Red Rock State Park has 5 miles of hiking trails that connect and lead through the park's green meadows, desert vegetation and wildflowers and along Oak Creek beneath majestic rusty red hills of Sedona. For those who need to get away from the city altogether, theres plenty of seclusion to be had in the depths of the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. There are 5 trails in Red Rock State Park. Full Moon Hikes at Red Rock Red Rock State Park April - September Times vary The Moonlight Hike is among the most popular interpretive hikes at Red Rock State Park. The nature preserve features a visitor center and picnic areas that invite visitors to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Arizona red rocks that surround them. As we recommend with any national or state park, your first stop should . These areas regularly see snow and can be as much as 15 degrees colder than Sedona proper. Arizona's best hikes: Here are 10 top trails in Arizona and how to hike them. You gotta do it! One of the first hikes I ever did in Sedona, Soldier Pass holds a special place in my heart. What else is there to do near Red Rock State Park? It is, however, a well-run place with a friendly and informative Visitor Center. Designed with families in mind, the 5-mile network of trails in Red Rock State Park features three main loops joined by Kisva Trail. Youll cross sloping basins of grasslands sprinkled with junipers and pines for more than a mile before the path tumbles off the backside of the mountain to connect with Lime Kiln Trail. Scramble your way up into the cleft of the arch and youll find yourself in a hidden cave thats blown up on social media in recent years. Teresa Bitler moved to Phoenix before her first birthday and has written about the city's attractions, restaurants, and resorts for the last 15 years. All rights reserved. Trails throughout the park wind through manzanita and juniper to reach the rich banks of Oak Creek. You can even hike all the way up to Sterling Pass if you like, but be sure to turn left at the fork 1.7 miles in to visit the arch. Even out-of-shape couch potatoes can suck it up and reach the top. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Even typing the word cacti still makes me a little giddy. Schuerman Mountain Trail With so much red-rock drama, it's easy to overlook an old volcano, mellowed by age and erosion. Description document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); (purchases through affiliate links earn commission), Copyright 2023 Down The Trail - All Rights Reserved - legal statements - contact, Map & Guide to the 5 Best Hiking Trails at Lake Pleasant Regional Park AZ, Red Mountain in Northern Arizona - See the Hoodoos and Climb to the Top. Recreating outdoors can be dangerous. Schuerman Mountain rises in west Sedona, a high tableland that offers. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Edgy and ledgy, the narrow passage hugs the cliff face high above the valley floor. If youre heading to Arizona, there are a few areas that you shouldnt miss and Sedona is one of these. Following the trail out to Chicken Point was like hiking on auto pilot. For more information about Sedona hiking trails, contact the Red Rock Ranger District at 928-203-2900 orhttps://www.fs.usda.gov/coconino. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Red Rock State Park. Sedona, Arizona 86336. Red Rock State Park is open daily from 8am to 5pm, with the last entry at 4:30pm during all seasons except summer. It turns out that late June is basically the worst time to be hiking the Eagles Nest Trail or for that matter, anywhere around here! For selfie-snapping thrill seekers, getting a shot standing dead center of the sandstone span with the photogenic backdrop is the #1 must-do in Sedona. Best Time to Hike in Red Rock Canyon. Related Read:9 Easy Hikes in Sedona Thatll Take Your Breath Away. Turn left to reach the trailhead. This particular trail gains some three hundred feet to reach the highest point in the park, called the Eagles Nest. This trail is 2.8 mi long with an elevation gain of 341 ft. Why you should go: The most popular and (arguably) most beautiful trail in Coconino National Forest. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The hike generally lasts between 2 to 2.5 hrs and covers a distance between 2 to 2.5 miles. The park features a visitor center with educational exhibits, a theater, a gift store, ramada, picnic tables, and a 5-mile network of hiking trails. Youth (713): $4.00 Ground Control is a slender snake of a trail that slithers up the flank of Cockscomb and clings to the curving sandstone. Please wear suitable clothing for temperature variations and closed toe shoes. 4 years of full-time travel Living life on our terms RV life, camping, hiking + homeschool Eastern Sierras, CA Travel guides & more here! Wilsons south-side trail begins at Midgely Bridge (aka Red Rock Countrys biggest parking headache) and climbs the sunny southern slopes of Sedonas biggest mountain. Why you should go:Slow-paced, crowd-buster alternative to Boynton. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. More than 400 miles of hiking trails weave among Sedonas sandstone towers and buttes so its not impossible to find a little peace and quiet. Most of the trails are hiking only. Its common for a cold snap in May or October to bring snow flurries to the high country. Nice view of Red Rock State Park from the Eagles Nest trail. When the Verde Valley blossomed with vineyards, Cottonwood soon sprouted serious tasting rooms and great restaurants. Entrance fees are $7/adult (14+), $4/youth (7-13) and children under 6 are free. If rain is in the forecast, avoid hiking in the bottom of narrow canyons very few people have successfully outrun a flash flood. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Its a big slickrock platform with red sandstone formations swirling around in all directions its really a must see. Scramble around a bit for a chance to snag some incredible views if youre comfortable with off-trail exploration. Steven and I enjoyed our 10-year anniversary in Sedona in 2019 (read our blog post on the route, hikes, good eats, and places to stay! Sedona also has a magical, mystical element to it. You can also watch two educational films about Sedona, shown on a continuous loop, or purchase souvenirs in the gift shop. Nightly rates range from $30 to $178 depending on the spot youre looking for. DIRECTIONS: Red Rock State Park is a few miles south of downtown Sedona on 89A, on the east side of the highway - also simple to locate with a GPS smartphone app GUIDEBOOK: Sedona Hiking. The parking lot (fee required) fills up early and often, especially on weekends. