**WEST FORK TRAIL -- Sedona
(Trail # 108)
Original Hike Date - Saturday, November 16, 1995

    To access this popular hike from Phoenix, take I-17 north to the Sedona exit, then Highway 179 west to Sedona.  At the junction of 179 and 89A, turn right.  Follow 89A north to mile marker 384 (about 10.7 miles).  There is a new park area.  The entrance fee is $ 3.00 per car of 5 people and parking is very limited.  The trail head is just off of the parking area.  Gates open at 9:00 a.m. and parking is first come - first get.  The hike is 3 miles one way.  This trail crosses Oak Creek many times so wear water proof shoes. At the very beginning of the hike, you must walk (climb) up a steep bank of Oak Creek. Because of that, we are rating this hike **moderate.** After that initial climb, the trail is level the rest of the way. However, you will have to cross the Oak Creek frequently and the rocks can be slippery. This is a beautiful hike and if your timing is good, the trees should be changing to their Autumn colors.

*BRINS MESA EAST - Sedona
Original Hike Date -- Saturday, April 12, 1997

    To access this great hike, drive to Sedona.  From the "Y" drive for .3 miles north on route 89A toward Oak Creek Canyon.  Turn left on Jordan Rd. in the middle of Uptown Sedona.  There is a convenience store on the left as your enter Jordan Rd.  Take Jordan to the end, then turn left.  The road ends in a cul-de-sac, with an unpaved road on the right side of the street.  Take the unpaved road 1/3 of a mile until you reach the parking area.

    This hike starts out on a private road and goes past a formal shooting range.  The trail is wide and winds along the rolling hills and beautiful red rock spires on a moderate incline to the base of the Mesa.  The next 1/2 mile is fairly steep (500' incline) to the top of the Mesa.  Here the views get even better.  At the top of the Mesa, turn right and walk north along the rim.  The trail loses some of its definition here, but it is easy to follow the rim.  At the very end of the Mesa there is an eroded red rock turret that is easily climbed.  The views are awesome and if you're lucky, you'll catch a great view of Angle Falls running (could be wet & muddy so please wear appropriate hiking boots).  This out and back hike is about 6.3 miles round trip.  This hike is *easy* to **moderate** with an elevation change of about 600'.

**Long Canyon, Sedona
 Original Hike Date -- Saturday, April 11th, 1998

     To access the trail head, take I-17 north and take the Sedona Exit. From the Sedona "Y" (where SR179 intersects with SR89A) drive southwest on Highway 89A (toward Cottonwood) for a distance of 3.2 miles.  Turn right onto Dry Creek Road (MP371).  Follow it for 2.9 miles, where there is a stop sign. Turn right onto the paved Long Canyon Road.  Take it for .6 mile where you will see an unpaved road to the left.  Boulders block the entrance to the road and you can park in front of them.

     This is a 6-mile round trip hike that will take you up against the base of gorgeous red cliffs.  There will be a 750 ' elevation change and is one of the best trails for viewing rock formations and red and white sculptured cliffs of Maroon Mountain.  The first 1.5 miles are in open country with almost no shade, so sunscreen and a hat are recommended.

Marg's Draw to Chicken Point - Sedona
Original Hike Date: Saturday, April 3, 1999

     To access the trailhead, take Highway 179 into Sedona.  Take a right on Sombart Lane, which is just before a Circle K and 0.7 miles before the Sedona Y.  Follow this road to an unpaved parking area on the left.  This hike is good for all levels of hikers, depending on how far you would like to go.  It is a beautiful area with rolling hills surrounded by red cliffs.  There is a 300' elevation change with a total distance of about 4.5 miles and many great picnic spots along the way.  There are several off shoots to extend the distance if you like.

Secret Canyon - Sedona
Original Hike Date: Saturday, April 17, 1999   

To access the trailhead, take 89A through west Sedona to Dry Creek Road (milepost 371) which is 3.2 miles west of the Sedona Y (intersection of Route 179 and 89A).  Turn north and proceed 2 miles to FR152 and turn right onto Vultee Arch Rd.(FR 152).  Follow the dirt road for 3.4 miles where you will see a road sign pointing to the trail turnoff.  Make a sharp turn to the left into the parking area.  The Secret Canyon Trail #121 starts out across Dry Creek from this point and heads northwest.  If the total loop is hiked using both Secret Canyon and returning via Bearsign Canyon, the distance is about 8 miles.

*-**Bell Trail#13 - Camp Verde
 Original Hike Date -- Saturday, September 26, 1998

To access the trailhead, drive north on I-17 and take the 179, Sedona exit. Turn right and drive 2 miles southeast on Forest Road 618.  Turn left on FR 618A (follow the sign for the trailhead) and continue another 1/4 mile to the parking area.  Slicing into the Mogollon Rim, the Bell Trail in the Wet Beaver Wilderness Area offers a partly shady trail and a creek with deep pools of clear water.  There are a few good spots for dipping your feet, the water is very cold.  This trail splits and you can go the high road or the low road, or both. This is a total 8-mile out-and-back trip offering spectacular scenery so bring your camera.  We rate this hike as *easy to **moderate because there is only a slight gain in elevation and the trail is wide and well traveled.