Twin Pillars/Turkey Creek - Village of Oak Creek

We decided to hike on Thanksgiving Day. While we did not follow the Twin Pillars or Turkey Creek Trails exactly, we did cross over and use parts of each trail.

We climbed toward the saddle of one of the red rock formations and crossed over onto the other side to circle the formation and head back in the general direction of Verde Valley School Road. 

There are lots of dry washes and slides in the area and some beautiful views of Cathedral Rock and other surrounding formations. 

These trails are right off Verde Valley School Road. Depending on the route you take and which direction you take, you can enjoy a 1-2 mile hike and be back to the parking lot in time for lunch. 

For the most part, these trails are easy, with some moderately difficult sections along the way. The trails are not among the busiest or most popular in Sedona so if you like to have some peace and quiet, these trails will suit you just fine!

Sugarloaf Loop Trail

Coffee Pot Rock

We took a Thanksgiving morning hike to this great little spot. The Sugarloaf trail intersects with Thunder Mountain (Capitol Butte) trail and with Teacup trail and offers great views of Thunder Mountain and Chimney Rock and on the back side the valley opens up to reveal Ship Rock, Coffee Pot and other Sedona treasures. 

Thunder Mountain

The hike is moderately difficult with a bit of up and down at the beginning and then a moderate climb up the spine of Sugarloaf to the top. The hike is about one mile round trip, and it is well worth the effort.

Chimney Rock

Once you get to the top of Sugar Loaf you are met with a 360 view of the valley and surrounding monuments. In the distance, you can see Courthouse Butte, Airport Mesa, and even the top of Bell Rock peeking at you from the Village of Oak Creek!

The trail is well-traveled during tourist season so you are likely to greet other hikers along the way. Sugar Loaf offers some great views and a panoramic perspective of Sedona and its little communities and uptown area, and it is a hop, skip and a jump from town, so you don't have to travel far!

Scheurman Mountain Trail and Vista

If you are looking for an uncrowded hike during the busy tourist season in Sedona, Scheurman Mountain Trail is a good choice.

This easy to moderate trail is uphill and elevation increases quickly, but when you get to the top, you are rewarded with a great view of the valley (Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte, The Nuns, Ship Rock and more)

On this day, there was a haze, so the pictures do not really do the view justice! Take your time going up and spend some time at the vista enjoying the view of Red Rock Loop, and Airport Mesa.

The hike starts near Red Rock High School at the trailhead and follows the border of the high school property for a bit. Then it begins to climb. There is no 'hands and knees' climbing required, but the elevation does change quickly. 

For those with bad knees or a bad lower back, you will have to take your time on the way down the mountain, to accommodate the steep downward grade. The hike is not hard, and the path is clear, so there isn't a lot of instability, but it will take you some time to get up and back (probably about 45 minutes one way). 

When you get to the trail sign (pictured above) at the split, take a left and head up the mountain. This trail will afford you numerous opportunities for pictures at overlooks, and you can follow the rock baskets all the way to the top!

Sedona Hiker Road Trip: Monument Valley, Cedar Mesa, Natural Bridges, Canyonlands and Arches

While Arizona, and Sedona in particular offers numerous wonders to explore, Sedona Hiker is not immune to the beauty of other locales. On a recent trip to Utah, I sampled some of the most beautiful locations in the state. 

We did not include Bryce and Zion in this trip because we had already been there, but we will certainly go back again. 

If you have not yet visited these wonders of nature, you must do so!

This trip included Monument Valley, Cedar Mesa, Natural Bridges, Canyonlands and Arches parks. 

We started our trip in Monument Valley, driving the loop to take in the sights and marvel at the iconic monuments that served as a backdrop to some of America's most famous Western movies. 

Monument Valley

Onward toward Mexican Hat, and then to Cedar Mesa and Natural Bridges. 

The next day we headed to Canyonlands and took the rim hike to enjoy the beautiful canyon below us. 

Then it was on to Arches. 

A memorable trip with lots of beautiful landscape to see!

Natural Bridges

Canyonlands

Mesa Arch at Canyonlands

Arches

Arches

Arches

Arches

Arches

Mexican Hat

Andante and Chimney Rock Pass Trail

On a beautiful Spring day in Sedona, there is no better place to be than on a hiking trail! And, yesterday was no exception. The sky was blue, the breeze was balmy and we headed to Adante Trail to begin our hike around Chimney Rock. 

Chimney Rock is one of the iconic red rock formations in Sedona and, thanks to all of the amateur and professional photographers who have passed through this scenic paradise, Chimney Rock is well known around the world. 

One of the most interesting things about this rock formation is how it changes, depending on your perspective. This changing perspective applies to many of the beautiful monuments here (Cathedral Rock is another example of this phenomenon), but you don't have to hike or drive far to see Chimney Rock from a different vantage point. 

