Latest:	28 Mar 2026 (3 days ago)

Reported by:	Rbowru (61 reports)
Location:	Bear Canyon
Quality:
Waterflow:	Deep pools
Wetsuit:	Full wetsuit
Water temperature:
Difficulty:
Time:	3 hours

Team: 2 people with experience level Intermediate to Advanced

Trip report URL:

Comments: Cold swims to wake you up! We checked out Bear in the morning before heading to Sundance. We wore full 4/3mm wetsuits and very glad we did despite the slot being short, this was some of the coldest canyon water in my recent in memory. It's more hike than canyon, and I feel like I spent more time taking on and off my wetsuit than we were in the canyon slot. Our time probably would have been better spent exploring more of the West Clear Creek area in combo with Sundance than this side romp. 2 hr 45 min.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
28 Mar 2026		Deep pools	Full wetsuit		3 hours	2 people Intermediate to Advanced	Rbowru (61 reports)
Comment: Cold swims to wake you up! We checked out Bear in the morning before heading to Sundance. We wore full 4/3mm wetsuits and very glad we did despite the slot being short, this was some of the coldest canyon water in my recent in memory. It's more hike than canyon, and I feel like I spent more time taking on and off my wetsuit than we were in the canyon slot. Our time probably would have been better spent exploring more of the West Clear Creek area in combo with Sundance than this side romp. 2 hr 45 min.
20 Mar 2026	Great	Deep pools	Full wetsuit	Normal	2 hours	1 people	Nclegg (467 reports)
Comment: Full conditions. Light flow through the canyon. VERY cold water. Snow has fully melted due to the heat wave.
6 Feb 2026	Great	Deep pools	Drysuit	Special challenges	3 hours	2 people	Nclegg (467 reports)
Comment: Ice ice baby
24 Aug 2025	Great	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit	Normal	2 hours	4 people	Nclegg (467 reports)
Comment: Water levels still very low. Two dead mice in the first pool.
27 Jul 2025	Great	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit	Normal	1 hour	2 people	Nclegg (467 reports)

18 Jul 2025	Great	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit	Normal	2 hours	1 people	Nclegg (467 reports)
Comment: Recent rains did not have much effect on water levels - still very low. It was overcast today and a 4/3 was comfortable.
12 Jul 2025	Great	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit	Normal	3 hours	3 people Intermediate to Advanced	Celes (41 reports)
Comment: Nice pretty little canyon. Water is dark with some debris but no smell of dead things! Sneak ascend is kind of fun, just follow the footprints.
12 Jun 2025	Great	Dry	Full wetsuit	Normal	2 hours	2 people Intermediate to Advanced	Eric W (8 reports)
Comment: Another beautiful day in an AZ canyon. All the webbing looks good—only one pothole swim. Everything else is chest-deep or lower. Wearing a 5/4mm wetsuit was plenty comfortable. A 3/2 might be fine as the swims/walks are short. Luckily, the skunk decomposition has run its course. We only faintly smelled skunk in the last pot, and never saw a body. Note that if taking the sneak exit, take an immediate right out of the canyon, and to the right of the gully. We went left, which got us there, but it was very steep and loose on that side.
23 May 2025	Good	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit	Normal	5 hours	6 people Beginner to Intermediate	Rpatt-kstew (18 reports)
Comment: Webbing on raps was good. Water was low in main pothole but easily navigable, basically a walkout. KML is good. We wore 3/2mm wetsuits and for some it was a little too cold.
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 (467 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 (467 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 (467 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 (351 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.