Sedona: hiking, running paths, horse trails
 

Hi all,

Sedona experts: If you had time for only one favorite 'moderate' hike on a summer morning, which one would it be? I have a list but need to pare it down considerably.

Anyone familiar with good horse trails, or are they discontinued during the heat of the summer?

Also, are there any running paths in sedona, used exclusively for jogging?

TIA!

The Griswalds go to Sedona!

What moderate hikes are you considering? How long (time) do you want to hike, and how early are you willing to start to be doen and out of the heat before it gets too intense?

Are you bringing your own horses or looking for a place to rent horses and ride?

Hi emd!
On this trip we'll only be in sedona two nights so depending on the heat etc, likely only one am to hike - possibly a short one the am we leave. Since our first trip to sedona a few years ago (when we only did the Pink Jeep Tour) i've kept a list of hikes as we've always planned to return.

At the top of the list is the West Fork Trail - it always sounds like the perfect, amazing hike - but a close second is the Boynton Canyon Trail. What do you think? We're all in good shape and athletic, altho DD is never too pumped about hiking LOL, preferring horsetrails.

And i had also noted Bell Rock, Soldiers Pass Arches Trail, Devil's Bridge, and The Jordan Trailhead. Also Doe Mountain, but this one is supposedly too easy? So maybe that one the am we leave? If you could only do one, which one would you recommend?

We'd also like to do a horse trail (and no, we don't have our own horses, LOL, i wish!!) and have listed Trail Horse Adventures in my notes. But i've kept notes for years and have no idea if they're still good? Especially in early june?

I would alos like to get in a good run, probably before a morning hike - are you familiar with any good paths?

Thanks emd. I appreciate any suggestions! From anyone!

It's actually a pretty easy hike but Doe Mountain had pretty spectacular views at the top. Doe Mountain is actually a mesa--when you get to the top, walk to all the edges for spectacular views.

People were jogging Boynton Canyon. Enjoyed lunch on the terrace at Enchantment Resort--large portions.

We also enjoyed the Brins Mesa Trail--the trailhead at Jordan Rd was closed when we were there--we ended up taking the Jordan Trail and Cibola Pass, but the hike also takes you to a great canyon.

We tried to do the Lost Canyon but a snowstorm the night before caused us to miss the trailhead, which was off Dry Creek Rd and then a dirt road at a Brins Mesa Trailhead. We ended up back on the Brins Mesa trail. It was a gradual uphill with nice views at the top and then as you crossed the mesa, there was a great rocky outcropping, which we climbed for really wonderful views. We missed this part of the trail when we hiked the Brins Mesa earlier.

Enjoyed the easy walk to Red Rock Crossing

We were not that impressed with Red Rock State park--we go more for "great view" hikes.

Really good hiking reviews on www.hikearizona.com

Since you are doing this hike in summer (and I have hiked in Sedona in late June, mighty hot) I would choose between West Fork and Boynton Canyon. These are not (out in the open w/the great vista views) but I could not be "out in the open on the great vistas" after about 10 a.m. in the summer. Maybe Davil's Bridge if you leave early right after sunrise, as once you get up to the ledge, it is out in the open w/no cover (and it is not all that easy to get up that last part of the climb to the top of the ridge). You don't want to be on the exposed ridge and ledge after about 10 am, it will be brutally hot and I can't even drink enough water to stay hydrated in summer up there.

West Fork is a downward hike into Oak Creek Canyon (about 10 miles up 89A in the canyon). Wonderful hike, rock hopping the creek several times (but it's ok and you don't have to take boots off- but you need hiking boots as the rocks are slippery and hard on your soles if you don't have boots on). If you hike far enough (about 3 miles in) the sheer rock walk walls on each side of you rival those I have seen in Utah in the canyons there. Stunning. And it is COOL in that canyon- we were able to hike it 3 miles in and 3 miles out starting at 1 pm with no problem in late June. West Fork would be my first choice. You certainly don't have to go as far as we did, but it gets better the further you go and you'll likely want to cont. once you get into the canyon. Boynton canyon's stream can dry up completely in summer, but you will have water in Oak Creek at the West Fork trail- a big plus when you want to get a little wet and stay cool.

