Bear Mountain Trail

All over Arizona are hiking trails that do nothing short of dropping your jaw and amazing your senses. There seems to be at least one in every region of the state, and in Sedona, that hike would be the Bear Mountain hike.

It's a strenuous five mile round trip, and while it could be done in a few hours, no one in their right mind would rush through a hike like this. Every step up and every turn unfold a new view overlooking red rock country and making you stop and just appreciate the view. For that reason, it takes a good four to five hours to summit and make it back to the trailhead.

The trail starts off deceptively easy and you make your way through a grassy meadow cut through by a couple of deep washes. The climb picks up soon enough though as the base of Bear Mountain begins directing the trail upward. An unfortunate part of the hike is the amount of false summits that make you think the trail ends sooner than it does. While they keep you guessing on the way up, they're also responsible for unobstructed views of the Sedona area that aren't visible in any other place.

The trail eventually climbs up into the limestone of the higher peaks that surround the city where airplanes offering scenic air tours fly overhead. The limestone's eroded forms curve around the mountain and Pointleaf Manzanita almost hide the route as they cover what's now become a relatively level mesa.

The last ascent takes a lot of energy out of you, but the pine trees that scatter the trail at this point are reminders that the summit is right around the next corner and up just a little farther. It's the final test of a hike that does nothing but astound you up every step. The summit is no exception as the pine trees offer much needed shade and an excellent place to stop and eat a meal that you hopefully packed with you as you sit back and enjoy the views.

To find the trailhead, head south from the "Y" in Sedona (where 89A intersects with Hwy. 179) and take a right on Dry Creek Rd. It will intersect with Boynton Canyon Rd., at which point you'll want to go left. You'll reach one more intersection where you'll want to make another left onto Boynton Pass Rd. and about a mile down the road on the right you'll see the trailhead. Bring plenty of food and water, and especially, a camera.