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| Bear Canyon Lake Loop from See Canyon, AZ | | -
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| | Bear Canyon Lake Loop from See Canyon, AZ | | | |
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Bear Canyon Lake Loop from See Canyon, AZ
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| Hiking | 14.18 Miles |
2,262 AEG |
| | Hiking | 14.18 Miles | 6 Hrs 48 Mns | | 2.35 mph |
| 2,262 ft AEG | 46 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | I have hiked the See Canyon trail often over the years, but I never went the extra few miles to Bear Canyon Lake. Until today. I used a track from @hikerdw for the majority of the hike above See Canyon.
The See Canyon trail is not as tidy as I've seen it. Lots of dead fall, but there are several fresh cuts that resulted in fewer trees I had to climb over. No matter. This is a great trail. A few downed trees gives it character.
Once I reached Rim Road, I took a short break before heading east off trail towards an unnamed forest road running north on Bear Willow Ridge. I decided to skip the east side lake trail due to less than favorable reviews, so I used the forest road to get me to the dam on the north end of the lake. It was a nice stroll through a thick forest of pines. Several nice dispersed campsites. Winged grasshoppers were everywhere along the road, jumping all about as I walked by. It was entertaining for awhile. I dubbed the unnamed forest road Grasshopper Way.
I left the road near the dam, cutting through the last dispersed campsite I saw. As hoped, there was a well used path that dropped down to the lake, bringing me within about 100 yards from the dam. An angler stood on some rocks giving it his best. Farther down by the dam a family and their dog played in the water. I passed by and headed across the dam.
Once past the dam it was smooth sailing along the west side trail. The trail is in good shape. I could have filled a garbage bag with the trash on this side, but I didn't have one. Lots of families out fishing and having a good time. I stopped for a nice lunch at the southwest corner of the lake before heading down Bear Canyon.
Bear Canyon was fun to a point. Where the canyon widened, it was good times with well defined use trails. Where the canyon narrowed, not so much fun. Near the end, it was narrow and choked with down fall. I saw a game/use trail heading up on my right. I took it and followed the path of least resistance back towards the top of See Canyon.
As I was heading down See Canyon, near the top, I passed a guy sitting alongside the trail with a notebook and reference materials jotting down notes about a very large Ponderosa Pine a few feet away. He believes the tree may be a new record setter of some type.  The rest of the trip down See Canyon was quite enjoyable. The angle of the afternoon sun changed the colors quite a bit from earlier in the day.
Other than the aforementioned tree enthusiast, I saw a few anglers on the lake and a few hikers close to the See trailhead. The weather was perfect. Low 70's up top, maybe low 80's when I finished. Nice breeze through most of the hike with occasional gusts that would send your hat sailing.
Great day! |
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