Sedona Verde Valley Hiking

Our closest hiking and riding trail is heading south along Beaver Creek. Accessed through Luna Vista Bed and Breakfast's Back-40, this trail makes its way to Montezuma's Castle National Monument along an 8 mile moderate to strenuous serpentine route. The trail will require some rock and creek walking in places, passing our resident eagles' nests, remnants of ancient cliff dwellings and old stagecoach trails.

Luna Vista is conveniently located close to the more popular and maintained trails of the Wet Beaver Creek Watershed, including those within the Coconino National Forest.

	Apache Maid Trail #15 skirts the rim of Wet Beaver Creek Canyon, one of the scenic red rock gorges that cut the southern rim of the Colorado Plateau. The trail starts at the mouth of the canyon and continues up this picturesque drainage, offering glimpses of the clear, cool stream, until it branches off from the Bell Trail to climb the canyon's north wall. Click Map to Enlarge
Bell Trail #13 is the only developed route into Wet Beaver Creek Canyon and the Wilderness Area it shelters. It is a very popular trail with hikers and anglers who come to enjoy the solitude and other rewards offered by a clear cool stream flowing through a scenic desert canyon. The trailhead is 1/4 mile down a good dirt road and is accessible in a sedan.	Crossing the Wet Beaver creek requires some rock-hopping or wading. (Long legs help). Once across the creek, the Bell Trail begins its 2 mile ascent to the top of the Mogollon Rim. Although the trail switchbacks several times, the majority of the ascent is a long, straight, and rocky. Once the trail reaches the rim, the trail exits the wilderness and becomes more difficult to follow. There is even a sign discouraging use past the wilderness boundary. We turned around at this point (5.5 miles). If you were to continue on, the trail eventually ends at FR 214 after 11 miles from the trail head.
	West Clear Creek A remote and wet hike with swimming and wading through a Coconino Sandstone canyon. The upper section of West Clear Creek is wide, but pretty. There are no significant narrow parts, but the Coconino Sandstone with the trees and water make for a scenic walk. Expect to do some wading in this section, but no swimming is required. From the car park at the end of FR 142E, walk due north down hill to the Forest Service Register.

	West Fork Canyon (north of Sedona), is one of the more popular forest and park trails in the area. This nice cool trail, even in the Summer, is along Oak Creek in the canyons north of Sedona Slide Rock Park: This is a 0.3-mile trail with a difficulty rating of moderate. This primitive route along Oak Creek is the main access to the Slide Rock Swim Area. This is extremely popular area features a natural water slide along Oak Creek. This path begins near the apple packing barn. It descends to the creek via steps where it then crosses the creek via a small footbridge. During periods of high runoff, the footbridge will not be in place and visitors will need to stay on the west side of the creek. After crossing the footbridge, proceed north along the sandstone shelves. In the summer months, many sunbathers will be using some of this route for sunbathing, therefore, you may have to step over quite a few of them. As you proceed, you may notice a historic rock cabin on the west side of the creek. The original homesteader used this in conjunction with a flume and water wheel to generate electricity for the homestead. You will arrive at an eight-foot wall that can be your turn-around point. If you decide to negotiate the wall, you can explore the remote areas upstream where the route becomes more primitive.