Dispersed
Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area
Sitgreaves National Forest · Happy Jack, AZ
Dispersed camping — confirm current rules
This is a dispersed-camping point on public land. Fire restrictions, road conditions, and access change seasonally. Verify with the managing agency before traveling.
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Official sources & verification
Managed by Dispersed/Primitive
Source of truth
- Agency source page
The page our published rules and notes are derived from.
Verify by phone or mail
- Address:Happy Jack, AZ
About
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 "Pack it in - Pack it out" area. There is NO GARBAGE SERVICE. Please be good stewards of the land and leave the area better than how you found it. 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 [Verify current conditions with the land manager.]. 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.
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Amenities
Flush Toilets
Dump Station
Firewood
Accessible
Fire Rings
Trash Service
Pet Policy
Pets allowed on leash
Campground Rules
- Campfires generally permitted — verify current fire restrictions before lighting
In this park
Trails at Sitgreaves National Forest
Pat Mullen Mountain to Vista Point
3.4 mi525 ftmoderate
General Crook Trail
58 mi5,446 ftexpert
Porter Mountain Trails (Panorama and Timber Mesa Trails)
2.9 mi358 ftmoderate
Willow Springs Lake Trail
5.7 mi1,017 ftmoderate
Fool Hollow Lake Trail
3.2 mi407 ftmoderate
Rim Lakes Vista and Old Rim Road Loop
4.2 mi548 ftmoderate
Within ~30 miles
Trails near Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area
Trail
Bear Canyon Lake Loop Trail
Arizona
3.5 mi915 ftgain
Moderate
Trail
See Spring Trail
Arizona
2.3 mi600 ftgain
Moderate
Trail
See Canyon and Drew Canyon Loop
Arizona
12.7 mi2,907 ftgain
Expert
Trail
Fish Hatchery to Knoll Lake via Babe Haught Trail
Arizona
9.2 mi2,861 ftgain
Difficult
Trail
Woods Canyon Lake Trail
Arizona
3.7 mi630 ftgain
Moderate
Trail
Woods Canyon Horse Loop
Arizona
5.7 mi827 ftgain
Moderate
Hunt context
Hunting units around this campground
During hunting seasons, wear blaze orange and check regulations — see the Arizona hunting page
Nearby Campgrounds
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