Hike # 5 - West Fork Oak Creek 108 Sedona AZ

Hike #5 

Date: October 20, 2013

Location:  Sedona AZ

Hikers: Linda & Julio

Directions: Drive I17 North to Sedona exit. Head into town. Take Highway 89A north for 9.5 miles to about halfway between milepost 385 and 384. The trailhead is on the west side of the highway down a paved lane that leads behind a few creekside houses. Park at the Call O' The Canyon day-use area.

Day-use is $9 per vehicle (up to 5 people), walk-in, bicycle, bus: $2.00 per person. Restrooms available

Last minute decision to go hiking today. Julio decided to take the afternoon off so we got a late start.  West Fork has been on my to do list for a while.  We headed up there weeks ago but was stopped by rain.  Last week the government had the park shut down and it was a mess. This weekend PERFECT!  Not a cloud in the sky. 70 degree temperatures at the start of a mid day hike. 

Over the years I have hiked alot in Sedona. Most of the Tourist hikes. Here is a short list if you are looking for some good hikes. (Cathedral rock, Bell Rock, Boynton Canyon, Baldwin Trail, Broken Arrow, Devils Bridge, Margs Draw, Slide Rock, Soldiers pass, Voltee Arch) West Fork is one to add to the comeback to list.

We pulled up to a line waiting to get in to the park. At first we hesitated thinking we should leave but we decided to be patient and stick to our plan.  It was a 10 minute wait. As one car exits they let one in.  Not bad.  The price is per car. They also charge if you walk in so keep that in mind.  We definitely got our $9 worth today!

Since my adventure is for NEW hikes we learn something every time.  This time.  Bring a pullover or long sleeves.  There were spots that we were cold going in and definitely out because the sun was coming down.  It is mostly shaded the whole hike. 

We started the hike at 75 degrees. Ended at 56 degrees. 

There is a bridge at the start of the trail over the creek.  Great spot for a picture.  The beginning of the hike is busy.  Lots of families traveling. Once you cross a few streams you see less people.

The hike is an easy 7.2 round trip to the end.  Easy being flat. Although you have to cross streams and there are several spots were you cross tree roots. For someone older or not as steady on the feet it would be a tricky hike. You can hike for a short while just to see the views and the canyon.

First shots of Foliage

The colors of the trees were amazing.  You don't see foliage in AZ often.  This hike reminded me of home in Massachusetts and NH.  We crossed many parts of the creek. The rocks are positioned to make it fairly easy but there are some spots that you can miss a footing and get wet feet. Make sure your shoes are water proof.  The canyon itself is amazing.  Tall and various from the white cliffs to the rock rocks.  Add the colors of the trees change from green to yellow to orange to red.  It is a photographers dream.  Good thing I had my handy dandy photographer with me. 

Julio and I walked and stopped several times.  Great shots for pictures.  We brought our lunch (I was told my lunches are getting better. But make two sandwiches) and enjoyed a sunny spot on a rock next to the creek. I highly recommend this hike in the Fall.  The addition of the tree color made it even more special. I could add 50 great pictures from our hike. Here are just a few (out of the 200 taken) 

Beautiful Foliage with the red rock as the backdrop.  Amazing Colors.  The reflection of the colors against the creek were really cool!! As we traveled along the creek winding back and forth the colors changed

Close up of the branch

I could put many more pictures.  These are a few.  Traveling with a photographer makes the trip even more special.  I could never get these shots with my iPhone.

Shot from a ledge we stood on

View from one side of the canyon

When you reach the turnaround spot, you will see a sign that tells you after that point the hike requires water wading.  It is true.  That is also the point that you can camp.  Before that you can not camp.  No worries here. Camping for me is a Motel 6. 

I am so glad that Julio took the day off. So many pictures for my blog.  I heard that about 100 times!  HA. It was another great adventure. Julio collected two bags on colored leaves. Can't wait to see what he does with those. (before I throw them out)

Here are all the Julio "oh this is a great picture for your blog"shots.  You can only imagine how many more of these there are.....

