Bear Valley

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This family friendly trail gets very busy with a wide variety of other users (backpackers, bikers, equestrians, etc.) so if this will spoil your enjoyment, simply start out early in the morning or visit in the winter "off-season."

The Bear Valley Trail starts south from the parking lots as a wide dirt road. It parallels the burbling Bear Valley Creek where a wide variety of ferns happily make their home. Pass through attractive Douglas fir forest on the gentle incline to the trail's high point at Divide Meadow. This pleasant meadow has picnic tables and pit toilets.

Continue south on the Bear Valley Trail as it descends almost imperceptibly next to Coast Creek which flows to the sea. At the flat junction of Glen Trail, Baldy Trail and Bear Valley Trail, a bike rack marks the boundary beyond which further bike travel is not allowed. Proceed straight on Bear Valley Trail, first though lusher forest then sunny open fields and over coastal bluffs towards the ocean. Although the Bear Valley Trail technically ends at its junction with the Coast Trail - North, most users also tack on a visit unforgettable Arch Rock nearby.

Douglas fir, tanoak, bay, alder, hazelnut, ferns, willow, buckeye, coffeeberry, honeysuckle, forget-me-nots. Snakes have been seen here, and deer.