Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
Seven Falls and Beyond, Bear Canyon Trail #29 Day Hike

when	Trip Report : March 20, 2021
where	Santa Catalina Mountains, Tucson
the hike	Seven Falls is a series of beautiful waterfalls on Bear Creek, located in Bear Canyon. Bear Canyon runs parallel to Sabino Canyon.     We will meet at the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center, near the bookstore, unless the parking lot is full. See Section “Meet” below. The hike begins as we cross the east end of the parking lot on the wide sandy path to Bear Canyon. We’ll cross Sabino Creek, heading to the Bear Canyon Trail #29.     From the Sabino Creek crossing, it is 4 miles to reach Seven Falls. There will be seven crossings over Bear Creek, so plan on getting your feet wet. If there is a lot of water flow, it could be to your waist. Hiking poles are recommended. When the water is low, the footing is stable at most of the crossing points.     At Seven Falls, the trail rises up a switchback to the sign for Bear Canyon Trail #29, which continues on. A short spur trail takes you down to Seven Falls. Hikers are rewarded with several pools of water to relax by and wade in during most of the year. Short hikers will turn around and hike back to the Visitor Center.
long hike option	After reaching Seven Falls and a break, we continue following Trail #29. The trail is going to switchback rather sharply higher up the east wall of the canyon, offering multiple awesome views of the falls, and allowing you to hear their beautiful song for that much longer.     Eventually the trail will cross over a side draining canyon and climb above the falls to continue farther up Bear Canyon. Things change here. We enter the beginnings of a grassy, more shallow and intimate canyon.     After all that climbing we will end up still on the east side of the canyon, but again much closer to it. At about 2.6 miles from Seven Falls, we make the last creek crossing. Depending on the time, we may continue another couple of miles before turning around and heading back the way we came. Required: •  Sturdy hiking boots •  At least 3 liters of water •  Hat, sunblock, sunglasses Recommended: •  Hiking poles •  Camera
distance	Seven Falls: 8 miles; Long Option: 16 miles
time	Seven Falls: 4-6 hours; Long Option: 6-8 hours
EC	Seven Falls: 700 feet; Long Option: approximately 2000 feet elevation change
elevations	2730 feet (Trailhead) to 3250 feet (Seven Falls); Long Option: Approximately 4600 feet
type	round trip
starting at	Sabino Canyon Visitor Center
on trail	100% — Bear Canyon Trail #29
rating	"C+" or "A"     Rate yourself as a hiker.
dogs allowed	no
cost	The club allows voluntary contributions of $5 per non-member.
weather	Tucson
meet	8:00 AM at the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center. Copy and paste into Google Maps: 856H+24 Tucson, Arizona
Important	Alternative Meeting Location: If the Visitor Center parking lot is full, there is an overflow lot north on Sabino Canyon Rd. Anyone parking there will have to follow the signs directing you to Trail #29 and walk about 0.8 miles south to join up with the group where prior to the Sabino Creek crossing.
drive	•  Drive south toward Tucson on I-10. • Follow I-10 E to I-10 Frontage Rd in Marana. Take exit 250 from I-10 E. • Take exit 250 toward Orange Grove Road. • Turn right onto E Skyline Dr. • E. Skyline Dr. becomes E. Sunrise Dr. • Turn left onto N. Sabino Canyon Rd. • Turn right into the Visitor Center. • Copy and paste into Google Maps: 856H+24 Tucson, Arizona.

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updated March 30, 2021	© Copyright 2021, Arizona Trailblazers.  All rights reserved.