Arizona · Hiking · Near Kachina Village

Little Bear

Little BearPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
7.2 mi
round trip
869 ft
climb
8,422 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jul, Sep
best months

Is Little Bear open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Coconino National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Coconino National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Little Bear is a 7.2-mile out-and-back hike in the Flagstaff Ranger District of Coconino National Forest in Arizona, managed by the Forest Service. It is a hard route with a total elevation gain of 869 feet, rising from about 7,550 feet to about 8,420 feet. The most comfortable months are typically May and September. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Ft Valley show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 76°F, while July and August bring the most wet days. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Horse Camp Access Trail starts less than a mile away. Little Elden Springs Horsecamp and the Arizona Trail-Little Elden mountain biking route are both about 0.8 miles off. Climbers can find Mt. Elden Crags about a mile away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Little Elden Springs Horsecamp

    Campground

    Campground · 0.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Mary's Cafe

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 3 mi · Open after 6
  • If it rains

    Museum of Northern Arizona Research Center

    Museum

    On your way back · 5 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Kachina Village

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Jul, Sep

    Best time to visit Little Bear

    Best months: May–July and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      46° / 17°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      48° / 20°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      54° / 24°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      62° / 27°

      5 wet

    5. May

      71° / 33°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      82° / 40°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 49°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 49°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      76° / 41°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      66° / 30°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      55° / 23°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      46° / 16°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ft Valley, AZ, 8.2 mi away at 7,347 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Horse Camp Access TrailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Horse Camp Access Trail

~1 min drive

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Deer HillPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Deer Hill

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Arizona Trail-Fort ValleyPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

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Mount Elden Summit TrailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Mount Elden Summit Trail

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Wasabi TrailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

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Ricochet TrailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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TonteelPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

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Heart TrailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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Sunset TrailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Sunset Trail

~4 min drive

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AbalonePhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

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