Bear Mountain Trail: Sedona's Toughest West-Side Summit

4.9 miles round trip, hard, 2,000 feet of gain off Boynton Pass Road. Four false summits, steep slickrock scrambling, and a 360-degree ridge view that reaches the San Francisco Peaks. The small lot fills by 9 AM on weekends — arrive by 7:30 AM or plan to drive back and return the next morning.

By The Lowdown Guide Editorial Team · Visited April 2026 · Updated May 2026

Trail Stats

  • Distance4.9 mi RT
  • DifficultyHard
  • Elevation Gain~2,000 ft
  • Trail TypeOut-and-back
  • Parking~25 spots, fills by 9 AM weekends
  • Pass RequiredYes — Red Rock Pass
  • TrailheadBoynton Pass Rd (FR-152C), opposite Doe Mountain lot
  • Time4–5 hours
The Lowdown Verdict: Bear Mountain is the hardest trail on the west side of Sedona and the one most hikers underestimate. The 4.9-mile round trip sounds manageable until you hit the first false summit and realize there are three more above it. Four false tops, steep slickrock with real exposure, and no shade from trailhead to ridge — this is a genuine summit hike, not an extended walk. The reward is proportional: 360-degree views that include Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Loy Butte, Wilson Mountain, and the San Francisco Peaks 50 miles north. The parking lot on Boynton Pass Road (FR-152C) holds roughly 25 vehicles and fills by 9 AM on spring weekends. Go October through April for tolerable temperatures. Pair with Doe Mountain (1.5 mi RT, easy) for a contrast day from the same lot.

Trailhead and Parking: Boynton Pass Road (FR-152C)

Bear Mountain trailhead is on Boynton Pass Road, also signed as FR-152C, in west Sedona. From the intersection of AZ-89A and Dry Creek Road, head west on Dry Creek Road, then turn left onto Boynton Pass Road. The Bear Mountain lot is on the right side of FR-152C, directly opposite the Doe Mountain trailhead parking area. The lot holds approximately 25 vehicles — a small footprint for one of Sedona's most demanding hikes. On spring and fall weekends it is full by 9 AM. Arriving by 7:30 AM is strongly recommended.

A Red Rock Pass is required: $5 per day or covered by an America the Beautiful annual interagency pass ($80/year). The pass applies to all Red Rock Country fee sites in the Coconino National Forest for the day. Road access to the lot on FR-152C is paved and accessible to standard vehicles. The adjacent Doe Mountain trailhead across the road uses the same road but has its own separate lot.

If the lot is full, there is no legitimate overflow parking on FR-152C. The most common strategy is to arrive before 8 AM or to combine the outing with an early weekday. Alternatively, the Fay Canyon trailhead is a few minutes south on Boynton Pass Road and is significantly larger if you need to check trail conditions from a nearby lot and return to Bear Mountain on a less crowded day.

The Four False Summits: Why This Trail Earns Its Rating

Bear Mountain's reputation comes less from raw distance and more from relentless gain and psychological pressure. The trail climbs steadily from the trailhead, ascending through open pinyon-juniper scrub before hitting the first band of slickrock. At each of the first three false summits, the route appears to top out — only to reveal another steep section immediately above. The fourth false summit is the most notorious because at that point hikers have already burned significant energy and the actual ridge still requires a sustained push across exposed terrain.

The upper sections involve genuine slickrock scrambling with intermittent exposure. There are places where a slip would be serious. Hikers should have experience on third-class terrain and feel comfortable on steep, grippy sandstone. Trekking poles help on the descent. The trail is generally well-cairned but the upper scrambles can feel route-finding intensive for those unfamiliar with unprotected slickrock.

No shade exists from trailhead to ridge. The entire route faces southwest and southeast at various points, making it an oven by mid-morning from May through September. October through April is the reliable season. In winter, ice can form on the north-facing slickrock sections above the second false summit — check conditions before attempting in December or January. Carry a minimum of 3 liters of water per person regardless of season.

Trail Breakdown: Mile by Mile

0.0–0.5 mi

Trailhead to First Slickrock Band

Sandy trail through pinyon-juniper. Moderate grade. Open views of Doe Mountain across the road. First slickrock steps appear around 0.4 mi. Trail is well-defined and cairned from the lot.

0.5–1.2 mi

False Summit One and Two

Grade steepens significantly. First false summit arrives around 0.7 mi. Views of Fay Canyon and west Sedona formations begin. Second false summit at approximately 1.1 mi. Both involve brief slickrock scrambles between sandy trail sections.

1.2–1.9 mi

False Summit Three, Exposure Begins

Third false summit around 1.5 mi. Slickrock sections become sustained. Drop-offs appear on the right (south) side. Cairns mark the route but route-finding attention required. Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock visible to the southeast.

1.9–2.45 mi

Fourth False Summit and Summit Ridge

Fourth false summit is the most demoralizing. Beyond it, one final steep push reaches the actual ridge at approximately 2.45 mi. 360-degree views open immediately. San Francisco Peaks visible to the north on clear days. No shade at summit.

