A Sedona Hike Popular Year Round

One of the most popular trails in the Coconino National Forest, West Fork Trail (map) in Oak Creek Canyon is a pleasant stroll that takes you down to a stream and offers unending views up, way up of the cliffs that tower above.

A relatively easy 3 mile hike where dogs are welcome, West Fork Trail has its own parking lot ($10 per vehicle) and public area with picnic tables and toilets.

As you begin your hike, you’ll cross over a magnificent bridge that to me is a kind of grandiose welcome to the natural surroundings that await you.

You’ll initially find yourself in a sort of pasture, very green with an easy trail to follow.

As you continue on you’re heading towards a stream, but what really catches your attention are the canyon walls that rise up hundreds of feet leaving little room for much else besides the stream itself. The trail is narrow in these spots and visitors are forced to cross the stream several times. The stream can be crossed fairly easily by the use of some conveniently placed stones and fallen logs in the creek bed which is only a few inches deep.  I suggest you buy water shoes to navigate these rocky creeks.

Although the stunning reds and oranges of the canyon walls remain constant year round, the surrounding scenery changes depending on the season. During the months of March – June the canyon is in full bloom with native wildflowers, songbirds, and hummingbirds providing a stark contrast of color in various places. From June – August, the high and magnificent canyon walls shade the trail throughout most of the day thereby offering visitors a refreshing break from the hot dry weather. In the autumn months (September – November) the foliage turns from deep greens to shades of red, pink, and gold and sprinkles leaves along the trail and from December – February a blanket of white covers the canyon.

Access to the West Fork Oak Creek Trail can be found just off US Highway 89A, which winds its way down from the higher elevations and dense forests of Flagstaff into the red rock canyons of Sedona and outer regions of the Arizona high desert. Look for the entrance to the trailhead, and the Call O’ The Canyon daypark and carpark, half way between 385 and 384 mile markers on Highway 89A. In high tourist seasons parking spots can be almost impossible to find on Highway 89A. Visitors may opt to purchase the $3 parking pass and park in the trailhead Call O’ The Canyon carpark.

Directions:
From Phoenix, take I-17 north to Hwy 179 (exit 298). Turn left onto 179 and follow it past the Village of Oak Creek to the Sedona (Burger King) “Y”. Turn right at the “Y” onto North 89A. You will go through uptown and then meander along the creek for a total of 10.5 miles until you see a wide turn in the road. The road goes right, but you turn left into a large parking area. The trailhead is near the end of the parking lot.

Fees:  $10 per vehicle (up to 5 passengers)

The WEEKLY Red Rock Pass or the GRAND ANNUAL Red Rock Pass are accepted here.

Photos from personal collection.