Conditions:Bear Canyon-20220501025050

Latest:	30 Apr 2022 (3 yrs ago)

Reported by:	Nclegg (407 reports)
Quality:	Great
Waterflow:	Deep pools
Wetsuit:	Thin wetsuit
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Normal
Time:	2 hours

Team: 3 people with experience level Intermediate to Advanced

Trip report URL:

Comments: Evening run after completing Wilbur. Wore a 3/2mm wetsuit and was cold but we moved quickly and shot up the sneak exit in under 20 minutes. A small patch of snow was still lingering in the middle of the canyon. Recommend full wetsuit (5mm+) this time of year for comfort.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
18 May 2025	Good	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit	Advanced		3 people Intermediate to Advanced	Baxter (1 reports)
Comment: Water was very low and in keeper mode (our group decided to backtrack and hit it another day with non-keeper conditions)
3 May 2025			Full wetsuit		6 hours	4 people Beginner to Intermediate	Myownhigh (7 reports)
Comment: Team of 4, took our time, went slow, enjoyed the canyon. Took 6 hours. Pools were icy cold, mostly felt good with a 4/3 wet suit but all of us agreed hands and feet were painfully cold going into pools. Weather was supposed to be sunny, ended up being cold enough to see our breath as a thunder stom rolled in on us mid-afternoon. Still a couple spots of residual snow. All enjoyed the canyon. We hiked all the way down to the creek to unthaw in warmer water and enjoy WCC for a few minutes.
28 Apr 2025	Great	Deep pools	Full wetsuit	Normal	3 hours	2 people	Nclegg (407 reports)
Comment: Still some residual snow hanging around. Time reflects the full route, frolicking by the creek, and exiting via point trail.
26 Mar 2025	Amazing	Deep pools	Thick wetsuit	Special challenges	2 hours	2 people Advanced	Nclegg (407 reports)
Comment: Canyon is full of snow and icicles with pools frozen over, but most ice sheets were not thick enough to walk across. Lots of breaking through thick ice. The optional log downclimb was extra super duper spicy. Time reflects use of sneak approach and exit.
8 Nov 2024	Great	Deep pools	Thick wetsuit	Normal	2 hours	2 people Advanced	Nclegg (407 reports)
Comment: Pools were coated with thin sheets of ice. Lots of fallen leaves everywhere. Ran into the resident owl in the middle section of the slot.
14 Sep 2024	Amazing		Thin wetsuit		2 hours	3 people Beginner to Advanced	RFontaine (270 reports)
Comment: 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 swim and a few wades. This is easily one of of the prettiest canyons in AZ but savor it, it’s over quick! 2.5hrs with sneak exit. After having done the sneak a few times, Id say Point Trail is an easier exit but more distance.
31 Aug 2024	Amazing	Deep pools	Full wetsuit	Normal	6 hours	7 people Advanced to Brand new	Reallimbic (12 reports)
Comment: Thunder and rain! 6 yr old & 8 yr old plus three new for their first canyon presents challneges that require advanced rigging and precautions. Kids: 3/2 mm wetsuit, 3mm socks, 3mm gloves. 17 yr & 18 yr: 5mm. 20 yr: 2mm sleeveless vest. We prepared to properly warm him after out of all the water but not recommended to even try without sufficient neoprene. Wife: 3mm shorty, 3mm socks, runs cold and was cold but functional. I had 3mm shorty, 3mm socks and gloves and was cold. Knowing this canyon always has extremely cold water, we would have had more neoprene but lent it out. 1 dead rat and squirl but not in the water. 1st swimmer have to slide in a few feet. Other end of swimmer the water level was lower but able to climb out. If you cannot climb out, a second person has a spot to stand in the water to partner assist. This comes to the 25' bolted rappel. It started to thunder and rain into the canyon. Rappeled into ankle deep water and close by was place to wait for whole group out of the water. Next drop into water with the massive log. Log was too wet and slick to down climb with no grab branches. Had to have kids rappel into water and swim out. Off pinch rock so hard start for new people. Each time you enter the icy cold water, new people panic and can't function or use their hands. I was prepared for this and rigged in a way for them to do minimal to nothing when in the frigid cold water. Few more water sections up to chest or waist deep for older kids. Youngest 6yr old and 8 yr old swam through the swimmers. 8 yr old is a strong swimmer. 6 yr old also swam through swimmers. Some kids including adults, once in freezing water may not be able to swim and worse once too long in the water. Beautiful slot sections. Incredible canyon. 6 yr old and 8yr old love rappelling on their own and time in the canyons. All loved the canyon! Hot showers after is bonus for a fun but cold adventure. 6 hours car to car with the sneak exit and kids still with energy to play at camp!
18 Aug 2024	Good	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit		2 hours	1 people	Nclegg (407 reports)
Comment: A couple dead rats in the final pools before the sneak exit. 3/2mm wetsuit was perfect given overcast conditions.
16 Jul 2024	Great	Very Low	Thin wetsuit	Normal	3 hours	4 people Brand new to Advanced	LEGNOR (12 reports)
Comment: Fun little canyon, water was cold, stagnant, smelly, all webbing appears to be near new. Took sneak exit and loved it, car to car in 3 hours
21 Jun 2024	Good	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit	Normal	5 hours	2 people	Nclegg (407 reports)
Comment: Removed two handlines that were fixed at the first rappel.
16 Jun 2024	Great		Thin wetsuit	Normal	5 hours	4 people Beginner to Advanced	EMoorcroft (450 reports)
Comment: Caution: Owls nesting just after the big log downclimb. Please do not disturb. We did 1-3 rappels. Water in the big log downclimb room is deep and dirty. Time includes taking our time, losing a cell phone, encountering nesting owls, and chilling at the creek.
2 Jun 2024	Good	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit	Normal	4 hours	5 people	EMoorcroft (450 reports),Nclegg (407 reports)
Comment: Water is still very cold. Removed extra anchors found along the approach. The bolted anchor was all that was needed. There is a dead rat in one of the pools. Took the creek exit which was very nice. Encountered a handful of day hikers at the creek and along Point Trail.
22 Jul 2023	Great	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit	Normal	5 hours	2 people Advanced to Intermediate	MRickerd (37 reports)
Comment: Second time through this canyon - brought wetsuits again - new rappel due to old giant log being gone/moved since last descent - skipped last rappel into pool and slid down giant log that is wedged in place - beautiful canyon for sure - skipped the sneak exit this time and went all the way to WCC to relax in the warmer water for a while.
14 Jul 2023	Great	Deep pools	Rain jacket	Normal	4 hours	3 people Beginner to Advanced	Nclegg (407 reports)
Comment: 2 cold swims (large log at last downclimb/rap has shifted, making this a mandatory rap and swimmer for some). We went no-wetsuits mid-afternoon on a 90+ degree day and were still shivering at one point. A thin shorty would probably be ideal for this time of year.
5 Jun 2023	Great	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit	Easy	5 hours	4 people Intermediate to Advanced	AZ Advocate (51 reports)
Comment: Rappelled where the big log used to be. Super fun canyon, clean water, and an excellent day out.

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