jenny

My husband and I are going to visit Sedona in May. We are in our 70s and I have difficulty to undertake anything that could be called a "hike", but we love nature, and are looking forward to doing what we can.
Can you suggest some easy walking trails or hikes we can drive to ,and then walk around and "oh-and-aahhh"??? I'm sure there will be lots of places to ohh-and -ahhh from the car window, but we'd like to get out and be part of it. We'll have 3 days in Sedona - not nearly enough, but it's a start

dfrostnh

I took a Pink Jeep tour which went up a road named after the founders, something like Shibley, to view the canyon. There were quite a few regular cars on this road too. We parked at one place to do a short, steep hike up some rocks. Not more than a 100 yards, probably less. You wouldn't have to walk up on the rocks to enjoy the view. The road is gravel but wide and very driveable. Make sure to take plenty of water. I visited at the end of May and drank far more water than usual just doing nothing. I was on a bus trip from Phoenix that also stopped at Montezuma's Castle. Very gradual slope, lots of well labeled plants. Benches here and there. Nice contrast to the steep vastness of the canyons.

emd

jenny, do the walk around Bell Rock. It is easy and flat and is the first rock on the left as you get through the Village of Oak creek driving towards Sedona. Path takes off close to parking area, just off side of the road, and is flat and goes around Bell Rock. You may see some "medicine wheels" that have been put down by the new agers. It will be interesting and get you up close to the rocks.
I have Sherry and Richard Mangum's good Sedona Hikes book and will check it for other easy walks close to the parking areas in the red rocks. I will post back for you so check again.
I would carefully consider doing a Pink Jeep Tour in my 70s. They are usually very bumpy, although I am not familiar w/the one descibed by dfrostnh. Let's put it this way, my inlaws are in their 70s in general good health but I wouldn't send them on the jeep tours I have seen going by while Ive been hiking.

dfrostnh

Hi emd, my jeep tour wasn't bumpy but I live on a dirt road and don't notice bumps. I just want to say I wasn't recommending the jeep tour only saying that the road we were on was driveable by any car. Of course, we left that road and went where 4 wheel drive was necessary but the place where we climbed on the rocks was were any car could go. It was along a canyon. Maybe another poster will have the correct name of the road if I got it wrong. Nice flowers blooming along the road too.

jenny

I appreciate your comments.
We were planning to make this trip last Sept./Oct., but for health reasons could not go. So this time I'm keeping my fingers crossed. We have less time now, but we'll be in Sedona for 3 days in early part of May. I hope it won't be too hot at that time, but even if it is, it should be dry heat. We are west of Wash. D.C. and get very hot and humid weather, so dry air would be a welcome change.First part of our trip is to Santa Fe and then we'll drive to Sedona.
Last fall I got some good hints , and in fact, emd, I had printed out some of your advice on driving tours around Sedona.
dfrostnh, I would love to go on some jeep tours, but I'll have to be careful with the bumps! It is good to know about places we can reach by car and take short walks.Thanks to you both.

emd

jenny, I am glad to be of help. I admire you for wanting to get out like this in your 70s and I hope my husband and I are doing the same thing-- actually I hope we are doing it in Sedona as we hope to retire in the area of Village of Oak Creek.
I think you would enjoy going to Red Rock State Park and hiking there. Call and check what the rangers are offering. We have done some hikes there (the full moon hike is fantastic) w/volunteer guides (usually retired people living in the area) and they are great. All the hikes there are rated easy to moderate except Eagles Nest and I think you could find interesting easy ones to do, w/the benefit of restrooms at the ranger's station, etc. The hikes start from the visitor's center on paved paths and branch off onto real goo dpaths, and in earaly May those paths will be nice w/wildflowers. I think you'd enjoy it out there. Take 89A west, through Sedona and you will see the signs on the left for Red Rocks State Park. I'm going to try to find the park number for you and post back w/it.
My other recommendation since you have af ew days is to go to the Tourist office or the ranger's station. Tourist office is on 89A, take a right at the "Y" junction of 89A and 179 and it is about two blocks down on the left. Park around Oaxaca restaurant if you don't see the signs, and you will find it or just ask. The staff there can eyeball you and help decide what you aare prepared to do and lead you to other easy hikes. Ranger's station is just off 89A in the other direction- turn right at the "Y" junction and it will be a left turn about 1 mile down, there is a sign. I have gone there many times too and they have the very best info on the present condition of the trails, but are not really as helpful w/picking trails to hike as the toursit center.
While you are out in area of Red Rocks State Park you might like to go see the two sets of ruins, Palatki and Honanki. These are easily accessed by driving out 89A and turning right on Dry Creek Rd. to the stop sign at 6 miles, turn left on the paved road and drive to the 7.7 mile point where the road to Enchantment resort forks to the right. Go left there on the unpaved road to Boynton Pass; coming to a junction you turn right on FR 525. About 1/1 mile from the junction turn right on FR 795 and there is the parking lot for Palatki; Honanki is just a hop further. Both sets of ruins are fascinating short easy hikesand rangers lead talks there.
The other easy hike that comes to mind is Coffee Pot. Ask at the visitor center.
Good luck! Wish I could go.

