The upper part of Bates Canyon Road becomes more and more secluded feeling as you climb higher and higher. As you hike up and away from the dense network of trails the crisscross the foothills and toward Bates Peak, the trail gets steeper and steeper. There is an abandoned mining camp up in the canyon and it is also possible that there are unmarked mining tunnels and shafts in the area, so it's a good idea to stick to the trail. Bates Canyon Road stops somewhat anti-climatically below Bates and Nelson Peaks, but it's still a great, challenging hike that is especially good in the fall when the leaves are changing from green to hues of red, orange, and gold.