Bear Mountain Trail is a 4.9 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Sedona, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Red Rocks Pass for $5 needed; kiosk located at trail head parking lot. 360 degree views at top are unforgettable. Bring a wind breaker to layer up with since it could get windy and cold at summit. There is a deceptive false summit beforehand after which you do descend into a small saddle. Wasn’t difficult to climb back up this thing coming back. Wear shoes with good traction! It’s a rugged trail and some sections are on pure rock at an almost vertical drop.
Parking at the trail head, shared by the Doe Mountain trail head, so it fills up fast. As with many hikes in this area a Red Rock Pass is required. There are pit toilets at the parking area.
USDA Forest Service Coconino National Forest
Top of Bear is flat with a lot of mid to high brush. There are some trail markers up there, but few. We felt the maintained portion of the trail had ended because of this, and when we went to return to the trail down, we discovered that we'd lost it! Took a while to find it, so if you are one those to blaze onward, make sure you can find your way back! Once on the trail down, you will see that a very nice person has used chalk to draw arrows on rocks, and others stacked rocks. This proved useful, and seems like a good idea to help mark a trail. Bring a hat, sunscreen. If you have bad knees, bring your poles. TAKE EXTRA WATER! You need a parking permit. (we bought ours from the Enchantment Resort's Front desk for $5). And there are only about 20 spaces, and overflow parked on street (not sure is this is okay or not). There are nice outhouses in parking lot.
From the "Y" roundabout (the intersection of Highway 179 and Highway 89A), drive west on Highway 89A about 3 miles. Turn right on Dry Creek Road. Stay on Dry Creek Road about 3 miles to the end and a stop sign. Turn left on Boynton Pass Road and proceed about 1 1/2 miles to a stop sign. Turn left, continuing on Boynton Pass Road. The trailhead is the second trailhead on the left side, about 1 3/4 miles from the stop sign. The trailhead is across the road from the parking area
March 2, 2021Awesome hike up a grueling trail which paid off in views that can only be described at majestically beautiful. The hike to the top is pretty well marked with very challenging vertical climbs through four or five levels before getting to the top. You will be rewarded with breathtaking view of the San Francisco peaks in Flagstaff forty miles away! The hike down was just as challenging on tired legs but it was one memorable hike on a perfectly sunny and cool day. I recommend this hike to those that are seasoned hikers only.
March 1, 2021Awesome but not for the light hearted. Great views I think it’s about the highest you can get in Sedona on a trail. Best marked trail with little white arrows but it’s a Long hard hike. Bring snacks and plenty of water
March 1, 2021Saturday 2/27 8am-12:30pm, with plenty of time to stop and admire the scenery, eat lunch and take pictures. Met so many cool people on the trail. I met a woman named Laura and tried to get a picture texted and it didn't go through and the number is gone from my phone. Laura - if you see this look me up on Facebook! You must think I'm so rude! Anyway the hike is beautiful and not near as hard as I thought it was going to be.
February 28, 2021Good workout, we did it in sneakers, but boots might’ve been better. Great views along the entire route!
February 28, 2021Awesome trail! You can’t even see the top from the start of trail. Great views along the way and plenty of scrambling up rocks. Don’t give up! Go til you see the “end” sign. The views are unbeatable. The way up is hard but the down seemed more taxing on my legs/knees since it was so steep. Wear good shoes. Bring water and snacks. You’ll be hungry at the top after that hike up.
February 27, 2021February 27, 2021Great views, mentally taxing as you continuously think your nearing the top, only to have another climb appear as you crest a steep section. Would recommend an extra layer for the top as it got very windy, you will not be too hot in a long sleeve tee.
February 26, 2021February 24, 2021Very difficult climb. This was my first ever hike, though I’m relatively in shape. I reached the summit in 1 hr 15 mins. Not sure why it says 5 hours - must be including a lot of rest. Breathtaking views. Well worth it.
February 23, 2021Awesome hike. Definitely a hard hike for someone like me with little hiking experience but there were people of all ages doing the hike.
February 23, 20216.5 miles, took me 3.5 hours. great views, not too many people
February 20, 2021February 20, 2021February 19, 2021This trail is hard. And it's beautiful. We are experienced hikers, and this trail kicked my bu**. Well marked trailhead, gradual ascent for around 0.25 miles, then steeper, then the climb into the canyon and up the canyon face was steep. Once on the mesa the climb was easier, until the last saddle and the final pitch to the summit. Thanks to the Forest Service for a well built trail. It could use more blaze marks in a couple of places. We and others lost the trail several times, briefly. Alltrails distance seems a little below our actual experience, as commented by others. I tapped out at the last saddle. We took about 2 hours to get 1.75 miles along the trail, to around 5,400 feet elevation. The last 0.5 miles and 1,000 feet would have done me in, based on experience, so we turned back and descended. I am a fit, low BMI, low resting heart rate male in my 50s. My wife and hiking partner is a 50-state marathoner and she said this trail is similar to a marathon in terms of physical exertion. Overfuelling your body before the hike is essential. I drank 1.5 liters of water and did not complete the entire distance. Temp at 9:00am on a Friday in February was around 40 deg F and by 1:30pm it was in the low 50s. Full Arizona sun meant that the day felt warm. No snakes, no scorpions and no mountain lions. Forest Service trailhead parking was 3/4 full at 9:00am on a Friday, and it was full and overflowing onto the road at 1:30pm. We saw around a half dozen hiking groups on the ascent, and a dozen or more groups ascending during our descent. In summary, the trail is fantastic with great views, but you must be prepared for the exertion.
February 19, 2021This hike can best be described as a trail that should have switchbacks but doesn’t, summed up perfectly in a previous review - you will not believe where you’re going when you see it - but it’s so worth it. Leave the top about 1 hour before sunset and you will be on the backside with incredible views of the red rocks as the sun sets and the sky lights up with enough light to get back to your car
February 19, 2021Stunning view with an unforgettable cardio workout! Trail is in great condition, even to do in sneakers, but be ready to work for the views
February 19, 2021The Bear Mtn. hiking experience is wholly rewarding in every way. Lives up to the hype. Highlights: imperial hoodoos and spires adorning the saddle, and the snow-capped San Francisco Peaks from the summit). Gratitude for the white painted breadcrumbs all along the scramble. Distance? Like other reviewers, I too noticed a discrepancy in All Trails distance vs. what I recorded: Today, my Apple Watch registered 6.6 miles. Maybe the energy vortexes and harmonic convergence zones are disrupting our instruments!?
February 18, 2021February 17, 2021Great difficult trail! Our doggo did it with no problems. I agree with other reviews that the best view is not at the top but in and around the saddle between summits.
February 16, 2021February 15, 2021Tough almost non stop up hill hike with glorious ever changing scenic views around every corner you achieve. This is one you are going to remember forever
February 15, 2021Perfect Sedona hike! Incredible views! I don’t have anything bad to say about this hike. Scramble most of the way. The best views imo are in the middle - you go through this gorgeous canyon :) definitely very difficult & I hike in WA once a week. It says 3:19 active time but note it took us 4:30 total with stops so please leave enough time before sunset! Happy hiking :)
