall, it's most comparable in gameplay style to Dreamtime Ranch.

Not anything too big.

-Spotty Maintenance: By Dan's own admission, owning a private course can make it hard to keep up with the grass, particularly as you age and lose some mobility. That said, when I was there it was just fine and in the process of getting mown.

-Layout Overlap: On some holes, it's not clear what basket to throw out due to parallel fairways. Also, some holes require straight up throwing over another tee or into another fairway. With not much traffic it shouldn't be an issue, but I definitely had to yield a couple times during my morning round.

-All Par-3s: There are zero par-4s or -5s out of 22 holes. For an otherwise well-stocked course, it's a bit disappointing not to have any placement shots or strategic multi-shot holes.

-Private Road: There are some substantial bumps in the dirt road leading to the ranch. My 2WD was fine, but expect to be traveling very slowly.

I found Bear Mountain hard to rate. Did I like it? For sure. The hospitality is exceptional, and the environment was very charming. Plus, there are some fantastic holes thrown in. However, there's a lot of merely solid holes that aren't particularly beautiful or interesting. In the end, I decided that the experience as a whole was worth an Excellent rating. To me it has less consistent design than some of the other US-285 courses, but it feels more homey. In a metro area, this would be a local favorite, and it's worth a visit if you can make it out.

~Similar Courses: Dreamtime Ranch (Hartsel, CO); to some extent, any of the US-285 courses nearby; in a strange way, kind of like a mountain version of McCurry Park (Fayetteville, GA).

-First of all, before I go into reviewing this course, I just want to note that Dan is the most friendly and hospitable owner. I've played 4-6 courses in my lifetime on properties like this; let's be honest, some of these owners can be a little quirky and/or downright weird. Not Dan though, pretty chill guy who just wants to provide a surreal disc golf experience.
- A lot of unique holes; the course starts with an elevated tee throwing down over a forest to the basket.
- Several basket options for each hole, making this course great for anybody who is Intermediate skill level or above.
- The course takes you past the parking lot on a few occasions, so you don't have to worry about carrying everything with you during play.
- Excellent pro shop.
- A lot of variety in types of challenges you face: baskets placed on rocky ridges, elevated throws through a forest, narrow corridor tees, wide open shots, uphill drives, it really has it all (except for water).
- Hole #1 and #10 were particularly cool, giving this course the bump from 4.5 star course, to 5 stars, in my opinion.

- A couple of holes are adjacent to one of Dan's neighbors houses. They do NOT appreciate use of any flowery language, so watch your tongue when your drive blasts into a tree. Someone in our group made this mistake, and got an earful from the neighbor. Dan does have those holes marked as "Quiet Zone", and he was able to calm his neighbor down quite a bit.
- Two or three holes play over the fairway of another hole. IMO that's understandable as Dan can only work with his property boundary. On those holes, he at least had the sense to make the tees elevated to make it easy to clear the other holes fairway.

- Didn't know whether to make this a pro or con, but one of the holes on the back 9 had a couple of horses walking around the edge of the fairway.
- Absolutely worth the price of admission.
- Can mostly play this course with a forehand drive, if that's your forte.
- I'm not exactly certain if this is my favorite course of all time, but it's definitely on my Mount Rushmore.

The biggest pro on this course is that Bear Mountain is owned and maintained by the kindest most personable owner I've ever met. Dan is a genuinely happy and caring person, who decided to put a disc golf course on his land and make it his passion project. You can tell throughout the course all the little changes that go into it as he adds and adjust and improves.

The hole design is varied and intriguing. There are some great up and down hill shots, bombers, technical throws. Hole 14 was the biggest downhill bomb and I took a few gratuitous throws just because I could. I think some of the fairways could have been a little more clear, but really for the most part they were great. The first hole might be the worst about it, but there's a huge RHFH line you can take if you've got it.

Baskets and everything else are fairly varied. There's some gravel/natural tee pads, some engraved granite tee markers so you know which tee you're on. Navigation is pretty simple. The map helps, but you really only need it once or twice.

The pro shop is excellent, and a great idea to get rid of all the plastic you accumulate over the years! I loved the custom Bear Mountain stamp so even I got something I didn't need but liked when I was there.

There were a couple horses on hole 14 too, that was just kind of nice. The overall scenery was great, but this was just an added touch of uniqueness to the course

There weren't any signs about the hole, so you had to really guess distances sometimes. Until you remember the map you were given and that has distances on it. Once I remember I'll try and upload this distances to the site here so if you're using the app, you will know about how far you have to go without checking it every time.

