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Bear Mountain Trail
4.9 ★★★★★ 166 Google reviews · Running trail in Sedona, Arizona · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Bear Mountain Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Bear Mountain Trail
“Beautiful views from start to finish but to the novice and intermediate hikers, i would recommend a gallon of water minimum per person, good hiking shoes and stretching out.”
“Not many shady parts along the trail so its a good idea to bring a hat or bandana to protect from the sun.”
“A variety of terrain, all was very well marked (I was extremely appreciative of that!”
Holy Moly. What a hike. I'd describe as more of a rock climbing experience. Not for the casual "hiker". Most of the journey is either straight up (or straight down). Get ready to use your hands to balance and help along the really steep parts.
Incredible hike!! Loved it. Here are a few notes from someone with above average hiking skills and speed. 1. The first 35 minutes are pretty simple. Then it starts getting steep. 2. I moved very fast and depleted three protein shaker bottles of water. I would recommend four per person. 3. There is very little shade.
It's easily a top 5 in Sedona. With a few switchbacks, overlooks, and plateaus, it helps minimize the difficulty. I found it more difficult on the way down. The red rock, sandstone, makes it a bit slippery in decending pockets, regardless of footwear. Poles are never a bad idea.
Very strenuous hike due to the elevation and incline but so worth it, it was a great, fun, and challenging hike with amazing views. It is definitely a hard hike so bring lots of water and something to eat.
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful views from start to finish but to the novice and intermediate hikers, i would recommend a gallon of water minimum per person, good hiking shoes and stretching out.”
“Very strenuous hike due to the elevation and incline but so worth it, it was a great, fun, and challenging hike with amazing views.”
“Also, the parking lot for the trail is the same lot as the Doe Messa trail you just walk across the road to get to the start of the Bear Mountain trail.”
“Trail has multiple false summits just keep going until you see the end of trail marker which is towards the west side of the summit.”
“Not many shady parts along the trail so its a good idea to bring a hat or bandana to protect from the sun.”
“To give you an idea on difficulty, my buddy who I hiked with is not an active person and came from Texas at about sea level.”
Plan your run at Bear Mountain Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitefs.usda.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 10:30 AM–4 AM |
| Tuesday | 10:30 AM–4 AM |
| Wednesday | 10:30 AM–4 AM |
| Thursday | 10:30 AM–4 AM |
| Friday | 10:30 AM–4 AM |
| Saturday | 10:30 AM–4 AM |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM–4 AM |
Running trails near Sedona
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
