Bear Canyon Trail

The Bear Canyon Trail travels through the entire length of Bear Canyon (as the name would suggest) in the beautiful Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. It’s conveniently accessible from the northeastern edge of the city near the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. The scenery is excellent, the trail is varied and a bit challenging, and the waterfall and swimming hole on the way make for delightful stops. Tall saguaros and big prickly pears line your path, and the canyon is known for its diversity of bird species, so birders and casual enthusiasts alike will want to keep their eyes on the sky.

This route can get very hot during the heat of the day, so start your hike early. Also, bring more water than you think you might need and wear sunscreen and a hat as you hike.

From the visitor center, take Bear Canyon Trail #29 towards the canyon. At the fork, stay right. Stay right again across Sabino Creek. There are restrooms and picnic tables with a view of Bear Canyon. Past the shuttle stop, you’ll encounter the first of seven creek crossings. Keep in mind that these crossings can be challenging if there’s lots of water in Bear Creek, so water shoes are recommended. The wash may be dry at certain times of the year, but other times it will be flowing. Look for cairns on the crossings to help you stay on track.

The Seven Falls Overlook is before the falls. Stop here for a moment to take in the view. The falls are most often flowing between October and May, but may also flow at other times if there’s been recent rain. Continue past the falls, where the trail is almost guaranteed to be far less busy. After some final climbing out of the canyon, the trail ends at a T-junction. Turn back here and retrace your steps.