Northern Az/Sedona area trails

[Elaine2003]

Alright, I am going to throw this out into the forum and hopefully someone will be able to give me a few suggestions....
I was asked last week to plan a day of hiking for a group of female friends this coming saturday. The experience levels range from beginner/novice to some experience.
I am thinking maybe the Sedona area...since the temp. will be cooler up there.
I have yet to hike in that area so i am not sure of what the trails are like. I have narrowed it down to the following hikes.....

:idea: (This is where suggestions are More than Welcomed!!) :idea:
Boynton Canyon
Bear Sign/Secret Loop
Bell Court Loop
Huckaby Trail
Old Munds Highway (this one might be to far to hike for some of them? 8miles RT?)
Palatki/Honanki Indian Ruins
Parsons Trail (another one the might be too far??)

I am mainly looking for something that has amazing scenery (i am taking my camera) and wont be too challenging for the beginners. But, i also dont want the hike to be over in like an hour.

If anyone has any other hikes that i might have overlooked when i was searching the site....
By all means let me know!! :GB:

[GeorgAZ]

What better scenery is there in Sedona than West Fork! The most awesome canyon and cool streamside hiking.Great for beginners! Check it out.Trail info in trail guide. Enjoy!

[hikeaz]

I'd vote for Parson Springs (between Cottonwood & Sedona) Nice shaded hike with a creek, swimming holes,and......
NO *&%$#@* Red Rock (can't see the forest for the fees) Pass

[MtnGeek]

Boynton Canyon is a really nice place. i have not been far back into the canyon, but the drive there is amazing. The bit of Boyton I have done was really beautiful and the views were exelent. The drive getting back there is just breathtaking. The only problem with that one is the major resort right at the mouth of the canyon. It kinda detracts from the whole great outdoors experience.

[montezumawell]

Hey, finally a topic we know something about!

First--THANK YOU for coming up to hike in the Sedona area. Great choice.
Second--Buy a Red Rock Pass and DON'T buy the anti-BS. Waste of time.
Third--Think MOST about the "ambiance" of your group of friends. Forget "macho."

Whenever you are bringing friends to the Sedona area you have to think like a WWII convoy--it traveled at the speed of the slowest ship! EVERY single time we have taken friends over to the Sedona area, we have found that there is ALWAYS someone in the group that wants to do something at a MUCH SLOWER pace than the rest of us.

This should NOT be scolded. This should be ENCOURAGED! Afterall, ask yourself, "WHAT is the NET benefit of being in the Sedona area in the first place?"

If you want to lay out a Type A Schedule that requires WAY TOO MUCH effort, if you want to go FAR BEYOND, sure, there are PLENTY of places in the area to do so.

On the other hand, if you want to have a wonderfully rewarding, delightful experience...if you want to look back on your day in Sedona with the Glow of Fondness, perhaps you might wish to consider a series of compromises.

Many years ago, we took people on what we now call "Death Marches." We always said, "Hey, You gotta SEE THIS! You Gotta DO THIS" Trust us, we learned the HARD way what NOT to do.

As time passed, we, too, mellowed and we learned how to connect with peoples's innate desire to relax. That's a FAR more powerful desire than to be MACHO!

Give your friends the opportunity to relax and it will be something they will never forget! That, actually, is what Sedona is ALL about!

Here is the "perscription:"

Mix up VERY short hikes with relaxing culinary and shopping opportunties.

You can drive right to the Bell Rock parking lot. You can have one of the BEST Sedona hikes, BOOM, right off the bat. If anyone in your party is slow, tired, etc. you can cut the hike short and return to the car. THEN, you have numerous food and shopping options BEFORE you even drive through the bumper-to-bumper traffic gauntlet that call Hwy 179.

Once there, you can drive out on Schnebley Hill Road and hike a portion of either Marg's Draw, Huckaby to the overlook, or Munds Wagon Trail for a mile or so and then return to your vehicle for another foray into the urban traffic snarl they call Sedona.

If that's not enough, you can drive directly into "functional gridlock" in Sedona and then eddy out to the Soldier's Pass TH or the Brin's Mesa TH. You can "duke it out" for parking spots with the obligatory Cadillacs and high dollar SUV's. Trust us, everyone of the out-of-town visitors we know is always going to someplace where all the "other" out-of-town visitors are going. When they all get there, they create a tremendous traffic jam. Simple because someone told them to go there.

Bottom line--kick back--take your time--do things that aren't in a guide book. Relax. Look around.
Enjoy! That's what Sedona is all about!

J&S

[mjmann]

Try Boynton Canyon...I heard it's great for all levels of hiking. I'm going to try Secret Canyon the weekend of the May 23th, 24th. I'm told this is also a incredible hike.

Good luck and have fun.

M&M

[Elaine2003]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.
I am still narrowing down the choices.
I think old munds hwy and parsons trails are out. They are a little too long for some of the new hikers and i dont want anyone collapsing on me while we are out there. And i know i definately dont feel like crossing any streams. I havent bought me a pair of Teva hydro shoes yet. Cant ruin my boots!

To Montezumawell....you are a very informative person to have around. The 3 points that you touched on i already had in mind...but you made me put a little more thought into the last one...

Third--Think MOST about the "ambiance" of your group of friends. Forget "macho."

I definately want everyone to experience the ambiance of Sedona. But, you made a good point about the "Death Marches". I think i will get a final opinion from everyone tomorrow night and see if there is anything else that they are interested in doing while we are there. Cause I know i cant go up to Sedona and not go take pictures at Tlaquepaque and other surrounding places.

Once again....Thanks to Everyone for their suggestions :GB:

Happy Hiking, Keep Smiling, And Watch out for Snakes!

[mackmccann]

you could also give Broken Arrow a try. much of the hike is through the woods (ahh, shade!). you get to go out on some cool rock formations (submarine rock). there are also some parts where you are right at the base of some cool rock cliffs. it's an easy hike that you can keep short or lengthen depending on how long you want to be out for. the trailhead is also close to the famous sedona chapel which out-of-towners seem to enjoy. any way you see it, you can't go wrong with a trip to sedona.

[CindyC]

I have to agree with George. West Fork is a must see. It is crowded and you do need to get there early to get a parking spot. You can make the hike whatever you want it to be. There is the first 3 miles where everyone is, or you can go further back making it more difficult. More creek crossings, steeper, narrower trails. The farther back you go the more beautiful it gets. Alot of people laugh at me but there is something about this area that 'calls' me. Maybe that's why it's called the "Call of the Canyon'. I take everyone that comes to visit from out of town there. It is truly awesome. Soldiers Pass is 'interesting' too. Be prepared to compete with vortex seekers. The Seven Sacred Pools could be interesting depending on what you believe! Anyway you look at it you can't miss with any hike in the Sedona/Oak Creek area. Have a great time.