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Big Bear Canyon (the BBC) Rock Climbing
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| Elevation: | 6,563 ft | 2,000 m |
| GPS: |
45.49999, -111.09779 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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| Page Views: | 22,777 total · 241/month | |
| Shared By: | EChristensen on Jul 31, 2017 | |
| Admins: | GRK, Zach Wahrer |
Description
A relatively new crag near Bozeman, the BBC holds some fantastic long climbs on high quality limestone. The rock tends to produce crimpy technical climbing but there is just enough variation where there is a little bit of everything except really steep stuff.
Although there had been some sporadic exploration over the years, development mostly began in 2013. As of 2017, there are about 25 established routes on two separate walls.
While all the other walls face southwest and get blasted with sun almost all day, the South Jersey Shore faces mostly north making it one of the best options for hot summer days. The Shore goes into the sun around 3PM in the summer so it's prime conditions in the morning on all but the hottest summer days.
It should also be noted that many people (climbers and non-climbers) refer to this canyon as Little Bear due to the road being called Little Bear Road. Trust me though, it is actually Big Bear Creek/Canyon. If you follow Little Bear Road it will eventually head west to the actual Little Bear drainage and the Little Bear forest service cabin.
Although there had been some sporadic exploration over the years, development mostly began in 2013. As of 2017, there are about 25 established routes on two separate walls.
While all the other walls face southwest and get blasted with sun almost all day, the South Jersey Shore faces mostly north making it one of the best options for hot summer days. The Shore goes into the sun around 3PM in the summer so it's prime conditions in the morning on all but the hottest summer days.
It should also be noted that many people (climbers and non-climbers) refer to this canyon as Little Bear due to the road being called Little Bear Road. Trust me though, it is actually Big Bear Creek/Canyon. If you follow Little Bear Road it will eventually head west to the actual Little Bear drainage and the Little Bear forest service cabin.
Getting There
From Four Corners head south on HWY 191 about 8 miles and take a left onto Little Bear Road (LBR). Reset your odometer here and continue driving on LBR with the following mileage guidelines:
1.9 miles - take a right continuing on LBR.
2.3 miles - LBR turns to gravel.
5.3 miles - stay right at the intersection passing through the forest service gate (closed Jan 1 through June 15).
7.9 miles - stay left at the intersection continuing on LBR.
9.0 miles - turn left onto a slightly worse dirt road.
9.1 miles - another slight left onto a faint road. Park immediately after turning between two large trees.
The trickiest part of the hike is the initial few minutes through the meadow you parked in. From the parking spot head east and follow the edge of the trees downhill and slightly left for a few hundred feet (see hike beta photo #1). The trees kind of funnel the meadow down to a point where you have to enter the trees. Look for a slight clearing with a large cairn marking the start of the trail down an old road (see hike beta photo #2). Once you are on the old road the trail has been cleared very well as of summer 2017 and should be very obvious and easy to follow. If you go more than 100 feet into the trees without there being an obvious path cleared then you are going the wrong direction.
Follow the old road for about 5 minutes until it starts to bend a little to the right. You'll be forced to step over a downed tree and immediately after the trail breaks off the road and heads steeply down towards Big Bear Creek. Cross the creek on a decent log and head up the trail on the east side of the creek passing through a large meadow and eventually back into the trees below the South Jersey Shore. Although the trail is currently very easy to follow through the meadow it has a tendency to grow back every season making it difficult to follow at the beginning of each summer.
About 30 feet below the cliff make sure to switchback across a log that will take you directly to the base of the route Ol' Drippy.
1.9 miles - take a right continuing on LBR.
2.3 miles - LBR turns to gravel.
5.3 miles - stay right at the intersection passing through the forest service gate (closed Jan 1 through June 15).
7.9 miles - stay left at the intersection continuing on LBR.
9.0 miles - turn left onto a slightly worse dirt road.
9.1 miles - another slight left onto a faint road. Park immediately after turning between two large trees.
The trickiest part of the hike is the initial few minutes through the meadow you parked in. From the parking spot head east and follow the edge of the trees downhill and slightly left for a few hundred feet (see hike beta photo #1). The trees kind of funnel the meadow down to a point where you have to enter the trees. Look for a slight clearing with a large cairn marking the start of the trail down an old road (see hike beta photo #2). Once you are on the old road the trail has been cleared very well as of summer 2017 and should be very obvious and easy to follow. If you go more than 100 feet into the trees without there being an obvious path cleared then you are going the wrong direction.
Follow the old road for about 5 minutes until it starts to bend a little to the right. You'll be forced to step over a downed tree and immediately after the trail breaks off the road and heads steeply down towards Big Bear Creek. Cross the creek on a decent log and head up the trail on the east side of the creek passing through a large meadow and eventually back into the trees below the South Jersey Shore. Although the trail is currently very easy to follow through the meadow it has a tendency to grow back every season making it difficult to follow at the beginning of each summer.
About 30 feet below the cliff make sure to switchback across a log that will take you directly to the base of the route Ol' Drippy.
Classic Climbing Routes at Big Bear Canyon (the BBC)
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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Photos
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