Bear Mountain Trail No. 54

The strenuous hike to the top of the mountain is mostly unshaded, steep, and difficult in places. The trail ascends over 1,800 feet in elevation over the 2.3 mile hike to the top of Bear Mountain. However, the trail provides spectacular views the entire way, and offers many rewarding turn-around points for those who don't wish to tackle the entire hike. Bear Canyon Trail is the quintessential "it's the journey, not the destination" hike.

Expect the 4.6 mile round-trip to take approximately 4.5 hours, but you can easily spend the entire day stopping to take pictures and enjoy the non-stop views. The total accumulated elevation gain is around 2,100 feet. Much of the trail is over tilted rock. Watch for white painted diamond-shaped markers to guide you across rock where the trail is indistinct.

See our full Bear Mountain Trail No. 54 hiking guide and learn more about the Coconino National Forest.