This was before he started complaining about the cold. :(

Love on the Ledge

Julio used our lunch baggies to collect leaves!

Strike a pose

Warning you may need to move obstacles

If you are not nice I am gonna leave you here

Drink Break

Waiting for people to cross the creek

We ended the day stopping at a deli market on Oak Creek, homemade pastries hit the spot. We then watched the sunset from Airport Lookout before heading home.  Pretty awesome that this is only 1 1/2 hours away from us.  In my opinion Sedona is one of the most beautiful places in the world. We will be back again. I have a few more hikes on my list for Sedona. Hike #5 Check it off!

Sunset from Airport Overlook

Guess what number hike this is?

Again with remote places.  The GPS will work and track your hike.  Stop the tracking and wait to hit Save on the app. I had to wait til we were close to town.

Hike #4 - Granite Mountain #2 Scottsdale AZ

Hike #4

Date: October 19, 2013

Location:  Granite Mountain #2 (Browns Ranch) Scottsdale AZ

Hikers: Linda, Matt, Tina & Oz

Directions: Directions: 101 to Pima Road. Take right on Dynamite. 6 miles to 136th Street. Take Lef. Follow 2 miles to the power lines.  Lone Mountain is just past the power lines.  Park at Granite Mountain Trailhead on the left. (No Water or Toilets)

http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/Northern+Preserve+Map.pdf

Decided to venture back to The Granite Mountain Trail head of Browns Ranch. There are so many options for new trails at this location.  The morning started out with an amazing sunrise but this is actually the moon at Sunrise. Off we went with Oz ready for a hike and wearing his booties.  (but not for long)

The trail we decided on today was Bootlegger Trail to the North Side of Granite Mountain Loop Trail.  We stayed on the loop trail to Balanced Rock Trail. We could have picked up Branding Iron Trail but that would of turned our trail into a 8 miler and we needed more water. This hike was 6.2 miles.

Tina & OZ

 Again the trail today was very peaceful.  We had a couple mountain bikers pass us in the beginning but no other Hikers.  There are a lot of prinkly branches and cactus that can get caught up in your shoes.  We saw a few bunnies and quail.  The views on the hike are great.  There are no hills.  This is a good hike to get distance without worrying about climbing.

We saw 6 people riding horses as we were a mile from the Trailhead.  This helps with poop dodge training that is required in the Grand Canyon. It is a great area for all types of hikers.  Check it out!  4 down.  Off to find more new trails.  

 

Matt & Tina with Toms Thumb in the Distance

I figured out MapMyHike.  In this area if you have AT&T do not save your workout til you get back to Dynamite & Alma School area. That will allow you to save all the details!  

Hike #3 - Granite Mountain Scottsdale AZ

Hike #3

Date: October 13, 2013

Location: Granite Mountain Scottsdale AZ

Hikers: Linda & Jim 

Directions: 101 to Pima Road. Take right on Dynamite. 6 miles to 136th Street. Take Lef. Follow 2 miles to the power lines.  Lone Mountain is just past the power lines.  Park at Granite Mountain Trailhead on the left. (No Water or Toilets)

http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/Northern+Preserve+Map.pdf

This is a new Trailhead and connects to Brown's Ranch which is also new and officially opening next weekend.  It is peaceful and there are not alot of people on the trail, so enjoy it while it lasts.











The weather is beautiful as I drove across Pinnacle Peak to Pima I noticed how beautiful the sunrise was and realized that sometimes I take for granted how beautiful the desert really is.

McDowell Mountains before Sunrise

We took the Bootlegger Trail to the Granite Mountain Loop Trail.  We decided we would take the south loop to the west and eventually get to "The Amphitheater" Approx 7.1 miles round trip.   The terrain and the desert landscape is awesome.  It is similar to Toms Thumb but without the incline.  It is a great trail for Mountain Bikers.  (there were very few out today).

We picked up the Balanced Rock Trail to the Cholla Mtn Loop.  The Balanced Rock was pretty cool.  There are several of the balanced rocks throughout the hike.  There are many side trails in this area.  I recommend you bring a map which is provided at the trailhead.  The signs are awesome but it is pretty easy to end up on the wrong trail. It's easy to find your way back.

