 V-Bar-V or
West Clear Creek
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The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the V-Bar-V or West Clear Creek submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today! |
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Sterling Pass Trail
Sunday, May 29, 2011 By 3 Comments
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Sterling Pass Trail
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| Named for a local settler, Sterling Pass Trail leads over a high saddle from Oak Creek Canyon into nearby and equally scenic Sterling Canyon. The climb is steep right from the trailhead. The trail climbs up an unnamed drainage through a mixed conifer forest dominated by huge orange-barked ponderosa pines. Dwarf canyon maples are plentiful here too. They turn scarlet and peach in the fall, making this a great place to enjoy the most colorful of seasons.
As you ascend the steep slope you’ll notice that, above the mosaic of tree limbs that form the forest ceiling, huge monoliths of deep red and buff sandstone tower toward the sky. You’ll be rubbing shoulders with these giants as you slide between them at the top of the pass and begin the descent into Sterling Canyon. The best overlooks are along the climb, so be sure to take a break every now and then to enjoy them. The view from the top is somewhat obscured by trees. |
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The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Sterling Pass Trail submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today! |
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Soldiers Pass
Sunday, May 29, 2011 By 8 Comments
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Soldiers Pass
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| This trail provides a diverse experience beginning in an urban setting and eventually leads into Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness, increasing the potential for solitude. The first half of this trail is often busy and there is jeep tour traffic nearby. Enter at the signed trailhead which is open only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The trail dips to cross a wash then climbs out to the Devils Kitchen sinkhole just off the trail to the right at 1/4 miles. The trail then goes over level ground for 1/4 mile to the “Seven Sacred Pools” (pictured on right) to the left of the trail.
It continues on in the partial shade of Arizona cypress and intersects the end of a jeep road at 1.2 miles. The trail forks at the wilderness area boundary sign 1/8 mile further on. The right branch leads up rather steeply for 1/4 mile to an arch. Great views. The left branch is the main trail. This leads out of the wash on a moderate grade. Most of the shade is lost, but the views open up. The trail becomes increasingly steep and rocky as it climbs to the pass. Nearing 2 miles, it levels out on top of Brins Mesa, then continues for another 1/4 miles where it intersects Brins Mesa trial. Ultimately, scenic vistas can be enjoyed south into Sedona and north into the wilderness and the red cliffs of the Mogollon Rim. Return by the same route for a 4.5 mile round trip hike. |
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The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Soldiers Pass submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today! |
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Woods Canyon
Sunday, May 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Woods Canyon
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| The trail begins at the signed trailhead beyond the gate. It is level and unshaded as it follows a jeep road into the wide canyon mouth for 1-1/4 miles. The road ends and the trail continues, climbing gradually. There are views of the vegetation-covered slopes of mesas on either side. At 2 miles, the trail crosses a small, dry streambed with red rock pools, climbs out, passes through a cattle gate, and comes to a signed fork. The Hot Loop trail enters Wilderness area and continues its easy climb, passing some redrock formations on the left. It enters the occasional shade of pine and sycamore as it approaches and then follows Dry Beaver Creek. At 3-1/2 miles, the trail emerges on a picturesque expanse of redrock at the edge of the usually dry creekbed which is studded with huge, gray boulders. Continue on for another 3/4 mile for some nice redrock views as the trail climbs on a moderate grade out of the creekbed. This is a good place to turn around although a path continues further into the canyon. Return by the same route. This hike can be hot in summer. | |||||||||||||||
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The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Woods Canyon submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today! |
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Wilson Mountain Trail to First Bench
Sunday, May 29, 2011 By 2 Comments
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Wilson Mountain Trail
to First Bench
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| Wilson Mountain was named for Richaard Wilson, who was mauled and killed by a grizzly bear in 1885. The Wilson Moutain Trail begins by Midgley Bridge at the mouth of Wilson Canyon. The trail climbs the southeast face of the mountain to the First Bench. The bench, stretching along the east side of the mountain, is a down-faulted chuck of land 700 feet below the summit that was originally part of the moutaintop. The trail provides fine vieews of the Red Rock Country and across Verde Valley. The path intersects with the North Wilson Trail and continues to the top of Wilson Mountain. | |||||||||||||||
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The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Wilson Mountain Trail to First Bench submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today! |
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Wilson Mountain Trail
Sunday, May 29, 2011 By 4 Comments
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Wilson Mountain Trail
