4.45201 reviewsPrice
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
60 campsites
Season
Open daily May 1 - N...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
60 campsites
Season
Open daily May 1 - N...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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34.4054, -111.0045
Anglers and solitude-seekers who arrive Friday morning will find dispersed sites with real tree cover and elk walking through camp. Fall is the clear sweet spot: aspens turning, trout fishing up, crowds thinned, and temps in the 50s-70s during the day. Bring an inflatable kayak i
Weekend nights can turn loud fast: ATV noise, late-night music, and no enforcement of quiet hours is a recurring complaint. Add vault toilets that reviewers frequently describe as full and filthy, no potable water, and a steep switchback trail that rules out anyone with mobility
Reference information about Bear Canyon Lake And Camping Area sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>A beautiful, narrow, canyon-bound lake, accessible by foot trail only, Bear Canyon Lake is one of several in a series of fishing lakes built by Arizona Game and Fish Department. Despite being several miles down a dirt road and having few amenities, it draws many visitors. The partially developed campground which is set among the mixed conifer, oak and aspen, has only limited amenities. Bear Canyon Lake is a <strong>"Pack it in - Pack it out" </strong>area. There is NO GARBAGE SERVICE. Please be good stewards of the land and leave the area better than how you found it.</p><p>For purposes of fire restrictions, this campground is considered to be an 'undeveloped' campground. No fires will be permitted when fire restrictions are in effect for the Apache-Sitgreaves Forest.</p><p>At an elevation of 7,560, Bear Canyon Lake consists of 60 surface acres with a maximum depth of 50 feet. Because of its depth, this lake has no water quality problems. The Arizona Department of Game and Fish stocks it with catchable-sized rainbow trout about six times each year.</p><p>Arizona fishing regulations apply. Please refer to the current year fishing regulations brochure produced by the Arizona Game and Fish Department for further details on licensing requirements, daily bag limits, and other restrictions. Boat motors are restricted to electric motors only.</p>
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Fall offers the best conditions. Late September through October brings crisp days in the 50–70°F range and nights near freezing, timing with the aspen and oak color change. Cooler water temperatures improve trout fishing, insect pressure drops, and wildlife viewing picks up as crowds thin. Summer warms to 90°F during the day and cools to 60°F at night. Comfortable for camping but busier on weekends. Winter transforms the area into snow country with below-freezing temperatures. The trail-only access keeps crowds lower than road-accessible campgrounds, though you'll still want to arrive early on popular weekends.
Fall described as best: crisp days, nights near freezing and aspen/oak color change.
Potable water is not available at this site. Vault Toilets
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