Red Rockin' in Arizona

As we crossed the state line from New Mexico to Arizona there was an instant shift in scenery. We went from dry deserts, to red cliffs, to wet forest in the matter of 5-1/2 hours. Approaching Flagstaff it was clear that a wild rain storm was battering our path to Sedona as well as our camp site.

Sara, natural innovator that she is, found us a alternative activity just north of the city, out of the storm. We decided that we would wait out the rain and break in our hiking boots at the same time. Sunset Crater National Park lies just 12 miles north of Flagstaff and is home to the remains of a volcano that erupted close to 900 years ago! The trails were easily accessible and not very strenuous, a great practice hike.

It was like nothing either of us had ever seen. The trails weaved through the remains of twisted ponderosa pines and black lava rock that has overtaken the mountainsides.

 

We also got a view of the Painted Desert from afar.

 After the weather radar cleared up and we took tons of pictures of the crater we headed south to our campsite for the next two nights, Pine Flats, nestled in the serene Oak Creek Canyon just north of Sedona.

Our campsite was nice and quiet. This was by far the best night's sleep I have had in a while. We could hear the birds, crickets and wind passing through our tent windows lulling us to sleep. We woke up early and Sara cooked pancakes for breakfast. 

The view waking up this morning

The first hike of the morning was Cathedral Rock. It was only a mile or so long but it went UP. As we made it to the first layer of flat rock, the views were unbelievable. This vantage point allowed us to see most of the amazing red rocks that surround Sedona.

Next up was Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. The Bell Rock Trail was about 3.4 miles one way and carved in between these monsters. This hike was much more flat and runners and mountain bikers accompanied us along the way.

Bell Rock

Courthouse Butte

We ate lunch on Main Street in Sedona. It was littered with small boutiques, restaurants and breathtaking views. From our rooftop seats at Oaxaca Cantina we could see Snoopy Rock in the distance.

After lunch we decided to tackle Devil's Bridge. With another afternoon thunderstorm approaching, we hurried to the trail head. There were two options to reach the Devil's Bridge, a natural bridge-like formation made of red rock: 

A) Drive off-road down the mountain to shorten the hike, or 

B) Hike the whole way. 

Liking the idea of off-roading a bit, I creeped over the edge with our 4-cylinder RAV4 (yeah... I know) and gave it a shot. Not even 100 yards in I decided that if I wanted to drive out of this canyon, I'd better turn around. 

On to plan B, we took the long hike admiring the burnt orange cliffs off in the distance. In the end, we never made it to the Devil's Bridge. Nature won; the storm moved in and moved us out. While we are excited to continue our trip - the Grand Canyon is tomorrow - I will never forget the landscapes and laughs that I have shared in Sedona with my bride.