A quick drive up Dry Creek Road, or a leisurely hike around the base of Chimney Rock will reveal its ever-changing face, and you will discover that the 'chimney' is actually comprised of several vertical slabs of red rock, rather than the single chimney you see from some angles. 

This hike begins at Adante Trailhead (near the large green water tank) and intersects along the way with Thunder Mountain Trail and Chimney Rock Pass Trail. We took the Chimney Rock Pass trail and wandered up and down the hills, following the path around the hill atop which the chimney sits. 

This is listed as a moderate hike in the hiking books and it is that. There isn't much of an uphill challenge during the first half of the hike, but the second half contains a good portion of uphill, without much of a respite. 

After that climb, the trail takes you around to the other side and back down toward the parking lot. 

Bi-Colored Lichen on the Red Rock

Very Large (Old) Juniper

Along the way, the junipers, manzanita and spring flowers graced the landscape giving us lots of photo opportunities. 

There are some wonderful views of the valley and of Ship Rock, the top of Cathedral Rock and several other monuments. The valley is bordered by beautiful sentinels of red rock that will take your breath away!

Chimney Rock from a Distance

Views of Coffee Pot Rock, Ship Rock and More!

You will meet other hikers and perhaps some bicyclists along the path, but this trail is well worth the hike. The views are spectacular and you get to see a host of red rock formations up close and from a distance.

The Adante and Chimney Rock Pass trails comprise a hike of about 1 to 2 hours depending on how often you stop to take pictures and chat with your fellow hikers along the way!

Chimney Rock Up Close and Personal

West Clear Creek

The West Clear Creek hike is not the most popular hike in Sedona, nor is it the most breathtaking. But, for those who want an easy hike without climbing, this is a good choice. 

The West Clear Creek trail rambles along the creek and through meadows, revealing some beautiful tall mountains and a wall of red rock. 

A peek at some red rocks

The remains of an old field stone house stand in a meadow, surrounded by scrub and some small trees. 

If the creek is not running high, you can cross it at the end of the trail and follow along the creek for another mile or so. 

Eventually, you will reach a point where the land on this side of the creek rises and, if you choose to continue the hike beyond this point, beware! 

This is not an established trail and it will take you up another 2000 feet, so it is not for the feint of heart. 



If you stick to the established trail, the West Clear Creek hike will take you about an hour.





If you get a late start, you will need a jacket on the way back. Once the sun dips behind the high mountains on the opposite side of the creek, you will be cold!

Beautiful old Cottonwood tree

The nicest surprise we had on this hike was something we saw shortly after we left the parking lot at the trail head. There is one gigantic Cottonwood tree standing guard over the path. There are also some very large, old Sycamore trees gracing the path.

A view of the creek

If you are in the mood for a serene hike and you don't have all day to complete the journey, you'll like West Clear Creek a lot. 



The established trail is a little over a mile long and it makes for an easy and enjoyable day. 





There aren't a lot of tour planes or helicopters overhead, so you can enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. 

Oh! One more thing. We finished our hike and drove out of the parking area, and up the winding road. On our way out, we were lucky enough to see two magnificent eagles circling overhead. 

They landed on the top of the hill above us and we thought they were probably going back to their aerie. 

A little cave along the creek

A nice surprise at the end of a peaceful New Year's Day hike!

West Fork Trail

The West Fork trail is often listed as a favorite in popular Sedona hiking books. The popularity of the trail is well-deserved and there are numerous reasons for its popularity. Here are few of the reasons:

1.  It is not the most challenging trail in Sedona, so most people can enjoy its beauty.

2.  For much of the hike, you are following the beautiful, serene Oak Creek. 

The creek rambles along, revealing small rapids and smooth waters. You will cross it numerous times (13, to be exact) as you follow the trail, so you'll have the opportunity to really enjoy its beauty.

The Mayhew House

3.  The West Fork trail has some other treasures that may be of interest to those who want to know more about Sedona's history. 

You'll pass the Mayhew House, a dilapidated old structure that was once visited by Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart and others. 

4.  The trail winds through meadows, Ponderosa Pine and red and white cliffs. 

This beautiful canyon was the inspiration of Zane Grey's 'Call of the Canyon' and, if you take the time to traverse the 3.3 mile hike, you will see why. 





We took this hike on Christmas Day. The cool air and shade of the tree groves and the overhanging cliffs would be a treat during the summer. 




Much of the trail is shaded by trees and cliffs and the recent snowfall made the trails icy and the hike a bit cold, but it was worth the effort. 

The canyon is 12 miles long, but the official hike is a little over 3 miles and, in good weather when the trails are in good shape, it should take you about 90 minutes to get to the end of the trail. 




Because of the icy conditions, and the late hour, we did not complete the hike, but we will certainly do so on another day when the weather is better.