Hiking Bear Mountain near Harrison Hot Springs
Contents
Bear Mountain Hike Information
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 20Km
Elevation Gain: 1,150m
Highest Elevation: 1,036m
Average Gradient: 11.50%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 7 – 8 Hours
– Moderate: 5 – 7 Hours
– Fast: 4 – 5 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Year-Round
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Bear Mountain Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°19’58.5″N 121°45’04.5″W
Bear Mountain Overview
Not to be confused with Bear Mountain in Mission, this mountain is a forested peak located east of Harrison Hot Springs / Harrison Lake. While the summit itself is entirely forested, there is a rewarding 180 degree viewpoint slightly beyond the summit, with surprisingly impressive views of the Fraser Valley below, plus the Cheam range and a number of other peaks all visible on a clear day.
The entire hike to this summit is in the forest, and despite being adjacent to the scenic Harrison Lake, any views of the lake are few and far between, blocked by forest for the majority of the hike. Other than a small waterfall and the rather uninspiring Bear Lake, there isn’t much to see along the trail until you reach the viewpoint.
Bear Mountain is a year-round hike thanks to its relatively low elevation. While it certainly will see snow in the winter it typically isn’t a significant amount, though it may make navigation towards the end of the hike somewhat trickier.
Since most of the trail follows an old logging road it’s easy to maintain a relatively quick pace, and Bear Mountain no doubt makes for an excellent trail running option and potentially even a mountain biking option if that’s your preference. Some people also opt to camp at the viewpoint, either on the helipad or on a flat spot within the treeline nearby. There is no access to water though, so you will need to ensure you bring enough, or fill up on the way.
This is also a 2WD friendly hike with the trailhead just off of the paved Rockwell Drive. You are actually able to drive the first 500m or so of the hike if the gate is unlocked, which it frequently is. Bear Mountain is also dog friendly.
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Is Bear Mountain worthwhile?
Bear Mountain is a long, fairly monotonous hike with little to see until you reach the viewpoint at the end. Some people might find it drags on a little, and the fact that the elevation gain of 1,150m is actually higher than the summit has to be a negative. That being said this hike makes for a fine choice under the right circumstances, typically as an easy access shoulder season hike when ambitions may be lower but you still want to get outside. I’d struggle to recommend this on a prime summer weekend as there are plenty of better options than this at that time of year.
How difficult is the hike to Bear Mountain?
With an average gradient of 11.50% Bear Mountain isn’t the steepest hike by any stretch. That being said, the first 6km does rise almost 900m, for an average gradient of 15%, before leveling off for the remainder of the hike to the summit. The trail is never excessively steep, but it’s until you reach Bear Lake it is practically never flat either.
Technically speaking the hike is very straightforward with no scrambling or exposure of note.
Bear Mountain Route Information
The hike begins from the bottom of Bear Mountain Forest Service Road just off of Rockwell Drive. There isn’t a dedicated parking area, just leave your car to the side of the FSR without blocking anything. Ignore any signage relating to gold mining, this has been there since the 70’s. If the gate is open you can drive up the start of the trail for around 500m to the mine itself, where ultimately the road ends and you’ll have to park anyway.
From the mining site you should see an old logging road rising up into the forest, which you’ll now want to follow. After hiking for just 0.5km you’ll reach the area of an enormous landslide from the atmospheric river of 2021. The entire side of the mountain has been washed away, with every tree and all the dirt completely gone from above and below, washed down the mountain and into Harrison Lake. It’s quite a sight to see, and it also provides some very nice views of Harrison Lake given there are no trees to block them.
Continuing ahead the trail remains much the same until you reach a hairpin at around 320m elevation where you’ll see the Bear Mountain waterfall. Over the next few kilometers there is little of note, you’ll keep grinding up the moderate steep gradient, all the while in the forest. At around the 850m elevation mark you’ll again get a few peek-a-boo views of Harrison Lake down below, but for the most part trees block any panoramic photo opportunities unfortunately.
Shortly ahead you will reach the Bear Lake junction, which is a very short detour but one that is really not that worthwhile. There is no beach or lakeside to really enjoy, all there is is one log to sit on with a bit of a view. It certainly doesn’t look like a great lake for swimming in.
Back on the trail the gradient now decreases dramatically, changing from a constant moderate grind to a forest saunter with minimal elevation gain or loss. The old logging road will continue for a couple more kilometers, where eventually it will terminate. The trail now drops down into the forest and becomes more a typical forested hike. Thankfully there are plenty of markers to guide the way, though even without you can likely follow the trail well enough.
After working your way through the forest for around 1km you’ll find yourself on the summit of Bear Mountain, though you likely won’t know it unless you refer to a map, as the summit is entirely forested, it’s not marked nor is it very evident when you’re there. Most people just keep going beyond the summit, with the trail now descending towards the viewing platform at the end, just a couple of hundred meters ahead.
The views will now be quite rewarding, with a great view over the Fraser Valley down below, plus the whole Cheam range and several other nearby peaks. The helipad makes for a nice spot to have some food, lie down and soak in some sun (you wouldn’t have had any the entire hike!). After finishing up you simply return the same way you came.
When should I hike Bear Mountain?
Bear Mountain is a year-round hike, though it will see snow in the winter so the usual winter preparation is needed. I would suggest this makes for a good shoulder season hike when your ambitions may be lower than in summer but you still want to get out and exercise.
Top Tip
On the descent, once you’ve passed Bear Lake, I would suggest trying to jog sections of the hike where possible. This is one of those hikes with such a consistently moderate gradient that it puts a huge strain on your shins coming back down, which can be reduced by jogging.
