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Hogs Trail

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 by The Hike House 1 Comment

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Hogs Trail

One of the most underrated areas in Sedona is Munds Wilderness. Many people in the past would take on this area because the predominant trail for this area, Broken Arrow, is adjacent to a heavily traveled jeep road.

A new day has arrived…while you still must hike a portion of Broken Arrow to get to Hogs, the trail departs from the jeep chaos and brings you atop of a ridgeline to brings Munds Wilderness into full view. To have the entire Hogs experience you must tie into 4 different trails—Broken Arrow, High on the Hog, Hog Heaven and Hog Wash. In all, you will be covering 3.5 miles.

As you leave High of Hog, you will pick up Hog Heaven which takes you through a scenic saddle as you descend down the back side of Twin Buttes. As you reach the bottom of this descent you will then pick up Hogwash which will wrap around and back to the trailhead parking.

Trail Data

Distance: 3.5 Miles
Time: 2 hours
Elevation Change: 320 ft.
Difficulty: Moderate
Map: Click here for a map of Hogs Trail.

Trail Rating

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Overall
Views
Difficulty
Rating: 3.6/5

Hogs Trail Image

Sedona Trail Rating System

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 Casner Canyon 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!

Filed Under: Sedona Trail Rating System Tagged With: Hogs Trail, sedona hike, The Hike House

Hi Line Trail

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 by The Hike House 4 Comments

The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System
Hi Line Trail

Great moderate trail that provides a unique view of Munds Wilderness and Cathedral Rock. Just when you thought you had seen all of Cathedral, this trail provides a unique view from the southeast side of this structure.

This trail starts out across the street from Bell Rock at a trailhead named Yavapai Vista. Finding Hi Line can be a little confusing since there are a series of short trails that are intertwined before you reach the trail. Regardless of which short trail you take, they all lead to Slim Shady Trail. Once you intersect Slim Shady head to the left and after a short distance you will see sign for Hi Line.

As you head up Hi Line Trail, you ascend halfway up the ridgeline before the trail flattens out. Once flat you will be hiking a 4-6 wide shelf…really cool. As you follow the shape of this unique ridge (Seven Warriors) you are graced with the wide open views of Sedona and Munds Wilderness. As you turn the corner halfway down the trail you will experience your first views of Cathedral—not sure seeing Cathedral can ever become commonplace.

Hi Line Trail continues past Cathedral and provides you with the opportunity to connect to Baldwin Trail, Templeton and Slim Shady for a 8.2 mile loop hike. For those willing to hike the 8.2 loop hike you are treated to beautiful section of trail along Oak Creek.

Trail Data

Distance: 3.2/6.4 Miles
Time: 3.5 hours
Elevation Change: 580 ft.
Difficulty: Moderate
Map: Click here for a map of Hi Line Trail.

Trail Rating

VN:RO [1.9.8_1114]
Overall
Views
Difficulty
Rating: 4.2/5

Hi Line Trail Image

Sedona Trail Rating System

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 Casner Canyon 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!

Filed Under: Sedona Trail Rating System Tagged With: Hi Line Trail, sedona hike, The Hike House

Hangover Trail

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 by The Hike House 5 Comments

The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System
Hangover Trail

One of the most dynamic trails to be added to the Sedona Hiking Trail System in years. For those who have appreciated Munds Wagon Trail and Cow Pies, this trail takes it to the next level.

I especially appreciate this trail because it is not for everyone and takes a level of commitment to truly the unlock the majesty of this trail. In order to access Hangover you must hike 1.7 miles up Munds Wagon Trail—you may attempt this portion but this is not recommended due to the current condition of the adjacent road (Schnebly Hike Road)

After 1.7 miles take the junction left onto Hangover Trail. You will slowly rise up a series of switchbacks as Mitten Ridge towers over you. Behold, you arrive in the saddle where Oak Creek Canyon unfolds before you very eyes. After a short, steep ascent the trail levels out as you hike a 4-6 foot shelf along the backside of Mitten Ridge.

As you near the end of Mitten Ridge the trail rises back up onto the Cow Pies saddle. Stay left as you descend down the backside. Follow Cow Pies as it will connect you back with Munds Wagon Trail. Be sure to bring your camera because this hike is truly spectacular.

