The trail drops off a ridge, descending through mixed conifers about 700 feet in roughly 1 mile to the North Fork of Bear Wallow Creek. From this point to its terminus at the boundary of the San Carlos Apache Reservation, the moderately difficult Bear Wallow Trail travels 6.5 miles and drops another 1,300 feet. If you want to go the distance, keep in mind that round-trip from the trailhead is nearly 16 miles. But a couple of shorter day-hike alternatives present themselves along the way. Early in the morning, the melodic song of the hermit thrush resonates through the deep woods.
Squirrels chatter high among pine boughs.
We see piles of elk droppings here and there as the trail winds its way along Bear Wallow Creek, passing through grassy meadows where checkerspot butterflies flutter among sunflowers. Soon we come to a trail heading to the right. This is the moderately difficult 1.9-mile Reno Trail, which travels east out of the canyon to Forest Service Road 25 near the Reno Lookout. We continue hiking down the canyon on Bear Wallow Trail. Schell Canyon Trail intersects about 1.5 miles farther along.