West Fork Oak Creek

Hiking in Arizona

Nearby Destinations

Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness

Nearby Guides

Content
provided by

Viewed 12069 times

(1 vote)

Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 7.0 miles / 11.3 km
Duration: Half day

Family Friendly

Download to Phone

View Large Map

View Photos

Overview: Trekking up Oak Creek’s west fork offers one of the best hiking experiences in Sedona, an area already known as a hiker’s paradise. The steep canyon walls and the shade of trees make this a perfect trail if you’re looking to avoid the heat of the Arizona sun.

Trace the creek upstream along pleasant sandy trails and thirteen separate river crossings and enjoy the imposing views of the canyon walls towering above you. Unless the waters are high, the crossings are relatively easy, and the elevation gain on this trail is slight.

The trail ends where the canyon walls close in on you and there’s nowhere else to go without getting your feet wet. Enjoy the great views, make the most of the photo opportunities and marvel at how the water has etched away at the rock over the millennia.

If you’re suitably equipped, you can continue to wade upstream for another quarter of a mile or so. The pebbly creek bed can be a little hard on bare feet, but it might be tolerable to you - also be careful of the smoother rock surfaces underfoot which are particularly slippery.

Eleven miles north of Sedona, the trailhead at the Call of the Canyon day use area has limited parking availability, which may be an inconvenience to some, but early arrivals will enjoy a relatively uncrowded trail.

Elevation gain:
• Approx 400ft (from 5,320 to 5,660ft)

Tips: • Arrive early to ensure a parking spot at the trailhead. A fee is payable to park, and daily Red Rock parking permits are not valid here.
• GPS can be spotty and sometimes misleading in high-sided canyons like these, due to signals echoing off the walls. The trail is simple to follow however, and it's even harder to get lost.
• Consider bringing footwear suitable for walking in water along the creek bed, if you'd like to proceed further along the canyon.

Points of Interest

map

Trailhead

Located 11 miles north of Sedona on 89A, the entrance to the Call of the Canyon day use area is positioned on a bend in the road. When we visited a sign marked “West Fork Oak Creek” marked the spot.

A parking fee is payable, and the daily Red Rock Pass is not valid here. The limited parking spots available here may inconvenience some, but as long as you arrive early you will be able to find a place to park and enjoy a relatively uncrowded trail.

Set out for the trail by following a concrete paved path, cross the footbridge and then bear left through an orchard towards the canyon entrance.

map

Lodge Ruins

Just before reaching the canyon entrance you’ll happen across the ruins of Mayhew’s Lodge. Built in the 1870s the lodge served its visitors for a century before succumbing to fire in 1976.

The lodge was also briefly a movie star - becoming the backdrop to the 1922 film “Call of the Canyon” - though the movie wasn’t exactly a box office smash and you’re unlikely to find it to rent on Netflix any time soon.

map

Wilderness Register

You’re now entering the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. Be sure to register your party in the book (free) and take note of the posted signs.

Basically - obey the usual “pack it in - pack it out” habit and do not camp within 6 miles of the trailhead.

map

Creek Crossing

The first of many, many crossings - around thirteen in total. Unless the waters are raging, you’re unlikely to encounter difficulties traversing the creek.

Use this crossing as a measure of difficulty, as no crossing upstream is any more difficult than this one.

map

Water Cascade

There's not much elevation change on this trail and this is as close as you're likely to get to a waterfall feature any time soon.

Diminutive though it is, it's not without charm.There is no creek crossing at this location. Keep to your right and pick up the trail again.

map

Junction

Following the main trail is relatively easy, and this point marks the only significant junction on the entire route.

Keep left to follow the creek, or turn right and keep to slightly higher ground.

map

Trail Ends

The sandy trail yields to a final section of rocky river stone path before reaching the end of our route, where the canyon walls close in on you and there’s nowhere else to go without getting your feet wet.

Enjoy the great views, make the most of the photo opportunities and marvel at how the water has etched away at the rock over the millennia. Return the way you came.

If you’re suitably equipped, you can continue to wade upstream for another quarter of a mile or so. The pebbly creek bed can be a little hard on bare feet, but it might be tolerable to you - also be careful of the smoother rock surfaces underfoot which are particularly slippery.