The 7-mile round trip Seven Falls Trail includes a stretch of the Bear Canyon Trail. The best time to hike the trail is late winter or early spring when snowmelt and heavy rains feed Bear Creek, though thanks to limestone springs there usually is some water even in summer.
To reach the trailhead, from Interstate 10 in Tucson, head east on East Speedway Boulevard. Turn left/north onto North Wilmot Road, which as it curves east naturally becomes E. Tanque Verde Road. after crossing Tanque Verde Wash, turn left/north onto North Bear Canyon Road. The road jags left then right and ends at the Bear Canyon Trailhead. Park in the spaces along the road.
The trail heads north across the desert. You’re on the North Bear Canyon Access, and may have to do some rock hopping to cross Bear Creek. As leaving the creek, you’ll notice a increasing number of saguaro as the landscape turns to desert scrub. Cholla and ocotillos abound as well.
After crossing a paved national forest road, at 0.4 miles you’ll reach Bear Canyon Trail #29. Go right/northwest onto it.
From there, you’ll descend into Bear Canyon. For part of the day, high foothills on the canyon’s south side leave the trail and Bear Creek in shadow, offering a cool respite.
You’ll pass the Jebus Cactus while in the canyon. A historical landmark, this may very well be the largest cactus you’ll ever see. It soars four stories high.
About 2.8 miles in, the Seven Falls Trail begins. The Bear Canyon Trail switchbacks up the foothill to the right/south while the Seven Falls Trail continues left-straight/northeast up the canyon.
Seven beautiful waterfalls that fall a combined 191 feet can be seen as Bear Creek jogs to the left/northwest. A pool that can be swam in forms below the second falls from the canyon bottom.
Another pool awaits higher up, and it’s deeper and less murky than the pool below the second falls. Getting there can be difficult, however, as the canyon narrows sharply, and you may not want to climb rocks or traipse through water.
Once you’ve taken in the sights, retrace your steps back to the trailhead.
You’ll want to bring water shoes or sandals as well as a trekking pole to help with your footing on the slick rocks and during creek crossings.
AERIAL MAP
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