The hike to the top of the mountain is mostly unshaded, steep and difficult in places. Great views the whole way. The trail begins at a broad path at the parking area, crosses two washes and then starts a gradual ascent 1/4 mile to the wilderness boundary at the base of the mountain. The trail narrows and begins a 450 foot switchback that is steep and rocky in places. It levels out following narrow plateau area and then begins a steep rocky 500 foot climb in a narrow side canyon to a broad plateau. It crosses the plateau gradually ascending, dips down, and then climbs another 400 feet to a false summit. Fay Canyon views are to the right (northeast). The trail continues a moderate climb to true summit. There are great panoramic views here. Continue over level ground another 200 yards to the Red Canyon overlook and a view of the San Francisco Peaks in the distance to the north. Return by the same route. Do not attempt this hike when there is significant snow on the mountain.
The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Bear Mountain Trail submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today!
We hiked this trail May 18 2011. We progressed to the first ridge, as several hikers we passed coming back told us that from that first ridge, there was a final ridge another hour up. It took us 2 hours to hike that first ridge and we decided to turn back in the interest of time. Note that we took our time, pausing many times to take photos and admire the great views and wildlife. We are in our 50s and in fairly good shape, so while it was challenging overall, we did not find the degree of difficulty too taxing for our conditioning. The trail was fun, as it was varied in terms of trail terrain and views. This trail was also well-marked with cairns and in good shape. At no time was there a step up more than 4 ft, but it was a continuously a fairly step grade – so a good workout! We would NOT recommend it for those with a sedentary lifestyle. Great job Mike at the Hike House for advising us about this trail, it was just what we were looking for!!!
Bear mountain trail was a great hike!!!!All the way to the top is basically straight up, i mean like on your hands and knees!There is a lot of wildlife on the trail such as snakes lizards and lots and lots of bugs!!!Believe it or not there is a bear figure (looks like a lion to me) in the rocks some of my family could see it others could not.Overall it was a fantastic last hike for my family and i we had a blast!!
I recommend this trail for adventure seekers who like a big climb!!!
-Madison Age 12
Mike from The Hike House recommended this trail as a must do. We are very active and fit family. I’m 47 and race/train triathlons, boyfriend is 37 and road/mountain bikes. My sons, 17 and 15, road and mountain bike. We carried our camelbacks filled. It was mid morning in August when we did this hike. Not for the sedentary. Due to time restraints we didn’t get to the top summit but it was well worth the hike. Took lots of pictures are various stops along the way. Not many others on the trail.
We are both ex-Navy SEALS (Vietnam era) – 67 years old and in outstanding physical condition. We hiked up and back in 2 hours 53 minutes total hike time; 3 hours 19 minutes total time (stops for pictures, eating, etc.). It was more strenous than we expected and we got an excellent work-out. Coming down was hard on the knees and we are both glad that we had our Leki hiking poles to absorb some of the shock. We began on September 7, 2011 at 6:03 A.M. and 68 degree temperature. We had cool winds most of the way up and back; however, it did get a little warm at the end (9:25 A.M.) – 88 degrees. Small cairns marked the trail almost all the way. We took a couple of wrong turns coming back down (couldn’t spot the cairns), but quickly were able to correct after about 25 feet. A great hike for views and for conditioning. Dennis Andres’ book “Sedona’s Top 10 Hikes” was spot on accurate as an overview of this hike.
Great trail. Beautiful red rock views at the top, and fewer people than on most trails with similar views. There is some climbing up the rock, but we did not find it overwhelmingly difficult. It is long, so bring plenty of water and take your time. The views at the top are worth it, and you are likely to be the only ones up there.
I fought the Bear but the Bear won. Just too tired to do the last 300ft to the very top. But the view back towards capital,bell,cathedral was great!
I went to Bear Mountain and saw a bunch of nature.Like bushes,trees,and,moss.I almost made it to the top (2 miles up) but I got blisters on my feet.
Sincearly, Kelsey Ent age 8
Beautiful views the whole way up! I was a little worried about the level 5 difficulty but it wasn’t too bad at all. Good workout! Love my hiking trips to beautiful Sedona! Thank you Hike House for your advise!
This is a great winter hike with interesting terrain and excellent views. The cross-bedded Coconino sandstones at the summit are fantastic. We ate lunch on rim with great views and lots of sunshine.
51 Year Old Dad, 51 Year Old Mom, 21 Year old Son, 20 Year Old daughter set out about 9AM. First check is to make sure to cross the road from the parking lot to begin the trail otherwise you will be headed the wrong way.
Trail crosses through a wash bain and then the climb starts. Step climb with several rock passes (nothing beyond reason). Once you start the push up the mountain stay tuned….it is constant and you gain elevation to the first false top…..after a break you keep climbing to the second false top and you really think you are there because there is a huge canyon between you and Bear Mtn still….trick — stay to the right and the path leads you right around the canyon and up into the final climb. Once you reach the top – 360 views including the SF Peaks.
