More of a rock climb than a hike, this trail is unshaded and steep and difficult in places.Follow the basket cairns across thewash and up the moderate slope toward the spires. At .25 mile, the trail emerges on a broad ledge with nice views. Then, it ascends steeply over bald rock and in a shallow cleft with a few toeholds notched into the rock to help on the steeper places.
Emerging on a small knob, cairns show the way up and across several ledges toward the deep drainage ahead which it follows, climbing moderately steeply to the top of a wide saddle between two spires. Great views all along, but quite spectacular from the top. An unmaintained path leads south along the west base of the spires giving access, with short climbs, to two more saddles between sheer rock faces and a close-up view of an exposed lava dike at the first. Return by the same route for a 1.5 mile hike. Hot is summer.
Length: .7 miles
Rating: Moderate
Season: Year ’round
Hiking Time: Allow 2 hours
Uses: Hiking only. Not safe for horses or bicycles
USGS Map: Sedona
Location: 38 miles south of Flagstaff in scenic Red Rock Country.
GPS: N34° 49′ 30.72″, W-111° 47′ 18.168″
Access: From the junction of Routes 89A and 179, take 179 south 3.5 miles to Back-O’Beyond Road on the right. Go .6 miles to the trailhead parking turnout on the left.
For more information contact:
Red Rock Ranger District, P.O. Box 20429, Sedona AZ 86341, (928) 282-4119
Click here for a PDF map of Red Rock Country.
When you hike in Sedona, stay at Sedona Reál Inn & Suites, the Sedona Hotel offering affordable luxury & superior service.
Please let me know about USGS books for purchase as I am coming to Sedona for the first time this coming weekend. I am an Earth Science teacher.
Thanks,
Georgia Cunradi
gcunradi@lbschools.net
Need a USGS books, please, about the rock formations.
Hi Georgia,
The very best books available about Sedona geological history are by Wayne Ranney. You may have seen him on the History Channel as an expert on the geology of the Grand Canyon. Here is an excerpt from his website:
The Association of Earth Science Editors (AESE) bestowed its Outstanding Publication Award to my book “Sedona Through Time” at its 2010 annual meeting held on September 22 in Victoria, British Columbia. The award was accepted on my behalf by Karen Keeney, a Vancouver resident and a frequent trip participant on my Museum of Northern Arizona Ventures excursions.
What an honor it is for me to receive this award. The earth sciences seem to be increasingly marginalized in our society as political polarization and sound bites seem to suffice as a platform of misinformation for some people. I always strive to make landscapes and their origin a source of knowledge and inspiration for those who would simply open their eyes to the world we live in. Many thanks to Pam Frazier who edited STT and to Bronze Black who designed it.
“Sedona Through Time” was recently updated in a new, 3rd edition. The text is completely revised and all new graphics were added and were beautifully designed by Bronze Black. Since 1993 almost 10,000 copies were sold and enjoyed multiple printings through two editions. It has been the most popular book and standard reference on the geology of this special landscape. The new edition has over 90 color photographs, many maps and diagrams, and utilizes dozens of Ron Blakey’s fantastic paleogeographic maps used in my book “Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau.”
His website is http://www.wayneranney.com/. Click on the Books link on the main menu to see his publications. These books are available locally in Sedona at numerous locations. You will find all of his books to be quite informative and a fun resource and teaching guide. Another of his books that I think you would find particularly interesting is “The Verde Valley: A Geological History.”
Finally, I would like to welcome you to Sedona. The weather next weekend should be beautiful. You are in for a wonderful adventure. Just to let you know, this website is sponsored by the Sedona Real Inn & Suites and it is a great place to stay while you are here. I don’t work for them but I am the webmaster for this site, so I had to put in a plug for them.
Jack Hillman
PS: In case you are interested in guided hikes or tours, one of my best friends is Joe Holman, without a doubt the most experienced and knowledgeable guide in Sedona. He has an extensive geology background and is quite a storyteller about the history of Sedona. You can see his website at http://www.arizonarockstours.com.