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| Hiking | 10.54 Miles |
1,961 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.54 Miles | 5 Hrs 23 Mns | | 1.99 mph |
| 1,961 ft AEG | 5 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Just quiet and serene beauty. Apache Maid trail. My wife and I have visited Sedona for many years, and now live here, and I have never ventured on Route 179 to the southeast side of I-17, the location of Apache Maid trial. After all, the iconic and spectacular red rocks lie north and west. And for many years I have been missing the quiet vistas and serene landscapes that lie just a few miles on the southeast side.
A bit of the setting here. As one comes from the south on I-17, one can take a left off the exist ramp onto 179, to travel 15 miles northwest to Sedona. But one can also take a right on the exit ramp, a right I have never taken. That right though, in three miles, runs to the Beaver Creek park area, which includes Apache Maid trail. The red rock spires and jagged cliffs no longer exist here. Such formations likely towered high in the Beaver Creek area in past geological eras. But not now. Rather, the Beaver Creek area now consists of forested meadow plains and gently slopping flat top mesas. Red rocks remain, but as a supporting feature, replaced by elements of more muted color - tan-brown grass, soft green pines, gray weathered soil, black basaltic rocks and cliffs. All set on and around the flat-topped mesas. Spectacular still, but in a peaceful and relaxing way.
Now Beaver Creek does attract those in the know, enough so that overflow parking exists. As I read the signs, those who come do so not just for the quieter ambience, but for Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek runs pretty much year round, and subsequently a rich hardwood forest has grown along its length, and many rapids and pools dot its course. The creek and its forest sit like a gem among the wider, drier golden tan grass setting of the area, as the water of the creek creates a narrow ecosystem that sits in contrast to the more arid grasslands on and between the mesas.
Bell Trail runs parallel to the creek, and provides access to the creek and upward views of the mesas. Apache Maid branches off and upward from Bell Trail. The Apache Maid trail is readily followed, but I sense does not get heavy traffic, as grasses and shrubs have narrowed it down to only a foot wide. The Bell Trail section to Apache Maid, evidently once used for rustling cattle up to the Mogollon Rim, actually appears to be a wide cart path, traversed quickly and easily. The branch upward on Apache Maid, as noted narrow, though still easy underfoot, just compacted soil with occasional rocks. It rises steadily and smoothly, through pleasant meadows, with occasional red and yellow underbrush, winding back and forth with switchbacks.
Then the top. At the top, a wooden sign basically says end-of-trail. And I couldn’t find any continuation, though I did not look extensively (and maps show trails). But the mesa grassland is open, and I made my way up to a small peak. Excellent vistas at that point, again not spectacular, but wide and long, Easy enough to venture around, but as normal I use a GPS, and remember key markers, as the grassland looks the same in all directions, and one could easily turn in the wrong direction given the lack of readily visible trails.
On the return, I ventured further down Bell Trail, to some outstanding red rock fins. Nice. I will say though, red rock views are best up in Sedona. I then ventured down Weir Trail. Now that trail provides some exceptional overlooks to Beaver Creek, and at its end, runs down to the creek itself. Those views were very nice (and I sense other views and wading opportunities exist all along Bell and Weir trails), and I thus can see why overflow parking was created to handle busy month crowds. And also why the parking lots have many, many signs for no parking along entrance roads and access drives, an indication that even the overflow likely overflows. |
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