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| Hiking | 5.50 Miles |
600 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.50 Miles | 3 Hrs | | 1.83 mph |
| 600 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | The following served as the Hike Summary from 07/24/04 to 11/29/07
The official Cockscomb Trail and the social trail leading to the top of Cockscomb have changed a bit since Joe's original description more than four years ago. I think Joe hiked what I call the back entrance to the Cockscomb Butte, following initially FR 9583. This is also the route outlined in Mangum's book, "Sedona Hikes."
I followed the newly refurbished Cockscomb Trail. Upto two years ago the first mile or so of the trail was torn up by off-road vehicles. The area is now blocked off by heavy rocks and the Forest Service started to renaturalize all the vehicle damage. The trail is easy to follow, heading initially mostly south, then turning to the right (south west) until you get to a really squeaky gate. The distance to the gate is about half a mile. After the gate, you'll soon come to a powerline and underground telephone track. Cockscomb trail follows the straight power line heading southeast, crossing lots of erosion gullies. This is the most ugliest part of the trail, particularly since I think the powerline is a non-functional powerline and really should be removed. The powerline stretch is a bit longer than half a mile.
The Cockscomb Trail leaves the powerline when the marked Dawa trail joins it and starts going in a southwesterly direction. The Dawa Trail leaves the Cockscomb Trail a scant hundred yards further on. The trail continues to work its way around Doe Mountain on the right, crossing some dry washes and climbing over some rolling terrain. The trail is always clear and unambiguous, meandering through the low Juniper - Pinyon scrub. After a while, you'll see cockscomb ahead of you -- not the dramatic sides that gave it its name, but the dull north side. Unless you're a mountain climber, you really want a dull side to make your way to the top. It'll be plenty steep as it is.
This part of the trail is a bit less than a mile long. You'll soon see a rickety fence on your right and the trail veers to the south east. Don't cross the fence; beyond is private property, one of the many enclaves in National Forest land. As of today, the private land has not been developed, but I'm sure it'll be only a matter of a few years before we'll have another golf course and resort. The official Cockscomb trail ends abruptly where there are some Cottonwoods and a sign "Rupp Trail." Rupp Trail keeps on going in the same direction as Cockscomb Trail, but don't follow it.
The private property fence veers off to the right, follow it on the outside, going through a gate in a fence perpendicular to the private property fence. The trail now is a social trail, not an approved Forest Service Trail. I find it a bit hard to follow for the first few yards, but then it becomes well trodden and starts to climb a small incline heading south west. Once on top, the trail turns west, even a bit north west until you encounter the private land fence again. Here things get tricky. For the next couple of hundred yards, there are lots of trails and a Jeep road with the "No Trespassing" gate barring it. Basically follow the fence line until you see a sign "Public Trail," cross the Jeep track, always heading towards Cockscomb. This first part of the social trail, from the end of the Cockscomb Trail, is less than half a mile long.
As you route-find your way, just make sure you're heading about south towards Cockscomb. Don't follow any of the trails going in other directions. Try to remember the lay of the land here; I've had some problems coming back picking up the right trail. You should be picking up the first of many cairns soon. They generally are clear, but at times there seem to be alternate routes. As long as the trail goes up, first moderately, then steeply, you're on the right trail. The trail switch-backs in places, but generally trends up and a bit to the left (east) as you really start climbing.
Once you reach the vertical ledge just below the top, the trail flattens out, following the bottom of the rocks. You'll turn a corner around the rocks and there the trail seems to end: from now on you have to scramble and climb rocks. Nothing difficult, nothing scary, but you will have to use your hands and think about where to place your feet. The climb is in three short sections and the elevation gain is less than fifty feet. The last small ledge has hiker made steps. By the way, I find the climb down easier than the way up.
As you step on the top of the Cockscomb Butte, mark where you came up. From what I understand, there is only one easy way up and down. You do want to remember where that way is. The top isn't particularly large and quite broken up, but it's fun to explore a bit, take a break, and admire the spectacular views in all directions. You're at about the same elevation as the top of Doe Mountain to the north or Mescal Mountain to the north east. The big mountain to the north, behind Doe Mountain, is Bear Mountain. |
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