Is swimming allowed at Bear Canyon Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Bear Canyon Falls.

Bear Canyon Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Bear Canyon Falls?

Yes, dogs are allowed at Bear Canyon Falls. Dogs are generally allowed on BLM public land; keep them under control and carry water for them.

Q: Are there fees or permits required for Bear Canyon Falls?

Yes, fees are required. A permit is also required. An Adventure Pass is required for parking in the Chantry Flat Recreation Area.

California

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

El Centro Field Office PUB · Bureau of Land Management

Photo Credits (5)

666isMONEY ☮ ♥ & ☠ CC BY-SA 2.0 · Flickr

BLM Oregon & Washington CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

Chic Bee CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

BLM Oregon & Washington CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

About Bear Canyon Falls

Bear Canyon Falls is a seasonal desert fall in Imperial County, California, on Bureau of Land Management land west of the Colorado River near Picacho. It likely flows only briefly after heavy rain. No published trail, trailhead or route description was found.

The Setting

Bear Canyon Falls sits at 338 feet within El Centro Field Office, in the coastal lowlands of California.

Trail & Hike Details

What to Expect

Dogs are welcome.

Accessibility

The trail is not wheelchair accessible due to uneven terrain and stream crossings.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Bear Canyon Falls?

✅ Dogs are allowed
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM public land; keep them under control and carry water for them.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🤑 Fees are required
Permit required
An Adventure Pass is required for parking in the Chantry Flat Recreation Area.

🏊 Is There Swimming at Bear Canyon Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring winter

Visit only in the cooler months, and only after significant rain if you hope to see water.

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring and Winter.

Safety Information

This is remote, hot desert with no water or services. Avoid summer heat, carry ample water, and do not enter narrow canyons when storms threaten because of flash flood risk.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 1 hour ago

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Colorado River, 14.8 miles away, not on Bear Canyon Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

69°F

Cool

Refreshing for swimming

What does this mean for your visit?

Water temperature is a refreshing 69 degrees F, good for a quick swim. Expect excellent dissolved oxygen levels. PH is normal at 8.2 and mineral content is elevated.

Water Quality

8.4 mg/L

Dissolved Oxygen

Excellent

Supports aquatic life

8.2

Normal

Within healthy range (6.5-8.5)

1,290 µS/cm

Conductance

Dissolved minerals in the water

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.

COLORADO RIVER ABOVE IMPERIAL DAM, AZ-CA

USGS 09429490

14.8 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 188,500 sq mi

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge COLORADO RIVER ABOVE IMPERIAL DAM, AZ-CA (24 km away).

Moderate confidence

Moderate right now

5660 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Moderate

5660 cfs

9/10

Tomorrow

Moderate

5687 cfs

9/10

Tue

Moderate

5651 cfs

9/10

Wed

Moderate

5624 cfs

9/10

Thu

Moderate

5733 cfs

9/10

Fri

Moderate

5687 cfs

9/10

Sat

Moderate

6005 cfs

6/10

Best window: Today — moderate flow, sunny (trip score 9/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late March to mid May, peaking in April.

How we calculate this

This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Martinez Lake hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Bear Canyon Falls Frozen?

Updated about 22 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately north-facing, shaded big river, rarely freezes solid

Bear Canyon Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 80°F to 57°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 5660 ft³/s

Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.

Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail.

Weather Forecast

The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR

Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.

The ground through the falls loses about 164 feet in steep steps rather than one leap. The ground at the falls is roughly 364 feet above sea level.

Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 103 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 130 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing northwest, the falls stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Bear Canyon Falls near Martinez Lake, California, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Bear Canyon Falls near Martinez Lake, California, showing about 164 feet of drop, a steep tiered drop, facing northwest

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 364 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 162 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: Northwest; Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading northwest).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Elevation

338 feet above sea level

Coordinates

33.015873° N, -114.670512° W

Land Management

El Centro Field Office PUB

Managed by BLM

Visitor Tips & Gear

Where to Stay

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby

Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses

RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Nearby Campground

Senator Wash North Shore

12.5 miles away · 0 sites

The Senator Wash North Shore recreational area is approximately 60 acres in size. There are many trees of various types and several secluded camping areas both on the water and further inland. Gravel beaches provide access to the reservoir. A dump station is available at nearby at South Mesa but requires a fee from September 15 through April 15. Boat ramp available nearby and small watercraft can be launched from shore.

Book on Recreation.gov