Big Bear

Region: Bear Mountain  Distance: 4.5+ miles  Elevation: 1,900’      

Difficulty: Hardest      Duration: 7-9 Hours Longest Rappel: 200’

Rope: 1 x 200’ + 1 x 200’ Pull Cord Anchor Materials: 60’+ webbing, 10 rapides

Parking: Park at Bear Mountain Trailhead for the start. Parties with an extra vehicle may want to leave a shuttle at the Sun Bear Homestead. 

• Overview: A Big route likely to become a Sedona Classic. Starting just below the Bear Mtn. summit, this route follows a prominent watercourse and gets better as you navigate through funky rappels, and technical terrain. Big Bear is rated hard due to its’ long approach and rugged nature.                                                                                  

• Not beginner friendly

• Anchor building to be expected.

• A demanding route for the Red Rock Region.

• Small groups of experienced canyoneers recommended.

Approach(2-3 hours): From Bear Mountain TH, hike 2.60 miles and approximately 1.5 - 2 hours to the summit and trail end. The entry to the route just below starts just before the final summit push, but this short detour provides 5 star Sedona views and a great spot to gear up. Once geared up and ready to go head back down the way you came a short distance to a social trail that traverses into the shelf roughly 100’ below the summit.  From the end of trail looking below the summit and center the first rappel from a large tree is visible. The turnoff is located on the left, before the final scramble (See Map).

Descent (3+ hours): 10 rappels under 200’ will land you in the bottom of Big Bear.

R1: 60’ off tree at head of the watercourse.

R2: 100’ DCR on ledge.

R3: 50' tree DCL.

R4: 110' set 30' back.

R5: 200' 3 stage. slick rock.
Negotiate small drops by trending RDC.

R6: 175'

R7: 105'

R8: 95' RDC

R9: 80'

R10: 70'

The terrain starts steep and loose but cleans up towards the bottom.

Exit (1-2 hours): Gear down after the last rappel and continue down-canyon staying in the main wash. Eventually the canyon opens up, and you will pass the Sun Bear confluence on the left. Shortly after the two washes merge, a faint jeep road will appear on the left. Follow the jeep road to the powerlines, and the powerlines to the Sun Bear Homestead. If you did not leave a shuttle vehicle hike to the main road, and back to Bear Mountain Trailhead.

 Coordinates:

Turnoff: 34.91420, -111.88271

Rappel 1: 34.91392, -111.88372

Route Established By: Garrett Bennet & Holly Dison