See Canyon To Bear Canyon Lake

te_wa · Post by **te_wa** » Apr 30 2009 1:19 pm

MAY 16-17th
I will be hiking on the See Canyon trail alongside the stately Promontory Butte to the top of the Mogollon Rim, where I will then follow FR208 to the south end of Bear Canyon lake for camping and fly fishing.

The distance each way looks about 6 miles. See Canyon is steep in spots and can be a leg burner, but only for about 1/2 of its length. (It starts near Christopher Creek in a beautiful setting) After climbing to the top of the trail, we head due East cross country for about 1000' until we reach 208. Then, its an easy dirt road walk to the edge of a shallow hillside where we will hike downhill and make camp on the south side of Bear Canyon Lake. Trout are hungry after spending a winter season w/ out much to eat. Fish on!
Returning Sunday will likely require the obligatory Beeline Cafe Chocolate Malt.

please prepare for temps down to freezing. Weather averages for this area are 67/34°
i dont expect many visitors to Bear Canyon this time of year. most dont yet know the fr300 is even open ;)

i live in Ftn. Hills so carpool is in order. Mike

skatchkins · Post by **skatchkins** » May 05 2009 6:37 pm

Dang. I'll be there on the south end the weekend after you

te_wa · Post by **te_wa** » May 06 2009 2:49 pm

meeting place is PETCO on Shea and Beeline (Saguaro ave, next to Target) at 8:00 AM Saturday. I can fit 3 others into my truck. Return Sunday after some more fishing, but for a short hike (and all downhill, basically) of this nature, I propose we hit the trail about 1:00 pm.

aa7jc · Post by **aa7jc** » May 07 2009 7:30 pm

Looks like I am in on this one.
Sharon says she is in as well.
A friend of mine from work is also in.
We will be up in Payson late Friday and get a head start up the hill Saturday morning. This time the Lunar Duo will get pitched for sure.

te_wa · Post by **te_wa** » May 07 2009 9:49 pm

great!
looks like 9 of us.

Crocodile Ryan · Post by **Crocodile Ryan** » May 10 2009 11:52 am

Im not gonna be making this one unfortunately,

Im kinda running under the weather, and have to go to Utah for work this week, I think Ill want/need to relax when I get back

BobP · Post by **BobP** » May 12 2009 12:05 pm

I may end up leaving early(5:30-6:00) if anyone is interested in leaving earlier on Sat.

aa7jc, What time will you guys start hiking on Sat?

aa7jc · Post by **aa7jc** » May 12 2009 1:00 pm

rlrjamy wrote:I may end up leaving early(5:30-6:00) if anyone is interested in leaving earlier on Sat.

aa7jc, What time will you guys start hiking on Sat?

Well, this is a good question.. My guess is that we will hit the trail between 6 and 7am.. Earlier if I can get everyone to agree.

We are going to be spending Fri night in Payson, camping in our daughters living room

Bev (my daughter that lives in Payson) will be hiking with Sharon and I on Saturday but we are like some of the slowest hikers you will ever meet. We are just out for a good time and we usually stop often just to take pictures and eat etc. We are good company and you are welcome to hike with us if you can tolerate our lack of speed. In any case it will be great to meet up with you.

BobP · Post by **BobP** » May 12 2009 1:29 pm

When I backpack, I tend to go slower and enjoy the scenery more. But, I do want to get to the lake early to catch lunch

. One way or another we will meet up. I'm looking forward to this trip.

te_wa · Post by **te_wa** » May 12 2009 1:34 pm

we will all end up at the end of the lake... for you guys going ahead of us, just remember fr208 ends at the top of the hill and you will have to find the best path down to the water... im quite sure with all the game in that area there are faint trails. When in doubt, follow the Elk!

it would be a good idea to pack in a Dollar Tree cooling rack, 2 pack for (you guessed it!) $1
they are stainless and safe for use over fire.

chumley · Post by **chumley** » May 12 2009 2:00 pm

te-wa wrote:fr208 ends at the top of the hill and you will have to find the best path down to the water... im quite sure with all the game in that area there are faint trails.