Return

Descent — Knee-Load Warning

Return is the same route. Descent on slickrock is slow and knee-intensive. Most hikers take 30 to 45 minutes longer descending than ascending due to careful foot placement on steep sections. Trekking poles strongly recommended.

Pairing Bear Mountain: Nearby Trails and Seasonal Strategy

Bear Mountain and Doe Mountain share the same trailhead corridor and form the classic contrast day in west Sedona. Doe Mountain (1.5 mi RT, easy) takes under an hour and gives a mesa-top orientation to the terrain before the serious climb. Most hikers do Doe Mountain first, return to the lot, and immediately begin Bear Mountain while legs are still fresh. The two together cover 6.4 miles with dramatically different difficulty profiles.

For a longer west Sedona day without adding Bear Mountain's intensity, Fay Canyon Trail (2.5 mi RT, easy) is a few minutes south on Boynton Pass Road and provides a shaded canyon walk as a recovery contrast. Boynton Canyon Trail (6.2 mi RT, easy-moderate) is the other major trail in this corridor and fills the vortex hiker demographic. Neither competes directly with Bear Mountain's difficulty.

Season matters more on Bear Mountain than on almost any other Sedona trail. October through April is the window. May and September are viable for very early starts (at the trailhead by 6 AM). June through August the summit temperatures are dangerous and the exposed rock surface can reach 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter brings the risk of ice on north-facing slickrock above 5,500 feet elevation — check the trail conditions report before heading out in December or January.

Guided Hiking Tours in West Sedona

Viator lists guided hiking and jeep tours operating in the Boynton Pass Road corridor. A local guide familiar with Bear Mountain can pace the false summits, identify safe scrambling lines on the upper slickrock, and provide geological context for the Boynton Pass formation sequence. Guided groups also have priority information on current route conditions.

Find Sedona Hiking Tours on Viator →

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Editorial note: Visited April 2026 by The Lowdown Guide editorial team. Lot capacity (~25 vehicles) and fill time (by 9 AM on spring weekends) verified on the ground. False summit count (four) confirmed via on-site route observation. Exposure descriptions are field-verified. Seasonal recommendations based on measured trail conditions October 2025 through April 2026. Pass fee figures confirmed with current USFS guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is Bear Mountain Trail in Sedona? +
Bear Mountain Trail is rated hard. It is 4.9 miles round trip with approximately 2,000 feet of elevation gain, most of it concentrated in the upper half. The trail climbs through four false summits before reaching the actual ridge, with steep slickrock scrambling and exposed sections on the upper portions. Hikers with average fitness should allow 4 to 5 hours. The sustained grade, exposure, and lack of shade make it one of the most demanding day hikes in the Sedona area. It is not suitable for children, dogs in summer, or hikers without solid scrambling experience.
Where do you park for Bear Mountain Trail in Sedona? +
The Bear Mountain trailhead is on Boynton Pass Road (FR-152C), west of Sedona, opposite the Doe Mountain trailhead lot. The lot holds approximately 25 vehicles. On spring and fall weekends it fills by 9 AM. Arriving before 8 AM is the safest strategy. A Red Rock Pass is required: $5 per day or covered by an America the Beautiful annual pass. The road to the lot is paved and accessible to standard vehicles. Do not park along FR-152C outside the designated lot.
What are the views from the top of Bear Mountain in Sedona? +
Bear Mountain's summit ridge offers a sweeping 360-degree panorama. Visible landmarks include Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock to the southeast, Loy Butte to the southwest, Wilson Mountain to the northeast, and the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff roughly 50 miles to the north. The Mogollon Rim forms the eastern horizon. On clear winter days the view exceeds 100 miles in multiple directions. The summit is fully exposed with no shade, making it one of the finest viewpoints in the Sedona area but also one of the most dangerous in summer heat.
How many false summits does Bear Mountain Trail have? +
Bear Mountain Trail has four false summits before the actual ridge. Each one appears to be the top from below, only to reveal another climb beyond. The false summits are a well-known source of frustration for first-time hikers who do not know to expect them. The fourth false summit is the most demoralizing because the terrain looks fully climbed from the third. Experienced hikers use the false summits as pacing checkpoints. The actual ridge is unmistakable once reached due to the abrupt 360-degree view opening in all directions.
Can you pair Bear Mountain with Doe Mountain in one day? +
Yes. Bear Mountain Trail (4.9 miles RT, hard, 2,000 ft gain) and Doe Mountain Trail (1.5 miles RT, easy, 400 ft gain) share the same trailhead corridor on Boynton Pass Road. The standard pairing is to do Doe Mountain first for a warm-up and panoramic orientation, then tackle Bear Mountain while legs are fresh. Doe Mountain takes 45 to 60 minutes; Bear Mountain takes 4 to 5 hours. Combined mileage is approximately 6.4 miles. Start no later than 7 AM to complete both before afternoon heat in spring. This is one of the best contrast-day options in west Sedona.