HikeArizona.COM

We've been talking lately about how often "all of you all" get up here in the Sedona area and hike a trail or two, or three. With reason, of course, the bulk of the HAZ membership hails from the metroplex and the bulk of hiking activity centeres on those routes nearby.

All that said, we're still interested in an absolutely unscientific poll on how often you get "up this way."

THX--J&S

As of mid-December, the above poll numbers are showing a pretty clear trend: about half of respondents hikes once every 3-6 months. If forced to guess, we would have guessed that more than half would have hiked at least once or more than quarterly. We're now wodnering if it's the fee for the Red Rock Pass that deters higher frequency. Probably not. It's most likely the long drive and the availability of attractive hiking opportunities closer to home. What do you think?

I have hiked one trail up in Sedona but look forward to many more next summer ;]

Well, myself and at least one other brave hiking soul are planning on hiking 5 Sedona trails this Saturday... making one mega-all-day-loop hike!! Since we don't get up there much, we've decided to try to do as much as possible when we get these small windows of opportunity. I will actually be up there for the whole w/e.

Did the Sycamore Pass to Taylor Cabin trip a couple weeks ago, first Sedona hike I've done in several years. I like the scenery but not the crowds, which I've heard are extreme. Is that true? We saw no one on the hike two weeks ago.

Sredfield wrote:I like the scenery but not the crowds, which I've heard are extreme. Is that true? We saw no one on the hike two weeks ago.

We kinda think the crowding factor is dependent on where and when you hike.
It's not like all the trails are crowded all of the time. Most of the so-called "hikers" are usually just tourists out for a stroll. Natually, the marquee hikes like Bell Rock, Cathedral, Boynton, etc. are going to have their share of crowds. However, most tourists stay in motels and go out to eat breakfast. Therefore, you usually won't encounter many of them early in the morning or when it's getting toward dinner. Then they return to the motels and wash up for their trip to the local restaurant. Weekends and holidays are obviously more crowded than weekdays. Generally, if you venture more than a mile from the TH, the so-called "crowding" becomes far less noticable.
"Bad" weather virtually eliminates any crowding whatsoever. It also happens to produce the most spectacular scenery, even during our rare rain and snow storms. We've gotten so that we don't give the "crowding" factor a second thought. For example, the trail closest to our home is the famous (or infamous, depending on how you look at it) Bell Rock Pathway. Sometimes, there will barely be an open parking spot in the lot. But, magically, when we head out toward the Courthouse Butte Loop, we rarely see more than a half dozen people. They are all clustering right around Bell Rock, perhaps waiting to be sucked up into a vortex or something. The Pathway itself might have lots of people on it but since the Pathway is more like a road, it doesn't seem noticeable or annoying. Besides, it makes for great people watching. Our advice to anyone is not to let yourself get psyched out by possible crowding. The place is too good to pass by because of perceived crowding.
J&S

I'm not a big fan of overcrowded, overdeveloped trails that I have to pay fees to hike. So, I hike in Sedona about as often as I hike in the Grand Canyon- maybe once every few years, and only if I plan a hike that really inspires me.

I have hiked a few trails in Sedona - say about 2-3 every qtr at least ( more in summer when the Supes and nearby trails are not an option). If you pick the way out trails (harder to reach - read off road no pavement kinds) you hardly find any crowds. Early AM works best.

Beautiful hikes make it worthwhile to deal with the crowding you see in the 1st mile or so. Boyton seems to be the only hike I have felt crowded out past the 1st mile.

The thing that aggravates me is the lack of parking ...... Drove all the way in to Secret Canyon and could not find parking (dutifully abandoned my car by the side of the road )...the trail head was full but I did not see anyone on the trail. Wonder where the people were .....Not that I missed them.

I make one trip a year now, for the last four years to Arizona. Sedona is one of my destinations. I usually spend several days hiking out there. Once you hike for awhile you are pretty much alone. This is great theraphy for some one like me coming from a large city(Chicago). Arizona is such a beautiful state.

We hit Sedona about once a month or so...maybe a bit more often in summer...and haven't ever really had a tremendous problem with crowds...though we save the more popular trails for summer weekdays...just last weekend we did Doe Mtn and only saw 3 other people, though the lot was full...I tell ya, Sedona hiking is just so much different from the Valley, it's a nice change of pace...

Ahh! zuma's postin' in style again

you missed...
Never often enough
&
When ever the Hideaway urge kicks in

teva wrote:Ahh! zuma's postin' in style again

Yeah, it's good to see you guys back!

I go about once a month, somewhere in Sedona.Mondays are great,because there's no crowd anywhere! Usually do West Fork, Brin's Mesa, Loy Canyon,Long Canyon,Fay Canyon,Boynton,etc.etc. Now that my salon/catering season is so nuts,I need to get away into some red rock nook away from people! I can't think of a more soothing,beautiful place to be!!

Sredfield wrote:Did the Sycamore Pass to Taylor Cabin trip a couple weeks ago,

This is my favorite hike in the area when I am up there! I see little to no folks on this hike on Doggie Trail and Sycamore Canyon Trail. Complete, awesome, isolation.