The hikes of course are my favorite part of any scenic trip. My favorite hike in the Sedona area I think is the Call of the Canyon, West Fork Trail. It is located about 8 miles north of Sedona in Oak Creek Canyon.
This area was made famous by Zane Grey who wrote about it in his novel, Call of the Canyon. (Free eBook) This is the remains of a lodge where Zane Grey, and famous actors stayed before it burned.
This trail gives a different perspective than the red rocks of Sedona.
The trail follows the course of West Fork creek. There are 13 creek crossings along the trail....making 26 crossings in all round trip. Joselyn got the hang of it quickly.
Lupine and other wildflowers are blooming along the trail.
We arrived early to get a parking spot at this popular trailhead, and had a very peaceful hike before the crowds arrived.
The canyon walls loom high above, and the canyon becomes narrower as you progress.
The canyon has recovered from the wildfire that came through here in 2014, just 2 weeks after I was here.
This slide rock is a popular place to wade in the summer.
Wild roses.
More wildflowers.
The trail.
Another crossing. Sometimes logs, sometimes stones, but we didn't have to get our feet wet.
Just some pretty views from the trail...
Lots of spring green.
Stellar's Jay
There's a $5000 fine for letting your dog off leash on this trail, according to the sign at the trailhead. We counted $40,000 the forest service could have collected this morning if they'd had a ranger out here enforcing that rule. We left Thistle home.
Almost to the end of the maintained trail.
We made it...3.5 miles one way.
Light bouncing off Narrow Canyon Pool at the end of the trail. Some hikers hike beyond here to camp overnight.
A few more views on the return trip.
The trail was getting crowded with hikers and the parking lot was full when we got back.
Believe it or not, I forgot my camera the next day when we hiked to Cathedral Rock. So all these photos were taken with my cell phone. We started out at Red Rock Crossing, but the water was too deep and swift to cross over to the trail we wanted.
So we drove to another place on the other side of the creek to access the trailhead.
We stopped for a peaceful picnic lunch in the shade beside the creek.
A Mallard and her ducklings were paddling by.
Then we started up the trail to the base of Cathedral Rock.
View from the trail.
Approaching Cathedral Rock. The Ocotillo are blooming.
We decided not to attempt the last part of the trail...a steep climb over rock scree to the saddle of Cathedral Rock. We watched people climbing on all fours, and sliding back down on their butt.
The view from there.
This Agave is in bloom with the yellow flowers.
The trail back down.
We also did part of the Airport Loop Trail that day....more phone pics.
View from the Airport Loop.
You can see Bell Rock in the center with Courthouse Rock on its left.
We had beautiful hiking weather the whole time we were there. So many hikes, so little time.