Dan did say there were tee signs coming, I think that'll be a great addition. There really isn't much else to say. The tee pads were slick bc of gravel, and sometimes unlevel I guess. But it wasn't the end of the world.

Bear Mountain was one of my favorite courses, and I think with tee signs up it will be an easy 4.5. The only reason I gave it a 4 is because I truly think it is excellent, but just lacks the polish and finishing touches of a phenomenal course. But that's totally up to the player, and if you're down for some gritty disc golf with a 5.0 host, this is the best of the best for you.

Bailey DGC is only a mile and half away by distance, but it's on the other side of a mountain so it's a 15 minute drive. Still very easy to get both courses in on one day, and have a truly great day of disc golf! Bear Mountain is the less strenuous of the two, but is probably about the same in disc golf.

Each course along the 285 corridor has its own unique personality, but Bear is perhaps the purest "park golf" style course of them all.

Mature ponderosa lined fairways, rolling meadows full of wild flowers in spring, stands of gold glowing aspens in the fall and incredible views of Lost Creek Wilderness south and Rosalie's imposing peak to the west. The property is the perfect rhythm section and Dan has played a masterful lead.

There are tight gaps to hit, creative use of altitude change, huge downhill bombs, but above all that feeling at Bear that you are among friends. The basket placements change often so even if you're a season pass holder and visit often, you're always getting a new experience. We've played 30+ unique holes in a round by throwing multiple baskets or tees. You're bound to find new lines each time you play and having camping on the property available takes it another step above the rest.

What else can be said? I love Bear Mountain! The baskets are great, they catch awesome and the gold chains are unique. Yellow number plates always easy to see. The red wire in the cage points you to the next tee box. Signs are everywhere, small touches like stumps to sit on and great benches... The tees are natural, but very well maintained.

Keep em flying high!

Variety of different shots in the mountains tight technically challenging holes big bombers the owners are awesome I can roll my cart this place gets more sunshine than most courses. Fun course!!!

To far from my house but that is a personal con

Outstanding course. Super well maintained with constant improvements being made like new tee positions, new basket locations, and new holes added. Pro shop on site. Great mix of open and wooded holes, elevation well used. 20 + holes playing around the very welcoming property owner's home. You will pass by your car multiple times to making it easy to restock drinks so you don't need to carry 8 lbs of water.

While being easy to find the course is a bit out of the way but to most that is a pro, not a con.

Appropriate for players of all skill levels.

Course is full of beautiful aspens. Because of the multiple holes with alternate tees and/or pins, we played 28 holes without repeating one. The variation of long and short holes was pretty cool. There were some cool hole locations, specifically baskets on top of rocks and hidden by rocks. I also liked the way the back 9 used the preponderance of trees to make tunnel shots.

This may seem petty, but the grass was full of clinging seed things that kept getting in our socks. Small but annoying. No hole maps. If we hadn't been playing with a local, it would've taken us much longer, but he helped us with the hidden pins. The tee pads were uneven at times and pretty soft, but that costs a lot of money so it's understandable.

One of my favorite things about playing the course was the dogs running around the whole time. They're very friendly and pettable. Also, Incredible Pro Shop. Dan is an ambassador for RPM discs (from New Zealand). In addition, he sells rare collectible discs that are hard to find. Very fun course. Would love to play again.

This is truly a hidden gem and a must-visit when coming to the Hwy-285 corridor. It starts with the hospitality of the owners, Dan and Michelle. They are incredibly inviting to those who are respectful and appreciate the invitation. The course is rarely heavily used unless they are hosting a tags match or tournament so you are likely to have the course to yourself. Holes are pretty well marked and this is currently being improved. Natural tee pads are well defined with benches at most hole locations. You can expect a mix of open and tunnel shots, most being 150'-300' with one or two that venture out of this range. You are likely to experience wildlife and horses meandering. Well-behaved dogs are welcomed and allowed off leash if under owner control. A small donation is appreciated for each days use. Mix of aspen and pine trees with rolling hills, rock-outcroppings, and grassy fields.

There's a mix of baskets on the property but they all catch adequately with the occasional unfortunate spit. Natural pads have some ruts from use and un-earthed rocks poking through. It's by no means a bomber course but there is the occasional opportunity to unleash. Some navigation can be a bit confusing.

When you are planning a trip to the Denver metro and want to experience the best mountain golf that CO has to offer, fit this stop in. Contact Bear Mountain through contact info on this page. DO NOT SHOW UP UNANNOUNCED. Dan is very responsive to inquiries and will do his best to accommodate you and your friends.

