The Secret of Bear Canyon

Hiking Bear Canyon in the Angeles National Forest

07.13.2017

{JANUARY 2023 NOTE: Stay safe. Wait until storms have passed before hiking any trails, and before heading out be sure to check official websites for updates on trail status, closures, hazards, etc. Expect muddy and slippery trails, and exercise caution and good judgement.}

Here's a cool secret: The best water holes on the Arroyo Seco River are past ever-popular Switzer Falls. To end at the 50-foot plunge is to miss the best of Bear Canyon. In other words, keep going!

This 7-mile out-and-back (round-trip) in the Angeles National Forest begins at the Switzer Picnic Area and follows the Arroyo Seco River under the shade of towering oaks and sycamores, summer homes for the strikingly yellow hooded oriole. After about a mile and multiple stream crossings, switchbacks lead you out of the shade and into the sun, but you’ll also be rewarded with panoramic vistas of the canyon and the surrounding San Gabriel Mountains.

After the trail descends to the canyon floor, a short side hike leads to Switzer Falls. Sure, have a look—but the real fun is still ahead! Continuing on Bear Canyon Trail, you’ll soon reach a progression of pools to bathe in, perfect to beat the heat and used far less than Switzer’s swimming hole. Then, for the next 1.5 miles, the going is a bit wild. You’ll be boulder-hopping and bushwhacking on a route almost certainly devoid of hikers. Your goal is Bear Canyon Trail Camp, a shady spot with picnic tables, fire rings, and stoves, and a great place for a midhike meal before the uphill return trip.

As you head back the way you came, you already know the secret of Bear Canyon—those perfectly placed water holes where you can cool off yet again during the climb out of the canyon before you reach your car and head back to civilization.

TIP: Go at sunrise to beat the heat and crowds and have a chance to see an elusive bobcat hydrating at the river.

To get to the Switzer Picnic Area parking lot, take the I-210 to the Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2) in La Cañada and follow it north for 10 miles, turning right after the sign for the Switzer Picnic Area. Head down to the canyon floor and park in one of the many spots there. Be sure to display your National Forest Adventure Pass. Note: If the bottom lot is full, opt for one of two overflow lots, or a space farther up the highway. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View