8 miles. 90 degree heat. 4 liters of water (that’s 135 oz). 1 rattlesnake encounter. YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT. 10,000 (or so) Saguaro cacti. 1 hell of a hike.
I’ll keep this post short and sweet. Mainly because I am sore, hungry, and falling asleep at 7pm after conquering the hike this morning.
Bear Canyon to Seven Falls is incredibly beautiful, but deceptively tough. The hike is suitable for a wide range of experience levels, but I’d look at the reviews on All Trails from others to prepare. The elevation gain is a breeze, especially compared to some of the hikes I’ve done in the Pacific Northwest. It’s the distance and the heat. You’re in a canyon following a riverbed and exposed to the sun for most of the hike. I ran out of water for the last .5 miles of the hike despite having a 3L Camelback and adding .5 liters to it 1.5 miles into the hike from a water spigot. Bring enough water, and even if you think you have enough, bring more.
Improper shoes were the other big issue we saw a lot of people having. This hike crosses a creek bed multiple times and ends at very slippery rocks overlooking pools and falls. Wear shoes with grip. Tennis shoes used on a treadmill are probably not going to cut it. Also, proper head attire! I wore a baseball cap but had to apply and reapply sunscreen to my ears, neck, chest, and shoulders. The people with the broad brim hats looked the most comfortable. From living here a month, I’ve found wearing anything on my head keeps me cooler than leaving it exposed whether walking, running, or hiking.
And finally, THE RATTLESNAKE. I am pretty terrified of snakes, but actually handled this surprisingly well. We were only about 1.5 miles in to the hike when a couple in front of us said there was a rattlesnake at the edge of the trail. They were trying to kick small rocks and dust at it to get it to move (sad, I know), which pissed it the hell off and resulted in it rattling at them. The couple then raced around it at a point where it’d slightly retreated but wasn’t fully off the trail. We waited it out. Tried calling the Visitor’s Center to see if they’d have advice. Finally after about 5 minutes it uncoiled and slithered across the trail and far enough away to safely cross. 90% sure it was a Western Diamondback.
Despite the heat and the snake, it was an amazing hike! The falls were low but beautiful with cooling pools to swim or dip feet in. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves:
Thanks to my friend, Alex for being up for an 8 mile hike and my one million questions about Arizona!
“When you’re in the desert, you look into infinity. It makes you feel quite small, and also in a strange way, quite big.”
