Bear Canyon Lake Cg
Arizona
Free — you'll pick up right here.
No verdict for this campground
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Here's your stay, mapped
Bear Canyon Lake Cg
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Gear for the day
Meals
Photos
About this campground
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 in the early 1960s. Despite being 14 miles from Arizona Highway 260 and having few amenities, it draws many visitors. The partially developed campground which is set among the mixed conifer, oak and aspen, is free for use and as such 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. 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 trout about six times each year.Arizona fishing regulations apply. Please refer to the current year fishing regulations brochure produced by the Arizona Game and Fish Department for further details on licensing requirements, daily bag limits, and other restrictions. Boat motors are restricted to electric motors only.
Campsite info
Directions & GPX
Facts about this campground
When to go
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Blue Ridge Rs, AZ weather station, 18 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan45° high17° low
- Feb49° high20° low
- Mar55° high25° low
- Apr61° high30° low
- May70° high38° low
- Jun80° high47° low
- Jul83° high55° low
- Aug81° high53° low
- Sep76° high46° low
- Oct67° high34° low
- Nov55° high24° low
- Dec45° high17° low
Where it is
- Black Mesa Ranger District · Ranger district
- Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests · National forest
- Managed by
- Forest Service
Conditions
Active alerts for Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests as of Oct 9, 2026:
Benny Creek Campground/Southfork Day Use Area Closure Order - Springerville Ranger District
critical · posted Aug 24, 2026
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
critical · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- Bear Canyon LakeHiking0.3 mi
- Bear Snowmobile LoopMountain biking0.8 mi
- FR 84Camping2.7 mi
- Forest Road 9354Camping2.7 mi
- Knoll LakeLake fishing4.8 mi
- Woods Canyon Lake Area Boating SiteLake fishing6.1 mi
- Exit GorgeRock climbing7.1 mi
- Christopher Creek GorgeRock climbing7.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
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