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My husband and I are staying in a cabin up Oak Creek Canyon in June. Looking for some nice hikes but trying to keep off the more populated trails. We really want to do West Fork again, past the end and in to the water because it's so beautiful way back there. However, the main trail (when open) is a superhighway...sigh. Thanks in advance.

On a week night camp at Lava River Cave North West of Flagstaff. Enter it late at night when there is no one else there and hike to the end of it and turn your lights off. Experience the total darkness of it before lighting a candle or candles to experience what it was like for the first explorers. Enjoy.....

SuperstitionGuy wrote:Lava River Cave North

As in INSIDE the Lava Tube?

Yes google this [ Lava River Cave Tube ] for more information....

SuperstitionGuy wrote: ↑May 15 2020 11:03 am On a week night camp at Lava River Cave North West of Flagstaff. Enter it late at night when there is no one else there and hike to the end of it and turn your lights off.

The Lava River Cave is currently closed due to COVID-19

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/coconino/recreation

I would never call Lava Tube a less populated hike. Unfortunately, public forums and social media are the antithesis of less-populated anything.

However, in the Sedona area, if you avoid the hikes that lead to water, or whatever people think is a vortex, you'll have better luck. And as with most any trail, if you go a few miles in from the trailhead, you'll have all the social distancing you need.

https://hikearizona.com/traildex.php?SH ... PN=1&ID=34

Then sort on either popularity or triplogs, ordering the least # first, and take anything on the first page. Lots of hikes with no triplogs/ratings in the 26? years of HAZ operation suggests you will likely find solitude.

@nonot
How did you get to the "pick a region" page in your reference above? Thanks in advance.
Scratch that request...I figured it out.

Since I'm not sure which hikes lead to water or to vortexes etc etc etc...I am wondering what are some hikes you all would recommend that are faves but a bit less populated perhaps?

I know they closed some trails because they either were way too crowded or maybe trail too narrow. If it's a bit busy but we can get off trail a few feet for people passing by, that's fine. One trail that is not very crowded we thought of is AB Young. Please suggest some of your faves for us. Also any faves in the Flagstaff area would be nice also. Thanks!

SuperstitionGuy wrote:On a week night camp at Lava River Cave North West of Flagstaff. Enter it late at night when there is no one else there and hike to the end of it and turn your lights off.

We have been there during the day once and that was enough for us! That was the day I found out my husband is not a fan of caves...and I never knew that about him!

Hot Loop Trail in Sedona.

Thanks Joe...gonna check it out!

@cactusrose63
xthine suggested, it's a good overlooked hike

@xthine
I mean thanks xthine