Page 38 News Weekend Trip: Sedona
Red Rocks
For the first Page 38 News weekend trip, Sedona, Arizona, was chosen due to its natural beauty and tourist amenities. It’s located approximately 2 hours north of Phoenix, off the I-17, and is close to Northern Arizona cities like Prescott, Payson, Flagstaff, and Cottonwood. This was during Labor Day Weekend; the traffic was worse, and the temperatures hit the mid-90s during the day.
Sedona is much higher in elevation, at 4350 feet, compared to Phoenix and Scottsdale, which are approximately 700 feet above sea level. The city has a population of 10,000 +/—and is visited by over 300,000 people annually. The natural red rocks, hotel resorts, massive hiking trails, and “vortexes” make it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Sedona’s roadways consist primarily of 1-lane roads with a bike line, and traffic can be a significant issue. Back-ups consistently happen on the 179 approaching the Village of Oak Creek. When this occurs, it usually takes 45-60 minutes to reach the downtown Sedona area.
Where to stay?
The Inn Above Oak Creek, a 14-room Inn located south of the 179/89-A fork on the road in Sedona, was chosen due to its location. Some rooms have balconies overlooking the Oak Creek River, and there is a fantastic garden area down below with chairs and a hammock. It is the perfect place to find your happy place and relax in the shade. We were lucky enough to witness a female tarantula climb out of the rock wall and sunbathe during mating season. It is the perfect place to find your happy place and relax in the shade.
Tlaquepaque and Los Abrigados Resort and Spa are within walking distance, as are numerous restaurants and shops. Walking paths connect both of these areas. However, there are limited places to park your car. Parking is challenging around this part of Sedona, but that won’t be an issue with your reserved spot at the Inn. If you want to explore downtown Sedona, patience will be required as traffic back-ups can start in the Village of Oak Creek on the 179 and Airport Road on the 89A. Sedona has retained its small-town charm with one-lane roads and limited street lighting.
Hiking
Hundreds of hiking trails are throughout the Sedona/Oak Creek area. The mornings were chilly, and the afternoons were too hot, so we decided that early hikes were more enjoyable. Between the two of us, we used two water bottles per person per hike. Do not forget to hydrate! Based on the completion time (between 90 and 150 minutes), we picked two moderately challenging trails that we hadn’t tried before.
The 2.7-mile hike took approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes (7,000 steps). We went clockwise around the trail, shaded for the first half but not the second. Both of us enjoyed it immensely, and the views were amazing. Parking was easy to get to, and there was a bathroom.
#2 Little Horse/Llama/Bail/Bell Rock Trail
The 3.7-mile hike took approximately 1 1/2 hours (9,000 steps). We went clockwise around the trail, which was shaded for most of it except at the end. This trail connects several other paths and has excellent views of Courthouse Butte and the Twin Buttes. Parking was challenging, and I highly recommend arriving as early as possible.
Beer Trip
Five breweries in the region were visited as part of a reward for our morning hiking.
Verde Brewing Company (Camp Verde), Smelter Town Brewery (Clarksdale), Belfry Brewery (Cottonwood), Oak Creek Brewery, and Sedona Beer Co. were enthusiastically visited as a reward for hiking.
Why I love Sedona: Northern Arizona beer, unlimited hiking, never-ending views, and tourist shops/galleries.
Don’t forget to try the Pink Jeep Tours for off-roading adventures!
See you next time!
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K. Brett Boswell, MBA
K. Brett Boswell is an investigative journalist & C.E.O. for Page 38 News
Email: [email protected]
X: theBoz46