Boynton Canyon is an easy hike, also beautiful, but West Fork is more beautiful and interesting IMO. Also, Boynton Canyon has a 40 min hike to get to out of the sun and exposed area and into the canyon, and I would not want to do that part of the hike in the sun for 40 min at end of the canyon hiek to get back to the car.
Boynton Canyon is a vortex site and the New Agers had set up rock gardens where there were hundreds of small rock cairns and formations in one area of the hike ina small meadowon right side of the trail, but in Dec. I went back there to rehike that and the rocks were gone, wa sign from the forest service that the area was under "reinstitution and restoration" and not to go near it.

Maybe do West Fork one afternoon, and do a short hike in early a.m.? Bell Rock is a very flat walk- you can jog there. If you are going to jog in regular jogging shoes, I'd choose a relatively flat hike like Bell Rock and go just before sunrise (as it is exposed). Running a trail w/rocks on it, like Boyton Canyon, really requires trail jogging shoes for safety. You can twist an ankle awfully fast in regular jogging shoes w/rocks on the path!

We have used Trail Horse Adventures twice, once in Dec. 2005 and once in APril 2004. I like their ride that goes through the creek, but it is a moderate ride. We all enjoyed the beginners ride that starts in late afternoon and goes til early evening, although the dinner afterwards is not good enough to pay for unless you anticipate being so tired (we were) that you want to eat right after getting off the horse. I like the area they ride in, right next to Red Rock State PArk. And they are relaible. We tried to bok a ride w/a Day in the West, and they were very unreliable- said they put us on the list when I called to sign up and we got there and they had no record of us, and we did not get to ride. Then the charge showed up on my credit card.

Oh goodness, ellen, I am sorry, I mixed up Devil's Bridge in my mind w/the Lost Canyon hike in the same area. Devil's Bridge you coudl do in the early morning. The hike is covered until you get up to the ridge where you walk out on to the bridge. Amazing hike- have done it twice and loved it both times. You can do this in early morning and get down before it is too hot.

And as Linda said, Doe Mountain could be done in early morning, but get down before 10 am when it gets really hot.

Maybe you'l be lucky and temops will be cooler. One person said las t week on a post that she had 80 degree temps in Sedona in July, which is very unusual but I guess it happens.

It also rains in the afternon (heavy downpoors) many days in July and August- they call it monsoon. Cools it off but makes it humid from what I hear from others who have gone then.

Thank you soo much for the excellent information! Emd, do you think the late afternoon trails are better than earlier, in terms of views, heat etc, since we're only there for two sunsets? We're really excited to revisit sedona and can already tell we won't have enough time!

I like early morning as it is nice before the rocks heat up at all. The rocks hold a lot of heat after a full day in the sun, and it can still be hot in late day, until close to sunset when it starts to get less hot (I wouldn't say "cool off"- just less hot). Remember that it might be surprisingly humid after those heavy late afternoon showers too. We stick to the shorter sunset walks- like the one just before you get to the airport sunset vista- where you can hike up a big rock (takes just a few minutes) and see the sunset (park in the little lot just before the croaded sunset vista up on Airport rd.- the lot only holds about 12 cars).

Red ROck State Park also has sunset hikes that we like - Mon., Wed., Fri, Sat at 6:30- they hike up to a nice vista to watch the sunset. My favorite thing there is their moonlight hike (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat June thru August), because they take you out on a trail at dusk and you climb up and watch the moon rise (using flashlights to get back down). This takes about 2 hrs, easy trail so no problem although it does climb up and switchback, but is really nice, and there is not anything to do in Sedona at night anyway (esp. since the Imax theater closed down in Village of Oak Creek- they at least used to have good movies on the big screen at night). I love those moonlight hikes, and many times they have big telescopes set up at end of the hike that you can use.