Balanced Rock

We took a side route to the Amphitheater vs going to Cathedral Rock.  We were almost 4 miles out and knew we would have to head back soon.  Rev. Jim gave a brief service at the theater. We took a picture of Pinnacle Peak in the distance and then headed back.  It was a really cool hike.

Sunday Church Service in the Amphitheater

Another great new hike.  I really like this area. It is not strenuous but if you are looking for long scenic hikes, this is the place to come.  3 Down - 47 to go! 

One Note: If you are using MapMyHike or other GPS tools they work  while you are hiking but when you go to save they freeze up.  Cell Service in the area is bad.  I use AT&T and lost all the data details for this hike.   

Hike #2 - Deem Hill Phoenix, AZ

Hike #2

Date: October 12, 2013

Location: Deem Hill, Phoenix AZ

Hikers: Linda, Tina & Jim 

Directions:  I-17 North to the Happy Valley Road exit. West on Happy Valley road (left) and drive to signed 35th avenue. Turn right here. This road briefly becomes Pocono Way. When you reached the signed junction with Pinnacle Vista drive, turn left. This road will become 39th ave. The road will abruptly turn right. After driving a few hundred yards, look for the trailhead and small parking area on 

your left.   
http://phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/deemhills/index.html 


This hike was close to home.  It said the circumference trail was a little under 6 miles.  There was a Summit called Ridgeline trail that was 1.4 miles.  So off we ventured.  My new disclaimer is do not blame me if I get us lost or the trail is not good.

It was a beautiful cool morning for Arizona.  Finally!!  The hot air balloons were just starting their trip. Where is the world do you get to see these almost every morning. Tina and Jim think I should be in the picture but it is not about me.  It is about them.  Little do they know they are on this adventure with me! 

Catching Balloons!

These guys will do anything I tell them.

We took the circumference trail to the right.  It went along the canal.  Which we did not know until we hit the summit and saw the canal. The trail was flat for the most part.  We headed up and hit the Ridgeline trail.  It was a nice climb of sweeping switchbacks.  (Real ones..Jim)  We hit the top and headed down the other side.  From the top we could see the trail head on 56th Ave that starts at a really nice soccer park. 

We hit the circumference trail and then saw another up trail.  Palisades. Where do you think we went... UP.  It was nice. The trail was very well maintained and there were some cactus and jumping cholla's which we don't see alot on the city trails.

We ended up a little lost and almost turning the hike into a 10 miler but we adjusted and got back on track.  In the end we hiked 5.48 miles per my GPS. It was a nice hike. I think I would do it again

2 Down 48 more to go!! 

Hike #1 - Bell Trail (The Crack) Sedona AZ

Hike #1

Date: September 1, 2013
Location: Bell Trail, Sedona AZ
Hikers: Linda & Julio

Directions: I17 North to Sedona.  Exit 298 AZ-179. Take Right at end of off Ramp. Follow to Trail Head.   http://hikearizona.com/images/maps/bell.gif

It was Labor Day Weekend and Julio and I ventured to "The Crack".  It was a great day?  Packed a lunch because it was going to be a long day and there was an opportunity for some swimming.
If you check the reviews of this trail know that it is HOT. There is limited shade for most of the hike.  The reviews say that this trail is 3.5 miles out and back but it seemed much longer.  My Nike Fuel band overheated so I do not know exactly. But the overall time to hike was more than normal for me.

The trail changes from boring and flat to what you see that is more typical see in Sedona.

This is the prize once you get to the crack.  The water was so cold.  Too cold for Julio.  There were people jumping off the top of the rocks.  It was awesome.  We stayed for a couple hours, ate lunch and people watched.  Of course Julio took a ton of pictures and a Siesta in the shade.  It was the best day and I am really proud of Julio's ability to hike. Now I know he can do it!!

We headed into the town of Sedona for the afternoon.  Hit the ice cream store and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon.  Hike #1 - Check it off!!