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Hiking and Riding Sedona

Arizona's Redrock Country

story and photos by Bruce Grubbs

" November 30, 1960, Taos: Working now, as a bartender at the Taos Inn. A wretched job, of course, but I endure. Art must be my salvation. Art or madness. Art or defeat. Art or nothing.��- Edward Abbey, from Confessions of a Barbarian "

GETTING STARTED

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PERMITS A Red Rock Pass is required for parking on the national forest in the Red Rock Country. You can buy daily ($5), weekly ($15) or annual passes ($20, Annual; $40, Grand Annual) at ranger stations in the area. Golden Age and Golden Access passport holders are eligible for a discount. Information Coconino National Forest 1824 S. Thompson St. Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 527-3600 fs.fed.us/r3/coconino • Books by the author, published by Falcon Publishing: Mountain Biking Flagstaff and Sedona Best Easy Day Hikes Sedona Hiking Northern Arizona

Drive south from Flagstaff on Arizona 89A through the pine forest, and in just ten miles you're in for a surprise. Abruptly the highway reaches the edge of a deep canyon, and plunges downward in a series of tight switchbacks. Oak Creek Canyon has been carved out of the southwestern edge of the Mogollon Rim along a fault line, and is more than 2,000 feet deep. At the lower end of the canyon, the town of Sedona is nestled amid towering red rock formations eroded from the Mogollon Rim. The Red Rock Country, as locals call it, is part of the Coconino National Forest, and much of it lies in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain and Munds Mountain Wilderness areas.

Because the Red Rock Country is semi-desert and lies several thousand feet lower than the Mogollon Rim and Flagstaff, snow rarely stays on the ground for more than a few hours. Even in the winter, with sun it's warm. During spring and fall, the weather is just right for hiking and mountain biking. Although the summer is on the hot side, early morning is a fine time to get out on the trails.

Along Oak Creek Canyon, numerous hiking trails lead from the highway along the creek and up to the rims of the canyon. Trails near Sedona, including the Bell Rock Pathway and many others, are open to bikes as well as hikers. One of my favorite rides is the Chapel Rocks Loop.

Northwest of town, in an area called the Dry Creek Basin, half a dozen major canyons cut into the Mogollon Rim. Boynton, Fay, Long, Dry Creek, Sterling, and Secret Canyons all have trails leading into them. These trails tend to be easy at first, while the upper portions of the canyons are more difficult. For a rugged hike with a great view, try Bear Mountain.