The top of the hill where FR208 ends is a very popular car-camping destination which should feature no less than 4 or 5 groups of campers, frequently including pop-ups or full-fledged motor homes. I was there this past Sunday afternoon around 5pm and there were still 3 groups in attendance. There is a very well-established trail down to the lake, including a sign that says "TRAIL" just beyond the FS message board, so I doubt you'll have any trouble finding the way down. It is the spur trail which connects to the Bear Canyon Lake Trail at the nice open grassy area at the south end of the lake and the big "NO CAMPING" sign which I assume you'll all avoid. The Bear Canyon Lake Trail takes you around the west side of the lake to the dam. Its a nice short hike. The east side is a less developed trail but is still a pretty easy loop around the lake. There are other spur trails that lead up to the hillsides above the lake, though some are not marked nearly as well as the one at the end of FR208.

aa7jc · Post by **aa7jc** » May 12 2009 2:35 pm

chumley wrote: The top of the hill where FR208 ends is a very popular car-camping destination which should feature no less than 4 or 5 groups of campers, frequently including pop-ups or full-fledged motor homes.

Might I assume you are refering to the far north point of FR208 (closest to the south end of the lake) at 34.389098 -111.002855 ?
(using the TrailDEX Map cross hairs on mytopo)

chumley wrote:nice open grassy area at the south end of the lake and the big "NO CAMPING" sign

I am a bit confused.. because that is exactly where I was aiming for.. excuse me for being so dense but where is the camp?

te_wa · Post by **te_wa** » May 12 2009 2:53 pm

despite a no camping sign, there is obvious camping going on... here's a photo courtesy of Skatchkins of the area in question. from his photoset, i cannot see any signs about camping. fwiw, this is a coconino forest area and not a wildlife refuge or anything so how can they legall say "no camping"
also, the actual campgrounds up on the north side of the lake are still free, far as i know. but were not going there.. (think: subwoofers at 1am.. no thanks)

chumley · Post by **chumley** » May 12 2009 2:56 pm

aa7jc wrote:Might I assume you are refering to the far north point of FR208 (closest to the south end of the lake) at 34.389098 -111.002855 ?

thats the spot

aa7jc wrote:I am a bit confused.. because that is exactly where I was aiming for.. excuse me for being so dense but where is the camp?

Though there's a sign, there's also plenty of signs that people camp nearby. Fire rings for instance. And despite the sign its not very clear as to what the intended boundaries of the suggested no camping area is.
Of course, there's a triplog from somebody who worked for ASNF who was required to hike the trail around the lake as part of her job, so its possible you may get to explain your camping spot to a Forest Ranger and/or get an official explanation of the posted sign. (Though I highly doubt it)

te_wa · Post by **te_wa** » May 12 2009 2:57 pm

chumley wrote:(Though I highly doubt it)

it would take an act of God to get a FS Ranger out of their $45,000 Ford Pickups. I hope youre kidding...

chumley · Post by **chumley** » May 12 2009 3:07 pm

te-wa wrote:it would take an act of God to get a FS Ranger out of their $45,000 Ford Pickups. I hope youre kidding...

I couldn't agree more. That's why I highly doubt it. BUT... there is this triplog. I assume that in the past 12 years however, funding has been cut entirely and they don't do anything like this anymore. I did see a FS vehicle near Knoll Lake this past weekend. It was a fire vehicle though ... and no, they didn't get out.

te_wa · Post by **te_wa** » May 13 2009 12:25 pm

wow.. NOAA claims for Saturday/night:

77/50°

aa7jc · Post by **aa7jc** » May 13 2009 1:21 pm

te-wa wrote:wow.. NOAA claims for Saturday/night:

77/50°

chumley · Post by **chumley** » May 13 2009 1:44 pm

Due to the cloudiness predicted the nighttime low might stay that warm, but I was there last weekend and it was 39 Friday night and 37 Saturday night, and the forecast is otherwise generally the same as it was then. I'd be prepared for the clouds to break and the temp to drop at least to the low 40s.

BobP · Post by **BobP** » May 13 2009 1:45 pm

I was hoping it would be a liitle cooler, but its all good

te_wa · Post by **te_wa** » May 14 2009 7:35 pm

rlrjamy wrote:I was hoping it would be a liitle cooler, but its all good

chumley wrote:I'd be prepared for the ... temp to drop at least to the low 40s.

the five day forecast changes every day.. so whats the point of it? there must be something else to talk about besides the weather, right?

anyway, im prepared for (and hoping for) low 40's.
high 30's would be even sweeter!
see you guys on saturday, mike

See Canyon To Bear Canyon Lake

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