Bear Canyon in Coconino National Forest, AZ

Canyoneer Bear Canyon Coconino National Forest, AZ

Class 2 3B II (30 ft max) 2.6 miles 900 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Jul 3, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude
Directions
Route Map
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This is a technical canyon. If you are unfamiliar with how to build anchors or the gear required for canyoneering do not attempt this route.

Bear Canyon shares a trailhead with Sundance Canyon, but I set the TH coordinates to the spot where we dropped off the forest road into the drainage leading into Bear Canyon. A bit of easy bushwhacking led to a few downclimbs and a pre-set handline that squeezed us under a chockstone. We got to the narrows and decided we'd do it without a wetsuit, only possible because it was July and we wanted to make this otherwise beginner canyon slightly more intense. Although there was only one very short rappel within the canyon, the obstacles throughout are definitely a lot of fun, the chutes and narrows are pretty, and the backlit mosses are lovely.

Bear Canyon opened up and required a bit more easy bushwhacking, boulder-hopping, and route-finding around small cliffs before getting to West Clear Creek. Since we had just done Sundance Canyon, we were able to easily locate the trail leading back up to the plateau above. It's steep, but easy to follow once you find it.

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After dropping west from the road, we crossed over a minor gully, then went up the hump ahead. After the hump, we dropped down into the true Bear Canyon drainage.
After dropping west from the road, we crossed over a minor gully, then went up the hump ahead. After the hump, we dropped down into the true Bear Canyon drainage.
Obstacles before Bear Canyon.
Obstacles before Bear Canyon.
Optional rappel, we bypassed it.
Optional rappel, we bypassed it.
A log to aid in down climbing.
A log to aid in down climbing.
Entering Bear Canyon.
Entering Bear Canyon.
Looking back as we enter Bear Canyon
Looking back as we enter Bear Canyon
A small downclimb into Bear Canyon.
A small downclimb into Bear Canyon.
Bear Canyon is short and sweet, and has only one rappel, right here.
Bear Canyon is short and sweet, and has only one rappel, right here.
Looking back at the Bear Canyon rappel.
Looking back at the Bear Canyon rappel.
Pretty narrows.
Pretty narrows.
A hairpin turn in Bear Canyon.
A hairpin turn in Bear Canyon.
Image 11 from gallery
A fun log obstacle.
A fun log obstacle.
Image 13 from gallery
An open section in Bear Canyon with lush ferns and pretty lighting.
An open section in Bear Canyon with lush ferns and pretty lighting.
Some stemming to avoid pools.
Some stemming to avoid pools.
Gorgeous narrows.
Gorgeous narrows.
Last section of narrows.
Last section of narrows.
Looking back into Bear Canyon, just before the mouth of the narrows.
Looking back into Bear Canyon, just before the mouth of the narrows.
At the end of Bear Canyon, looking back in.
At the end of Bear Canyon, looking back in.
At the mouth of Bear Canyon, headed toward West Clear Creek.
At the mouth of Bear Canyon, headed toward West Clear Creek.
Some avoidable obstacles on the way toward West Clear Creek.
Some avoidable obstacles on the way toward West Clear Creek.
Image 22 from gallery
Boulder-hopping obstacles.
Boulder-hopping obstacles.
Exiting Bear Canyon into West Clear Creek.
Exiting Bear Canyon into West Clear Creek.
We located the escape from West Clear Creek on the right here.
We located the escape from West Clear Creek on the right here.
Heading up the escape route out of West Clear Creek.
Heading up the escape route out of West Clear Creek.
Some Class 2 moves to get out.
Some Class 2 moves to get out.
Image 28 from gallery
Looking back down the escape route from near the top. A short trail leads to the trailhead after the steep ascent.
Looking back down the escape route from near the top. A short trail leads to the trailhead after the steep ascent.

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