Trail Data

Distance: 8.4 Miles
Time: 4.5 hours
Elevation Change: 810 ft.
Difficulty: Difficult
Map: Click here for a map of Hangover Trail.

Trail Rating

VN:RO [1.9.8_1114]
Overall
Views
Difficulty
Rating: 4.4/5

Hangover Trail Image

Sedona Trail Rating System

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 Casner Canyon 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!

Filed Under: Sedona Trail Rating System Tagged With: Hangover Trail, hiking sedona, The Hike House

Biological Soil Crust: Holding the Place in Place

Tuesday, August 12, 2014 by The Hike House Leave a Comment

Despite its rugged appearance, Red Rock Country is a sensitive and limited living system in need of your help to sustain and enhance it. In this fragile desert, plants grow slowly and are easily trampled, and soils wash away from the impact of thousands of human footprints. Many popular areas have become crowded and show signs of damage to vegetation, cryptobiotic soil, water, archaeological sites and wildlife habitat.

Although the soil surface may look like dirt to you, it is full of living organisms that are a vital part of desert ecosystems. The large, black patches of dark, knobby, brittle crust are actually a cryptobiotic crust. Communities of soil crust are made of lichens, mosses, cyanobacteria, liverwort and fungi. The crust prevents erosion and retains water and minerals for plants. Without this veneer of life within the soil crust, the red rock landscape which Sedona is famous for would become barren sand dunes.

Even a single footprint off-trail on fragile biological soil crust can have a long-lasting effect on the desert ecosystem. Because most living crust biomass is concentrated in the top 1/8th inch (3 mm) of the soil, even small impacts have profound consequences. Crushed crusts contribute less nitrogen and organic matter to the ecosystem and the soils are left highly susceptible to both wind and water erosion. Recovery may take up to 250 years in places of lower rainfall, assuming an area is not again disturbed.

These crusts are found all over the world and they generally cover all soil spaces not occupied by trees, shrubs or grasses. In many areas, they comprise over 70% of the living ground cover and are crucial in reducing erosion, increasing water retention, and increasing soil fertility. In most dry regions, these crusts are dominated by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), which are one of the oldest known life forms. These living organisms and their by-products create a continuous crust on the soil surface that helps, well, hold the place in place. They are also an important pioneer stage in succession on bare ground, thus enabling grasses and herbs to become established.

Soil loss due to rainfall and water movement is increased when cyanobacteria connections are broken. This is particularly problematic when the impact is in a continuous strip, such as a vehicle or bicycle track, because channels for water flow are quickly formed, especially on slopes. Soil crusts are also important in the absorption of rainfall. This function is especially vital in arid areas that experience sporadic, heavy rainfall, like the Southwestern United States during the summer monsoon. When it rains, the organisms and their mucilage absorb up to ten times their volume in water and then release the water slowly into the soil once the rain ends.

Moreover, because plant cover is sparse, crusts are an important source of organic matter for desert soils. Organic matter is an important food source for organisms that live below the soil surface and who help keep nutrients available for plants by decomposing plant litter. Cyanobacteria and cyanolichens contribute nitrogen to soils, which is especially important in desert ecosystems where nitrogen often limits plant growth. Indirect benefits to soil health also are evident.

Many human activities are harmful to biological crusts. The crusts are no match for the compressional stress caused by footprints of livestock and people or by the tires of bicycles and vehicles. You may ask yourself, ‘What Can I Do to Preserve a Healthy Desert Ecosystem?’ When you are outdoors, whether you are hiking or biking, stay on established trails. Creating new trails destroys the fragile biological soil crust, desert vegetation and animal habitat.  If you must travel off trail, choose slickrock, gravel or sand surfaces. At trailheads, do not go beyond piles of rock, logs or fences. These have been placed to prevent further damage. You may also consider volunteering for trail-maintenance crews and learn techniques for repairing unmaintained trails. It is only through our diligent efforts and respect for the land that we will be able to preserve this beautiful, ever-changing desert ecosystem for future generations to appreciate.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous

Capturing Sedona’s Beauty

Tuesday, August 5, 2014 by The Hike House Leave a Comment

Capturing Sedona’s Beauty: Taking the Best Sunrise & Sunset Photographs

As the summer sun tumbles out of the sky, just before it dips below the horizon, Cathedral Rock turns ablaze in golden-fire red. The tall sandstone walls catch the day’s last rays of sunshine, accentuating the structure and texture of these petrified sand dunes. Indeed, few places rival the sheer splendor of a Sedona sunset or sunrise, especially during Arizona’s monsoon season.

