Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Bear Valley Trail #55

This 12.1 mile trail is rated as moderate and sees light traffic from May to December. Bear Valley Trail starts at the end of Bonanza Bill Trail at Bonanza Bill Flat. It's pretty level crossing Cow Flat and then drops into the canyon above Franz Spring. There is a line cabin near the spring, the Bear Valley Trail climbs out of the canyon above the cabin and crosses Campbell Flat to the Mogollon Rim. Then it drops over the edge of the Rim into Bear Valley. From here to the Blue River the trail is easily lost so keep on the lookout for rock cairns and blazes on the trees. Finding your way to Auger Tank may require some serious route-finding skills, and past that tank be careful: do not go down the drainage, look to the west for blazes and cairns. The trail passes an old corral in Sycamore Canyon and then climbs back up to the reliable water source at Ladron Spring. From this point, the trail drops to the Blue River down a narrow chute and past several small waterfalls.

This trail is within the Blue Range Primitive Area so no motorized or mechanized vehicles (including mountain bikes) are allowed. Along the way, the Bear Valley Trail meets with the S Canyon Trail, the Franz Spring Trail, the Lanphier Trail, the WS Lake Trail and the Little Blue Trail.

Elevation: 7,600' to 4,800'

Access: From the Blue River or from the Bonanza Bill Trail.

USGS Maps: Blue, Alma Mesa