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| Wilson Mountain is the highest mountain in the area, topping out at 7,122 feet. The trail climbs the cliffs from the 6,200-foot First Bench of Wilson Moutain up to the top of the mountain, with incredible overlooks on both the north rim and the south rim. The hike is a continuation of the First Bench trails (North Wilson Trail and Wilson Mountain to the First Bench). The mountaintop is covered with basaltic lava flows that date back 5 million years ago. From the summit are bird’s eye views of the entire area from 3,000 feet above the city of Sedona. The 360-views include the Verde Valley to the south, the San Francisco Peaks to the north, Oak Creek Canyon and the Mogollon Rim to the east, and the Red Rock Country to the west. | |||||||||||||||||
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The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Wilson Mountain Trail submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today! |
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Wilson Mountain Canyon Loop
Sunday, May 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Wilson Mountain
Canyon Loop
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| This short loop hike begins and ends on the east side of Midgley Bridge athe mouth of Wilson Canyon. The first part of the hike follows the Wilson Mountain Trail to elevated views into Wilson Canyon and across to the Schnelbly Hill Formations. The trail loops down and around into lush Wilson Canyon, following the shaded streambed through rock grottos. Part of the hike follows the old Oak Creek Canyon Road, used before Midgley Bridge was built. | |||||||||||||||
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The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Wilson Mountain Canyon Loop submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today! |
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Wilson Canyon
Sunday, May 29, 2011 By 1 Comment
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Wilson Canyon
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| This trail begins at the picnic ramada just up the old roadway from the Midgely Bridge parking area. At .1 miles, bear right onto the trail marked by large rock cairns. It gradually climbs, then descends to the normally dry canyon drainage. At .6 miles, pas the fork to the right signed for the Wilson Mountain Trail and then the fork to the left signed for the Jim Thompson Trail. Continue ahead, entering the wilderness area in the partial shade of live shrub oak and small Arizona cypress. Views are now limited to the tops of the canyon walls and the upper portion of Wilson Mountain ahead. Nearing 1.5 miles, the trail enters the drainage and proceeds over red rock with an occasional rock scramble in the shade of large Arizona cypress. At 1.5 miles, there is a red rock outcrop on the right. A side path climbs this and continues a short way, ascending about 100 feet to a saddle offering excellent views. This is a good place to turn around and return by the same route for a 3 mile roundtrip hike. | |||||||||||||||
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The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Wilson Canyon submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today! |
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Wilson (North) to First Bench
Sunday, May 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Wilson (North) to
First Bench
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| The North Willson Trail begins at the Encinoso Picnic Area and climbs a shady side canyon of Wilson Mountain in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness. J.J. Thompson, a homesteader in Oak Creek Canyon, established the trail for grazing his cattle and horses on the grassy mountaintop. The trail zigzags up to the First Bench of Wilson Mountain, a large, sloping plateau formed by the down-fault of a huge block of the mountain. The bench is covered with black basalt lava and stretches across the east side of the mountain, offering great views of the San Francisco Peaks, the Mogollon Rim and the mouth of Munds Canyon. At the south endof the First Bench, the trail meets the Wilson Mountain Trail coming up from Midgley Bridge. To hike further, the trail continues to the top of Wilson Mountain. | |||||||||||||||
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The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Wilson (North) to First Bench submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today! |
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West Fork Trail
Sunday, May 29, 2011 By 10 Comments
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West Fork Trail
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| There are a number of reasons why West Fork is the most popular trail on the Coconino National Forest. You’ll know some of them once you’ve strolled beside the pleasant little stream that ripples along the canyon floor and looked up, way up, at the dizzying cliffs that tower above it. You’ll know even more if you come in the spring,when migrating songbirds decorate the trees with flashes of brilliance, or in the fall when pastel leaves float in clear reflecting pools under a canopy of solid color. You can even add to that list if you come in the winter, when icicles hang from red rock overhangs and snatches of snow persist in cool shadows. As a matter of fact, you’ll probably find a new reason to be here every time you visit.
As for the trail itself, it’s an easy stroll, but you do have to cross the stream in a number of places. Usually, that involves negotiating a few strategically placed stepping stones or taking a couple of steps in shallow water. The trail is marked for the first three miles; however, many hikers continue beyond that. Eventually the pathway ends and you will be forced to hike in the stream bed as you continue into the Secret Mountain/Red Rocks Wilderness. If you choose to travel all 14 miles from one end of the canyon to the other, plan to do a lot of wading and boulder hopping, and even some swimming. When you do come, remember to take special care and leave this beautiful place better than you found it. Of course you know not to litter, but picking flowers and autumn leaves can cause just as unsightly a scar. So can short-cutting or rock throwing. Treat this natural treasure with the care it deserves and you’ll have plenty of reason to come back and see it again and again. |
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The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the West Fork Trail submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today!
