Bear Creek Trailhead

General Information about the Trail:

The Bear Creek Trail is 11-miles-long. It begins at Valley of the Moon Plantation along Hwy. 39 and ends at the West Fork of the San Gabriel River. The trail is used for hiking and backpacking only. You can walk as little or as long as you like on your venture into the scenic Bear Canyon.

During normal conditions, it can be a one-way thru trail (requiring a car shuttle) or taken in sections and hiked as a return trip. 

Upper Bear Creek Trail (off State Route 39) = 5.5 miles one way to Bear Creek

Lower Bear Creek Trail (off the West Fork) = 1 mile to the trailhead

• The lower trailhead, which is located along the West Fork of the San Gabriel River, is a mile-long walk from the parking lot to the trail.
• The upper end of the Bear Creek Trail is open and in a well-maintained condition for the first three miles between the trailhead on Hwy 39 and the San Gabriel Wilderness boundary at Smith Saddle. Past the saddle, the trail has been heavily impacted by the 2020 Bobcat Fire and subsequent rockslides and mudslides, and use of this section of the trail is not recommended.