The entire family loved this hike…it creates a sense of accomplishment but is also very doable. One key note – make sure to take plently of water…the distance is deceiving because of the quick altitude gain and you will down quite a bit of H2O….it is worth carrying the extra weigth.
Views are absolutely SPECTACULAR with lots and lots of once in a lifetime picture settings.
Oh yeah….make sure to stay right the entire trip….at the first step we took a left thinking the trail went around and it is a false trail that requires you to double back….no big deal but avoid this and it will save you some time.
All the Best!
This hike was great. But first, I need to commend the great staff at the hike house store. My girlfriend and I stopped in to get some information on hikes in the area and the staff was more than happy to share knowledge, maps, and advice. We were looking for a medium distance hike with good elevation gain and good views. Bear mountains was all three. It took us about 3.5 hours round trip. It was a very good workout and our bodies were worn out when we got back to the car. The views on the ascent and descent are astonishing. I would highly recommend the bear mountain hike for anyone looking for a moderate to difficult hike with good elevation gain. I would also highly recommend the hike house. They were extremely helpful in finding a camelbak for my girlfriend. They made sure she got one that fit properly and spent a lot of time explaining the different features of the various packs. All in all, hike house really made our trip to Sedona great. Thanks!
Very unique hike. Fabulous views and rock formations. Really gets your heart rate up but well worth it. In my top ’10’ Sedona hikes.
Great advice and local knowledge from folks at The Hike House. Highly recommend stopping here for good trail info, and everything trail-related… Love my new Kuhl shorts too.
Hiked Bear Mountain this morning and appreciated the prior trail description. Level of difficulty, length, wayfinding tips and description of viewpoints was bang on. Stopped to watch turkey vultures playing in thermals on the way down and was buzzed so close all i heard was the wind on his wings as he came from behind. Looking forward to hiking others on the suggested list in the next few days.
The day was perfect. The sky was deep blue. The views were magical and took us back in time.
The hike house was very helpful giving us hikes of all different difficulties. This trail was my favorite out of all the ones I did with my family! It was the perfect difficulty to push ur limits a little bit, and then once you’d make it to the top the views were so rewarding after the difficult climb! I would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting a great hike!
We did this trail today and thought it was the perfect moderate hike for advanced hikers. My husband and I reached the top in 1 hr and 10 minutes to get our work out squared away. The way back, we took our sweet, sweet time in order to relish the views, take great photos and of course to spare our knees the agony of the rugged descent. A must hike for intermediate to advanced hikers!
A great way to see the Sedona landscape. Perfect half day hike with a bit of a challenge to make you feel it was worth it.
We are a couple in our late 50s; in good physical condition. We found this hike to be a challenge – in a good way. Along the way we met a group of 70-something women, who probably made it 1/2 way before turning back. I wouldn’t recommend this hike for kids; definitely no tennis shoes. You really need the good soles of your hiking boots to scale the large rocks. Because of the variety of rock terrain, we felt like we did three different hikes, before reaching the summit. It took us 2 hours to go all the way up; a little less than 2 hours to come down. Thanks to those who placed well-marked cairns, we found our way back down! Definitely needed the hot tub afterward!
Awesome trail! Mike and Greg sent us to this trail – great advice. Very challenging trail. We loved how it looked deceptively easy because you could not see the multiple levels. Took a 10, 11 and 16 year old and they loved it – challenging for them
What an amazing hike! My husband, myself and another couple visited Sedona and wanted a hike that was strenuous, was a good distance and had great views. Bear Mountain was perfect! We are all in our low 30s and in decent shape. It was tougher than we thought but totally worth it for the view at the top! Just make sure you go early and bring at least one gallon of water per person. We ran out on the way down and got dehydrated – not good. It’s not shaded at all, and pretty steep in some areas. We all felt very accomplished once we finished it!
Bear’s false summits are the best thing about this trail. If you have hiked the surrounding area it is amazing to look back on your past experience, just make sure you stick to the trail and bring lots of water!
I hiked this trail several years ago. I was in my late 50’s then and in pretty good shape, and hiking Bear was my idea. But I had no idea what I was in store for! I almost didn’t make it to the top; I opted to wait for my husband and friend on the last overlook before the final ascent, but after being left behind and alone, I decided to try for the summit, and I did make it. Coming down, by the time I got to the last leg of flat ground before reaching the parking lot, my husband was practically carrying me. It’s a beautiful but challenging hike; my advice is, if you are not in excellent shape, don’t do the whole thing. There are plenty of awesome views from the “plateaus” along the way where you can still enjoy the mountain without going all the way up.