From July through September, these almost daily storms form and produce spectacular atmospheric conditions. Paying close attention to the weather can yield great results for a photographer. The leading and trailing edges of a storm provide an almost theatrical excitement. Dark thunderheads roll in, teasing the parched earth with its fleeting promise of rain.Occasionally, a beam of sunlight will burst through towering cumulus clouds to produce a brilliant glow, painting the land in otherworldly colors.

Hiking with a camera in Red Rock Country can make for a rewarding experience. When I hit the trail to photograph the outdoors, I hike more thoughtfully and with a deeper sense of respect and appreciation for the land. Sedona has long been a favorite subjectfor serious landscape photographers to shoot, and as I have discovered, it is also a great place for amateurs to experiment and hone their skills. While almost everywhere you look is scenic, different times of day certainly offer better light and conditions for images. Red Rock Country is most photogenic in the ephemeral moments before and after sunrise and sunset. Many photographers refer to this time; the transitional light of dawn and dusk, as ‘magic light’ or ‘sweet light.’ Taking photos in early and late light can provide shadowy backgrounds for strongly lit subjects, yielding exposures that render richer color saturation.

If you’re like me and struggle to get out of bed any earlier than you absolutely have to, then waking up before sunrise can seem like a chore. But once you capture just one spectacular sunrise image, you realize that losing a little sleep is a fair sacrifice. You’ll be up before the day’s first light more and more, seeking to capture the majesty of a Sedona sunrise. But if you want to capture the sandstone formations alight in a fiery blaze, turn your back to the setting sun and point your camera east. Many of Sedona’s prominent red rock formations like Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte, and the Twin Buttes all stand tall enough to turn glowing orange in the last few moments before sunset.

In addition to packing all the outdoor necessities, be sure to bring a reliable light source or headlamp so you can safely navigate the trail once it starts to get dark. An almost calming twilight envelops the sky after the sun sets. But then it lights back up with brilliant colors, providing the opportunity to make photographs with a lot more mood. This is one of my favorite times to shoot. Whether you are an amateur photographer or a contributing editor for National Geographic, take a hike on a trail in Red Rock Country and bring your camera. You will not be disappointed. Happy Trails!

Yavapai Vista Trail

Reasons to hike: A series of short loops and easy climbs start at the Yavapai Vista trailhead and offer up-close views of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte; all from the much less crowded west side of HWY 179.

Total Distance: 1.25 miles

Difficulty Rating: Easy-Moderate

 

Doe Mountain: https://thehikehouse.com/trails/doe-mountain-trail

Reasons to hike: Doe Mountain is a small mesa in the Dry Creek area that provides breathtaking views from a route around the perimeter. It’s short and sweet and gives you the little elevation needed for sweeping red rock views.

Total Distance: 1.4 miles (+ about 1 mile if you follow the trail around the perimeter once on top).

Difficulty Rating: Easy-Moderate

 

Scheurman Mountain Vista: https://thehikehouse.com/trails/scheurman-mountail-trail

Reasons to hike: This trail is definitely among the less traveled in Red Rock Country. A short climb to a vista overlook provides some of the best elevated views of Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte, Gibraltar/Lee Mountain and the Twin Buttes.

Total Distance: 2 miles

Difficulty Rating: Moderate

Filed Under: Miscellaneous

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Hogs Trail

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 1 Comment

Hogs Trail One of the most underrated areas in Sedona is Munds Wilderness. Many people in the past would take on this area because the predominant trail for this area, Broken Arrow, is adjacent to a heavily traveled jeep road. A new day has arrived…while you still must hike a portion of Broken Arrow to get to Hogs, the trail departs from the … [Read More...]

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