West Fork of Oak Creek Trail #108 - Sedona
Details
# West Fork of Oak Creek Trail #108
Twenty easy creek crossings, plus almost two miles through the gentle creek, wading and rock-hopping just about summarizes the trip through this incredibly beautiful canyon.
There are many reasons why West Fork is one of the most popular trails in the Coconino National Forest. Once you've strolled beside the pleasant little stream that ripples along the canyon floor and looked up, way up, at the dizzying cliffs that tower above it, you will fall in love with it, too. West Fork is fantastic anytime of the year. In springtime, migrating songbirds decorate the trees with flashes of brilliance. In autumn, the canyon is ablaze with color, with red and gold leaves floating in clear reflecting pools under a canopy of solid color. In wintertime, icicles decorate red rock overhangs, and snatches of snow persist in cool shadows. As a matter of fact, you'll probably find a new reason to be here every time you visit.
As for the trail itself, it's an easy stroll, starting through an ancient apple orchard -
It continues, negotiating a few stepping stones or taking a couple of steps in shallow water to cross the stream. The trail is marked and maintained for the first three miles.
Many hikers explore beyond the end of the maintained trail, and so shall we. Eventually the pathway ends, the route becomes more strenuous, and you will hike in the stream bed as you continue into the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness.
DIFFICULTY: Easy / Difficult (when we go past the trail-end)
TOTAL DISTANCE: 6-12 miles
ELEVATION CHANGE: 600 ft
HIKING TIME: 3-7 hours
STYLE: in-and-out
DOGS: OK
THERE WILL BE A CARPOOL LOCATION FOR THIS HIKE:
Target store I-17 and Loop 101 :
HOW TO FIND US:
In front of Target store close to Beardsley road.
LEAVING CARPOOL at 5:30 a.m.
(parking is scarce so we'll make it an early start)
Starting from trailhead at 8:00
RSVP – will you meet us at the CARPOOL or the TRAILHEAD ?
DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD:
Oak Creek Canyon Access:
In Sedona
From the junction of Routes 89A and Highway 179,
take 89A north 10.5 miles to
The Call of the Canyon day use area on the
Left at milepost 384.7
NOTE:
West Fork Trail No. 108 / Call of the Canyon Picnic Site
HOURS AND FEES UPDATE:
April 1 - September 30
7 a.m. to dusk
Day-use: $15 per vehicle (up to 5 people)
Cash, check and credit cards are accepted.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/west-fork-trail-no-108
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West Fork of Oak Creek Trail #108 - Sedona