Have fun, Griswolds! Can wait for your trip report! I loved your one last summer adn still pull it up just to read for fun sometimes.

I meant to say I CAN'T wait for the report!

Hi EMD! Thats so sweet (and funny!) that you still read my trip report! I actually think i didn't quite finish it...and now i'm afraid to look! =-O

I'm glad you mentioned sedona evenings as i'd forgotten how early things close! The hike sounds good; any other ideas? (DD will likely be done with hiking after doing one..) We'll be there two nights / three days. We also want to include a few hours in jerome, probably on our way to sedona from tucson, altho we could do jerome on our way out of sedona, too.

Thanks so much for sharing your expertise!!

ellen, have you done the Verde Valley Railroad? If I was going in summer when it is hot, I'd do this. We went in btwn Christmas and New Yrs of this last yr. and LOVED it. Someone went just recently (ozarksbill) and liked it a lot. I have not seen one bad review of it ANYWHERE! It is like a train ride in a little grand canyon. And it might be perfect for beating the heat for an afternoon or evening adventure. They also have sunset times, "starlight tours" departing at 5:30 pm on some days in summer- check their schedule. Check the website. If you go, I highly recommend the first class car, w/food (appetizer bar) and beverages (bar on the car; it's a 4 hr tour) and great service. I think this rail ride could be included w/Jerome, whatever day you do that. And Tuzigoot (nice Native American ruin site) is also close to Clarksdale where the rail ride leaves from. Clarksdale is 30 min form Sedona.

This is no boring rail ride (that is what I was afraid of and I hesitated to book it). It was relaxing and fun and somewhat educational (although not overly which would have turned kids off) and got thumbs up from both 15 yr old son and 13 yr old daughter and both of us.

http://www.verdecanyonrr.com/

My guess is that MR. Griswold and Griswold kids would like it...have thm bring a book or something for way back but my kids did NOT get bored!

Awesome idea emd, thank you!!! I think we'd all love it!

Keep those ideas coming, you rock! :)

You are planning an outing at Slide Rock State Park to get wet and have fun, right? Don't miss that in summer. Pack a little collapsable cooler to take w/you for a picnic and drinks, take towels to sit on the rocks (you can find shady spots under the rocks. It's like a natural red rock water park. TAKE WATER SHOES- as the rocks can be slippery in the water and they can hurt to step on too, and the rocks that aren't wet are hot.

FUN, FUN, FUN!! 8-) 8-) 8-)

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/rec...rock-pic.shtml

http://azstateparks.com/Parks/parkhtml/sliderock.html

Hi emd! Yes we did slide rock park a few years ago, sans water socks, and definitely learned our lesson, ouch!! LOL But yes, it was great fun!

We also had to wait for entrance for awhile as the parking lot was jammed. Do you happen to know if it's been enlarged? Otherwise we'll head over there earlier this time.

Thanks again for your awesome help.

EMD - we are IN LOVE with sedona! Altho we'd been before, we never saw it like this. I will be picking your brain big time when we return home, as i think sedona is in our future. We've seen so many amazing things on our trips out west, and we still are on this, our 10th, but we canNOT stop talking about sedona! Its still many years away but we wanna get in while we still can..

Anyway, thank you soo very much for your wonderful expertise! We did so many things you recommended, both here and on other threads, and we greatly appreciate your sedona savvy! The airport mesa and lookout view are at the top of the list, WOW, amazing sunsets! And on future runs at home, i'll likely be dreaming of Bell Rock, ahh...still have lots of our trip to go and yet i'm missing sedona big time.
More to follow in trip report when we return! :)

Cool! Maybe you and I can have coffee and hike together when we both retire part of the year together there...count me in.