After a quick day exploring the Grand Canyon, I continued to Flagstaff Arizona to spend the night. The next morning at the crack of dawn I was on the road towards Sedona. I didn’t really have a plan but research showed that all of the trailheads didn’t open until 8:00 AM. I’m glad that was inaccurate. Just over the pass I came across the trailhead for the West Branch of Oak Creek Trail. The reviews I read the night before spoke very highly of this hike.
So I drove to the small gatehouse and asked the guy manning it what the deal was. He told me that because the place had been so busy the previous week he came in an hour early to open up. Said there was a twelve dollar fee. Apparently this site is operated by a concessionaire. I asked if it was worth it and he said it was one of the top ten hikes in the United States and voted best in Arizona, so I ponied up and took my chances.
He went on to tell me that the experience of walking up the canyon was “mystical” and that there were thirteen stream crossings. That sounded good to me so I parked my car at 7:00 AM. I was the fourth vehicle to park in the lot and took off.
Just past the trailhead I came to the remnants of an old ranch. Interpretive signage told the story of a man who gained the nickname of Bear because he killed so many of them after one mauled his friend to death.
The collection of old buildings made for a great back drop for the scenery at the head of the canyon.
Right after the old ranch the trail crossed the main channel of Oak Creek on the one and only bridge along the route. At a rail fence I saw a collection of walking sticks leaning against a post. Experience has told me that if you find a bunch of walking sticks left by previous hikers that it is a good idea to take one.
Soon I was walking up a beautiful little canyon with the last fall colors in the leaves of the hardwood trees. On one side of the canyon were the red rock cliffs the area is so famous for.
The mixed hardwood forest had an east coast feel to it. In my home area all of the forest are almost exclusively made up of evergreen trees and the sights and smells are totally different.
The walking stick I barrowed came in very handy during the numerous stream crossings. This late in the season the creek had dwindled to the point it was possible to rock hop across all of the fords. In the spring and early summer I’m sure you would have had to get wet making the same crossings. Turns out this is one of the big draws for this hike as getting wet in the summer in Arizona helps keep hikers from over heating.
Early in the morning and in the deep shade of the canyon walls, it was kind of chilly. As the day progressed and the sun rose higher I was sweating by the time I finished the hike.
The canyon bottom was as the ticket guy said “mystical”. When you start as early as I did the few folks you come across on the trail are uniformly awesome. They’re out here for the same thing as you are.
The hike turned out to be right at a seven mile round trip. It was nice to stretch my legs after covering so many miles sitting in a car the day before. The previous days drive from Moab through the Grand Canyon and on to Flagstaff was tiring.
The stream alternated between flowing at the base of the cliffs to the southeast and the northwest. At each transition the trail crossed the creek. The walking stick I used helped with balancing on the logs and rocks at all of these crossings keeping my shoes nice and dry.
I took my time and enjoyed all of the views, both big and small.
At the end of the trail a small deep pool filled the narrow canyon and blocked further easy access and this was the official turn around point. I met nice people here and along the trail to share stories and pictures with.
As I made my way back I encounter a lot more people. This is one of the most popular trails in the area and on most days the parking lot fills up early. I was glad I was one of the first ones on it on this beautiful Veterans Day morning.
One of the only downsides to the hike was that I passed a couple of hikers who decided to share the pungent aroma of their drug dependency. Smoking pot on a hike is no better than lighting a nasty cigar or spilling a bunch of beer. Just stay home if you can’t refrain for a couple of hours.
The canyon walls provided a wonderful background for the fall foliage. It made for a nice combination of colors.
Near the end of the hike the scenery was still amazing but the trail did get a little crowded with louder and less considerate late comers.
At the end of the trail I notice that all of the walking sticks were now gone, presumably being used by other hikers. I left mine were I found it and a hiker immediately picked it up to use on his hike. It made me wonder how many times this one sturdy tree branch had made the trip up the canyon. Recycling at it’s best.
By the time I made it to the old ranch and the trailhead the parking lot was completely full and cars were waiting outside the gate for a spot to become available. I have to say it was one of the best twelve dollars I ever spent.
So I hit the road to Sedona and took a couple of photos on the way. Sedona was very beautiful but I was turned off by the crowds and the traffic. There are tons of additional trails in the area many of which require a Red Rock Pass to use.
My detour to the West Branch of Oak Creek was very worth while. The site is in and managed by Coconino National Forest.
I ended up hiking seven mostly level miles in a beautiful canyon and was refreshed for the four or five hour drive to Tucson. I wouldn’t call this gem of a hike hidden in any way shape or form but it was still a wonderful experience.
