Hiking in Sedona, AZ

Posted on September 3, 2008 
Filed Under Chief Blogging Officer

I have lived here in Las Vegas for about six years, and I love it in many ways, but every now and then I get the craving to be out of the hustle and bustle of the city and closer to nature, so I have spent a few of my summers elsewhere over these last six years. I actually moved here from Sedona in Arizona, which is just about a five hour drive from Las Vegas. I spent this past May, June, and July in Sedona and came back to Vegas on August 1st.

Beautiful Sedona

From my perspective there is, for the most part, one thing to do in and around Sedona: hike. And for me, that is enough. There are those who say that there are natural vortexes in Sedona at certain sites, like Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock. I don’t know for sure what all of that means, but I think that there are electromagnetic fields everywhere, and since there is so much life and so little intrusion by man in the area, the vibe is powerful because it is all natural, stemming directly from nature without a lot of power lines and cell phone towers and man-made static. There is low population and a lot of open space. Plus, the natural beauty of the area is awe inspiring, and it leads you to feeling real good and thinking good thoughts, and that elevates the vibe as well.

bell rock w comet
There is a lot of good hiking in the area, and the locals try to keep some of it quiet, but with the ubiquity of the Internet and the hiking books that are out there, there really are few if any secrets. One of my favorite Sedona hikes is what is called Bell Trail. There is the famous Bell Rock (pictured with comet) in the Village of Oak Creek just down the road from Sedona proper, and there are great trails around Bell Rock, but Bell Trail is about 10 miles past the Village of Oak Creek.

Wet Beaver Creek runs across the red rocks below Bell Trail, and there are some great fishing spots and swimming holes, and it is visually beautiful and stunning to suddenly come across this cool and refreshing stream flowing through the scenic desert canyon. There is a window of a couple of weeks early in the summer when you can pick nearly unlimited blackberries in a couple of spots, and if you hike in and up about four miles you get to what the locals call “The Crack,” which is the spot for swimming and cliff diving.

oak creek cascade

Sedona is a special place, and the minute you see it, you understand. As you get out and into the nature that Sedona is built upon, you understand it a little more. There are mind blowing rock formations, wild flowers and varied types of plants, trees, and cacti, and wildlife: javalinas, coyotes, rabbits, hares, the ubiquitous desert quail and many species of birds, and of course our friends the lizards, tarantulas and snakes. It is a perfect road trip from Las Vegas, and I couldn’t recommend it more highly.

Photo Sources:
Flickr
Flickr
Flickr

           

Comments

One Response to “Hiking in Sedona, AZ”

  1. Adventurous Wench on September 4th, 2008 5:01 am

    Sedona is indeed a special place. I’m fortunate enough to get out hiking there several times a year, and I never get tired of it. Settling into the hotel room, looking at those red rocks, and contemplating the next day’s hike… Perfect! One of my favorite trails is Doe Mountain, if you’re ever looking for another idea.

    The picture of Bell Rock with comet is spectacular!

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