jenny

I thank you for all the trouble , emd . No need to get the numbers. I have a copy of "Experience Sedona", and Red Rock State Park , also Palatki and Honanki are in there. I have marked them both. Glad to get your good directions. The ruins are out 'our way', We are staying at Alma de Sedona B&B off Dry Creek rd. I am so excited about this trip. We have never been out that way and had to postpone several times. On our way from Santa Fe we are planning to stop overnight at Gallup NM or Holbrook AZ and drive next day to Sedona. Do you think we can do this and have enough time to have a leisurely drive through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona (on # 89A)? Soon I'll have the names and route numbers etched in my mind !!!! But it is so much fun just planning .

emd

There is another tourist office in west Sedona closer to where you'll be. It is out around the high school (Red Rock Loop Rd.) but on opposit side of 89A, and it is not right on 89A, it is a block off of it but it is marked w/sign (I believe) on 89A. They are not quite as good w/the hiking recommendations as the other office, but they have good info and it will be very close to you.
OK, since I know now that you are out there, I will suggest going to Red Rock Crossing, an easy hike that leads you to the famous spot where Oak Creek crosses behind Cathedral Rock. You have to pay a fee for parking to get to it, but it is nice. Cross 89A and go up Red Rock Loop Road, right by the high school. This is a nice road w/pull over vistas. There are signs to Red Rock Crossing. What I can't recal is how long the hike was, soplease check about that and talk to someone (who can see you in person) about your abilities to be sure it is easy for you.
You will be staying close to one of the most sacred places in Sedona area according the the Native Americans- Boynton Canyon. Drive around further up Dry Creek Rd. It is amazing. Most of the hikes are moderate and liley too much for you but talk to someone, there might be one you can get in. Even just driving out there is amazing, esp. during the wk when it is not crowded at all (often I am the only one out there in the mornings on those trails). I see javelinas, mule deer, and even boar out there in Boynton Canyon, and coyotes at night on the roads while driving. It is an amazing area.
Take brimmed hats and sunscreen, lots of water everywhere you go, and sign the trailhead books. You might post another post to ask about the drive you referred to to get to Seodna- I've never some in from that direction. I always drive from Phoenix after business or just landing at Sky HArbor and I drive like a bat out of you know where to get to Sedona (but the speed limits are 75 on that stretch so it is ok to drive that speed!)
I'd love to hear about Alma de Sedona after you get back, and would enjoy hearing how you make out.

jenny

I am so happy to get these great tips from you ! Just wanted to add that I had posted another question in regards to travel time from Gallup NM to Sedona. This is truly a wonderful forum. Many helpers......... ! We'll be home on May 12 and I'll post a report soon after.

emd

jenny: Will you please keep your ears open while you are out there staying in West Sedona. Another poster, MelissaH, just posted that she was turned back from hiking Boynton Canyon trail, that it is not acccessible to hiking and she had to tunr back at the part of the trail that goes by Enchantment resort. I sent her there to hike that trail and she couldn't do it. Please post if you hear anything about this while you are there, since I know you are staying very close to there at Alma de Sedona. Thanks very much.

jenny

Hi emd, I got your message. Also looked up the postings in "Sedona one-day trip" about hikes . We'll keep it in mind and I'll let you know.

emd

jenny: i posted on the other active post about this- I called the ranger's station and Boynton canyon trail is open as usual. I think the woman who posted tht she was turned back might have tried to enter the trail at Enchantment, instead of the real trailhead which is before you get to Enchantment. So it is not an issue, unless I hear back from her that she was turned back from the real trailhead or trail, whcih the ranger assured me shoudl NOT happen...

emd

jenny: i posted on the other active post about this- I called the ranger's station and Boynton canyon trail is open as usual. I think the woman who posted tht she was turned back might have tried to enter the trail at Enchantment, instead of the real trailhead which is before you get to Enchantment. So it is not an issue, unless I hear back from her that she was turned back from the real trailhead or trail, which the ranger assured me should NOT happen...