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 431 State Route 179 Ste B1, Sedona, AZ 86336-6146. The diversity of Arizona's habitats is on display at the park, which features high desert, manzanita groves and scrubby juniper landscapes that change over four seasons. Just look at the picture above. North Wilson is my preferred way to hike Wilson Mountain! The spines of cacti, yucca, and agave plants can make for a painful but not life-threatening encounter. This trail is estimated to be 2.8 mi long. Note: Visitors are asked to leave their dogs at home to protect this perfectly balanced habitat. Green meadows are framed by native vegetation and hills of red rock. Why you should go:Lay eyes on Sedonas largest and best-known natural arch. Participants must arrive at the park entrance at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time to ensure participation. before popping up atop the First Bench and connecting with the main trail. When exploring the lush riparian zones of Oak Creek, West Fork, or Secret Canyon, remember the adage leaves of three, let it be. Poison ivy grows copiously in many locations. But I digress, Devils Bridge is indeed an amazing sight. From Flagstaff and I-40, you can either head south on I-17 to Exit 298 or take the more scenic route and exit at South Milton Road near the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. Links to e-commerce sites earn commission. Theres even a golf resort next to the trail for the first mile, just like Boynton! Sedona is one of those destinations that is wonderful to visit any time of the year because of its moderate temperatures. Turn left for 3.0 miles to the park entrance. Latitude 34.615, Longitude 111.721 Feisty, fun, outspoken mom to two boys and wife to an adventure-lovin' weekend warrior. Pets are NOT allowed in the park. Only a 15-minute drive from Red Rock State Park, there is a popular forest road called 525 that has plenty of spaces to boondock. Park Entrance Fee Lots of juniper trees to add to the contrast of the red rocks. When you come here to get a piece of red rock country under your feet, many of the views overlook southwestern-style McMansions as well as sandstone spires. Required fields are marked *. Looking for a more strenuous hike? The visitor center also offers a Junior Ranger program for children ages 6-12, where kiddos can fill out their booklet and swear in as an official Red Rock State Park Junior Ranger. I recommend an early start (like before sunrise when the parking lot wont be open yet anyway) to get ahead of the crowds and find some solitude. Instead, Sedona lives today as a bustling tourist town surrounded by National Forest, but sporting National Park-level beauty and a staggering selection of hiking trails. As we recommend with any national or state park, your first stop should be the Red Rock Visitor Center. There are two trails offering access to Chicken Point: Little Horse Trail and Broken Arrow Trail well cover Broken Arrow a little later. It's a beautiful part of Sedona, not that there are really any slums in the area. 780 Chapel Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336-7064. This means the weather can take a turn for the extreme whether hot or cold when youre least expecting it. Red Rock hiking & mountain biking. If youre game to extend your route, bring a map as theres plenty of connecting trails to build a longer hike. Known for its stunning panoramic views, the state park offers a fantastic trail system that wind through juniper and manzanita, leading you through the banks of Oak Creek, which is a riparian habitat. If youve got a little more time to play with, Long Canyon is an excellent alternative to Boynton. Find the reporter at https://www.rogernaylor.com. Related Read:12 Epic Outdoor Summer Vacation Spots in the U.S. Why you should go:Steep hiking and epic views in the upper reaches of Oak Creek Canyon. Go and see Slide Rock, just to see what its all about, and then test your feet on some trails in Red Rock. Channel your inner cowpoke on this longer loop at the Western Gateway trailhead. Roundabout swings out through the forest of pion pines and junipers and past a couple of small boulder fields. Cost is $5 per day. ), so it was only natural that wed come back to this desert oasis. To the south, Cottonwood is the gateway to Northern Arizona's wine country. Choosing a detour on the High on the Hog Trail offers a a bit of extra separation from the 44 road. Red Rock State Park does not offer overnight accommodations or camping; however, nearby Sedona, Jerome and Cottonwood have plenty of rooms for travelers to extend their trips. The park has relatively short, family-friendly trails with minimal grades, and all but one, the East Gate Trail, prohibit mountain bikes and horses. Beautiful Red Rock State Park hiking trails did just over 5 miles lotta beautiful red rock scenery enjoyed it very much. Let's Eat. Every Arizonan knows our state is underrated. It makes it awesome to discover these protected places, especially if you have limited time to explore. There are less crowded box canyon hikes in the area, but the others are super-short (e.g, Fay Canyon) or not nearly as accessible (e.g. more. Where is the best place to hike in Red Rock State Park? An even more dangerous and challenging class 4 scramble to Capitols summit is possible via the South Face Route. After our awesome experience at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, it was only natural that we wanted to check out Red Rock State Park! In 2019, we sold our home and everything in it to travel in our converted Sprinter van. Summers in Arizona can be brutally hot. It can be a fun place, but not especially my cup of tea or the type of place I like to write about on this site. Schuerman is more mesa than mountain, a rangy plateau shaggy with juniper.