|
| | | |
| |
|
| Run/Jog | 9.52 Miles |
463 AEG |
| | Run/Jog | 9.52 Miles | 2 Hrs 10 Mns | | 4.39 mph |
| 463 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Belated post. Did this jog as an in and out from the southern TH, just off the 89A. The Girdner Trail starts at the exact same spot as the Centennial and crosses it once as it begins a gradual decent into Dry Creek Canyon. The trail is obvious and is easy to follow, though there is an occasional user trail that connects to the Girdner that may cause you to pause to consider the correct route. For me, the most questionable juncture occurred .5 miles into the trail. You'll want to stay to the left and continue in a northwesterly direction. No exact numbers here, but I feel it was just over a mile to reach the bottom of Dry Creek Canyon. After this, there is a series of entries and exits as you enter the creek bed and then climb out the other side to have the trail shadow the creek bed at a higher elevation, only to drop down and cross the creek bed and repeat again. The trail was marked well enough that these creek bed crossings were easy to follow, though at one point some downed trees caused a temporary speed bump. Once again, the numbers are not exact, but I want to say around 3.25 miles begins a short, but steady climb out of the canyon. This is the first time during the hike that I could actually see anything of distance around me. But even then, the terrain around me was still higher, so site lines were still limited. The trail drops down the other side and then starts to connect to a myriad of other trails in the area. For the next mile the trail does a gradual climb as it "officially" exits the canyon. The trail ends at Boyton Pass Rd.
There is parking space at this end of the trail for 4-5 vehicles and is an ideal starting point if you wants to make any loops with all the trails that connect to the Girdner. The views on this trail are nice, but not Sedonaesque. For most of the hike views are restricted to the canyon so the fantastic vista of Sedona is obscured. Because of recent rains Dry Creek could have been more aptly named "Muddy", "Puddle", or "Pond Creek." No wildlife. Saw one dog walker near the end of the Girdner before I turned around and that was it. Side note: During my run, hot air balloons were flying overhead. I tried to snap a picture of one that was almost directly above me. At the southern Girdner TH there is expansive parking and two nice picnic tables. When I finished my run there were several "balloon transporting vehicles" and about 20 people breaking their fast and toasting their successful balloon flight. Ironic, with how different our modes of transportation were, we ended up in the same spot. |
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