Mike from the hikehouse turned us on to this hike since our Canyon got shutdown along with the governmentn(at least we didn’t have to pay at the pay station!). Bear Mtn. was a great hike with lots of spectacular views. Took us about 3 hours and 15 minutes of actual hiking time from start to finish. We spent about 45 minutes at the top to admire the views. Not many people on the trail, but a few. Lots of Sedona Snowmen(keirans) (marking the trail, so it was easy to find the way. The trail gained 2000 feet of elevation in 2 1/2 miles, so there were some pretty steep parts that burned the calves, but nothing too radical. We enjoyed very much. Thanks, Mike!
It was great hike. The views just kept getting better and better the higher we went. It seemed to me there were a few false summits before reaching the real top. Well worth pushing to the top.
We saw many what I believed to be very unprepared people climbing up, little or no water, regular shoes and one person in sandals. To each is own, but you should know this is a pretty difficult hike, and should be prepared.
One of our favorite trails – by far. You start off in the flats with nice views and can pick a good pace. Then you hit the base of the mountain and it’s vertical from there – including hand over feet at times. The payoff at the top was really great and we rewarded ourselves with a nice break relaxing and taking in the views.
One of our favorite hikes in Sedona! Best views of the valley from this hike. We had a wonderful time. Took me (28) and my husband (30) 3 hours and 15 minutes to hike (including stops to take pictures, talk to other hikers, and eat). Totally a must for views of the red rocks. It was only in the 60s when we were out, slightly cloudy and windy which made for great weather conditions. The trail was not crowded.
The hike was a true work out, but just what we were looking for. Went into the Hike House and asked for a recommendation of a hike with beautiful views and a good work out. Bear Mountain delivered! Up and back in 2 hours 40 minutes…All we left was blood, sweat and tears!
Hiked this 05/10/2015. I’m 24 and in pretty solid shape. I did get lost along the way… keep your eyes out for the white paint… super important. Overall a great hike. Views were fantastic. Not for the feint of heart. Took me a solid hour to hour and a half, minus the 30 minute detour I took.
Climbed Bear Mountain a few weeks ago with my boyfriend, we are not the most advanced hikers but this was so worth it. Overall, took a few hours & we definitely packed more than enough water and we brought protein bars and granola bars, too. The views were spectacular and well worth it, it is a difficult hike though and at one point you are literally climbing. SO worth it! Bring lots of water though!
Awesome hike. One of my favorites for red rock & overall views. Go prepared with plenty of water & look carefully at the white markers as it’s easy to get lost. Great side trips to ledges not too far off the trail with wonderful views. Gets really hot in the summer. The last 0.25 miles on the trail not worth it except to look at the sign that says “end of trail” & on a good visibility day, you can see humphey’s peak. Not as hard as everyone makes it out to be but also not good for beginners or little kids.
If you want to have the top of a mountain to yourself this I’ds for you. Saw a few people on the trail, but very many.
A nice little climb but not so bad that my dogs could do it.
Very well marked with white blaze. Never a doubt where the trail was.
If you are moderately fit, this is a must do hike!
Fantastic hike! If you have a gps or pace/distance counter, trust it! There a couple of false peaks in the last half mile or so, so be patient – the payoff is worth it.
Starting from the trailhead lot facing north, the largest peak to the left is your destination. Notice it’s the lighter yellowish color, so you’re hiking above the red bands. A few points it seems like you’ll need to drop back to the valley to reach the peak, but the ridgeline continues up, mostly. Near the top, awesome views back down Fay’s canyon and you can even spot the arch if you know where to look.
Did this hike two days after do the descent and ascent to Indian gardens in Grand Canyon so legs were a little bit tired but well worth the hike as there were not a ton of ppl and had numerous moments to sit in complete silence. A must do for Sedona area.
Did this hike today with my 15 year old son, I am 40. Pretty difficult, steep climb to the top. Slick stone and some loose dirt, hiking boots a must. Honestly, if you are fit and have some regular hiking experience it is a fun and very doable trail. If you are overweight, a smoker, or new to hiking try Doe Mt. across the way.
My husband and I hiked this 9-27-17. We started at 6:30am in 60 degree weather. Perfect–very few people and much cooler since it is unshaded. I am 48, husband is 52. We are both about 30# overweight. I have knee problems, 2 back surgeries and hip issues. Reading ominous reviews, I was scared to death to try this. It was indeed difficult, but we took our time and made a lot of stops to catch our breath and take photos. We exercise 3 times a week, but are not in great shape. Take plenty of water and food for refueling. Per Garmin Fenix it was 2.5 miles to the top and took us 2.5 hours to get there. Great views all the way up. When you think you’ve made it, look out. You’ve got more climbing to do! Glad I didn’t chicken out!
Loved this hike. It was uncrowded and easy to find solitude. Many great places to stop and take in the view along the way
Great hike. Beyond very difficult but so worth it. Lots of steep trails. Views are spectacular.
Love this hike. Variety of terrain and challenges. Pretty spectacular views…especially toward Sedona. IMHO among the top hikes in Sedona.
Great challenge for those who like a hard hike. This trail has quite a bit of climbing and does have arrows to help with direction.
Great Hike! Thanks for the suggestion to hike it!