This course is minutes from the world championship quality Bailey Disc Golf Course and within 15 minutes of Beaver Ranch Disc Golf Course, and close to several private courses including Phantom Falls, Bucksnort Disc Golf Course, Hi-View Disc Golf Course and many, many more.

Pack out what you pack in and have a great time!

- Incredible variety in every way: distances, hole shapes, elevation, difficulty, terrain, tree coverage
- Natural beauty at every turn and great views of the Rocky Mountain foothills
- A secluded setting on private property. Off the beaten path but not TOO far off of it to be a pain to get to
- Very reasonably priced and open for play on a regular basis
- Constantly being added to and improved upon by the owners and volunteers from the local club
- The owners are fantastic people who love the game and are extremely welcoming, even to groups and clubs from outside the area
- Close to a number of other high quality, destination courses

- The baskets are not my preferred make and model but they do catch fine enough
- Tees are mostly natural but are well maintained
- The layout, hole numbering and lack of signage can be confusing for first timers but is easy to follow after one lap around
- Over two hours from where I live

Having played nearly 250 courses, Bear Mountain tops the list. If i had to pick one course to visit for the rest of my days as a disc golfer, this would be it. Private, secluded, accessible and, most importantly, a layout that caters to players of all skill levels. No one will feel left out at Bear Mountain from beginners to 1000+ rated professionals. Now that the Hart's are opening their course up to the public I foresee nothing but success and constant improvement to what is already one of the finest places to play disc golf on planet Earth. Add Bear Mountain to your bucket list NOW.

To enumerate the pluses of this course would take more space than I'm allowed. However, I'll touch on a few: 1. The owners-amazing people who are always willing and able to host your group, explain the nuances of the course, and welcome you to their home. 2. The property- amazing! From gladed ponderosa forests to shady Aspen groves. From rocky outcroppings to flower filled fields. From gentle meadows to strenuous hills. This course is all that and amazing views of the mountains. 3. The course- there are generally 25 holes to play on the main layout, and up to 32 holes on the extended layout (more than that, even, if you want to throw to any of the numerous, lesser used baskets). Woods holes, open shots, uphill, downhill...You name it, it's here. The tee pads are natural and have been meticulously constructed over the years to be be as smooth and flat as possible. Dan and Co. are always working on the course to make the Bear Mtn experience even better. A new kiosk has been built and will house all the course info. New tee signage is being deployed. Directional signage is in the works to allow for new players to easily find the next hole. Bear Mtn merch is also available if you want to bring home a small piece of your experience! There is also seating at most tee areas and tables at a few of the holes, too. On-site camping is also available for those looking to hangout for a couple days.

Tee signs with pin locations and distances would be welcomed, as would the aforementioned signage to help players navigate from green to tee. But these "cons" are a drop in the ocean of awesomeness!

Bear Mtn peeks its head ever so slightly out from the pack of top tier Mountain courses in the Bailey/Conifer/Pine area. You can't be blamed for choosing one over the others, but you will be missing out should you choose not to visit Bear Mtn.

1) Wonderful vision on holes, lots of lines you must throw.
2) Nice and wonderful Owner
3) Setting is amazing and you are all by yourself
4) Natural Tee boxes were the best I have ever played

Must have the map for the extra holes, but the owner will talk you through them

This course is just now getting play to the public, but do the right thing and follow the directions and make sure you call for a tee time. I will definitely come back.

Great use of land
Nice mixture of open bombs and tight fairways
Unbelievable scenery
No crowds
Opportunity to camp on the land for a wonderful getaway

Hard to come up with a con. The course is still in development and navigation would be tricky on your own. There are additional baskets placed throughout allowing for alternate holes which could be confusing. Dan provides a great map, though, and once you play it, navigation shouldn't be an issue.

Lots of time and love have been put into developing this private course. Dan couldn't be a more welcoming and accommodating host. He and his friend even joined us for a memorable round. I would highly recommend camping here and getting several rounds in!

Very welcoming hosts
Beautiful piece of land in the Colorado wilderness
A lot of holes have multiple pin positions
Well thought out holes with combinations of up/down, long/short and left/right
Great baskets with Bear Mtn. logos on number plates
No major roads close so its very quiet
Views are spectacular

Very few cons to mention
Natural teepads but they are well maintained
A couple of holes play close to each other but I've never been concerned about being struck
Signage is there but can be tough to spot

This is a wonderful place ran by wonderful people. Tight tree lines followed by long open bombers
This would be 5 stars easily with concrete or pavers for teepads