Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
Secret Canyon Day Hike
| when? |
Trip Report :
November 7, 2009
|
| |
Trip Report :
April 22, 2006
|
| |
Trip Report :
April 20, 2002
|
| |
Trip Report :
October 30, 1999
|
| where? |
Sedona – Red Rock District |
| the hike |
The beginning of the trail goes through a Pinyon / Juniper forest and then a small
clearing before entering an area that should have beautiful fall colors of reds and oranges
due to the Big Tooth Maple trees in this area. There is also poison ivy on the last mile
of the trail, so we recommend wearing long pants.
The trail crosses the dry streambed several times as we hike trough the canyon.
There are sweeping views of the layered red and white rocks of the canyon walls, rising
1,000 ft on either side. The lower rocks are Red Supai Sandstone and Gray Coconino
Sandstone on the higher elevations.
|
|
| type |
round trip |
| distance |
7.8 miles |
| time |
4-5 hours |
| EC |
+-480' elevation change |
| elevations |
4,660' (Secret Canyon Trailhead) to 5,100' (canyon turnaround) |
| on trail |
100% — Secret Canyon Trail #121
The trail is described in Magnum, Richard and Sherry, Sedona Hikes
(9th ed), Hexagon Press, Flagstaff, AZ, 2008, pp.196-197.
|
| rating |
"C"
Rate yourself as a hiker. |
| dogs? |
no |
| cost |
$5 per vehicle for a
Red Rock Pass, plus sharing gas expenses with the driver. The club also
allows voluntary contributions of $5/non-member |
| weather |
Sedona |
| meet |
7:00 AM in the
Fry’s parking lot on the SW corner of I-17 & Bell Road.
Park behind Denny’s, near the entrance to the Deer Valley Park & Ride.
|
| drive |
Easy to find but rough on your car. To access the trailhead, take I-17
north and take the Sedona Exit. From the Sedona "Y" (where SR179
intersects SR89A) drive southwest on Highway 89A (toward Cottonwood) for a
distance of 3.2 miles. Turn right onto Dry Creek Road (MP371). Go right
about two miles and then turn right at the sign for Dry Creek and Vultee
Arch. Follow this dirt road about three miles to a metal signpost on the
left that reads “Trail 121: Secret Canyon.”
The road to the trailhead requires a high clearance vehicle as it is very
rough and rocky.
110 miles from Bell Road to Secret Canyon Trailhead (220 round trip).
|