Bear Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3B II (v2a2 II) Raps:2-4, max ↨25ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 14 Sep 2024
"Incredibly beautiful, short, and easy. A must do! We only did the one bolted rappel, all others are easy down climbs. 3/2 wetsuit comfortable. One swi |
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| Best season: | Summer to Summer;BEST in May;Jun;Jul;Aug;COLD in Sep
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34.5444, -111.4396
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Nearby photosIntroduction
This canyon is quite scenic and is considered one of the more beginner-friendly canyons in the West Clear Creek Wilderness due to the ease of approach and exit and short, mostly non-technical narrows. That is NOT to say beginners should attempt this canyon without an experienced leader(s).
A sneak route option is available on canyon right immediately after the end of the narrows that will take you up through a steep gully to the road. If linking Bear and Sundance canyons together, this sneak exit is a good way to shave off some time / mileage and avoid doing the bigger exit hike (via Point Trail) from West Clear Creek twice. There is a road where the approach is shown on the map. If you park at the campsite, you can follow the drainage directly back without hiking up to the road.
Approach
As long as the roads are dry, a passenger car will get you there...the road is rough, however, and a higher clearance vehicle is recommended.
Leave the road and hike down into a side drainage. Expect a few pools and some downclimbing prior to the confluence with Bear Canyon. The last two obstacles prior to the confluence can both be downclimbed on canyon right.
Descent
A few swims. Several wades. Cold pools year round.
The first rappel is encountered as the canyon begins to narrow.
R1: 15' off rock pinch, or downclimb.
Shortly after is another downclimb into a deep pool, which is immediately followed by a rappel. Use caution near the lip of the pool as you traverse to the anchor.
R2: 25' off bolts canyon right.
All remaining obstacles in the canyon can be downclimbed, though there are a couple more optional rappels prior to the confluence with West Clear Creek.
Exit
The traditional exit is to follow Bear Canyon to West Clear Creek, hike up creek, and exit Point Trail back to the rim.
The alternate sneak exit is shorter and less elevation gain (shown in yellow on the map), though it is a bit brushy and there is no real trail.
Red tape
Note: During winter, the WCC roads are closed at the 260.
Beta sites
- https://www.stavislost.com/hikes/trail/bear-canyon
- http://arizonahiking.org/component/content/article/82-mogollon-rim/315-bear-canyon
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OnRopeCanyoneering.com : Bear Canyon - CanyonChronicles.com : Bear Canyon
- HikeArizona.com : Bear Canyon - West Clear Creek
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Arizona Technical Canyoneering Book by Todd Martin : Bear Canyon - Super Amazing Map : Bear Canyon
- ZionCanyoneering.com : Bear Canyon
- WildPathsAZ.com : Bear Canyon
Trip reports and media
- https://www.facebook.com/pat.winstanley.7/media_set?set=a.727737240618309.1073741922.100001461198708&type=3
- Candition.com : Bear Canyon
