Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 14:07:08 -0700
Reply-To: Tim Schneider <Tim.Schneider@SYNOPSYS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tim Schneider <Tim.Schneider@SYNOPSYS.COM>
Subject: Re: Sedona
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Phil..
We have a few favorites.. problem is that
right in and around the Sedona area.. they've
made pretty much every USFS area day use only
(with the exception of the campgrounds in/about
Oak Creek Canyon. The aforementioned are
very cool at the bottom of the canyone..
(the drive from Flagstaff, down 89a
through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona is
very cool. You can camp for free in the
forest at the head of Oak Creek Canyon
(this is about 8-12 miles south of Flagstaff
on 89a.. towards sedona) An area called
Oak Creek Overlook is nearby.. native americans
selling their wares.. you can do some hiking around
in the forest there.. an area you'll like see folks
rockclimbing (cliffs below)
Like I said.. there are some campgrounds in
Oak Creek Cyn, not sure if they take reservations
or if they are still first come first served.
Hikes in and around Flagstaff can be found here
http://www.azhikers.org/Hikes/northwest.htm
In the Red Rock area.. you'll have to hit some
of the more out of the way areas in order to overnight
it. Lots of good hiking trails in and around Bell
Rock.. the Cathederal Spires area (again.. where
us climber types hang out, one of the classic routes
of AZ (called "The Mace") is located there.. but it
is also a very cool area just to hike in and about..
(easily negotiated with a child carrier)
an excellent single track loop to be had there
as well.. go back to 'Submarine rock' and check that
out. (you will have to share the road/trail with the
pink jeep tours however :-) Bike and Bean in
sedona can give you the lowdown on the
rides in the area. Look em up on the web.
Drive through Sedona.. look for
'Back O Beyond' road.. hang a right.. its
a mile or two to the west of the main road
that heads through sedona, and takes you
back to I-17 (which eventually leads you back
to Mesa)
As an alternative.. a much more fun scenic
drive is to head out the back way from Sedona
to Prescott.. *OR* down through Clarkdale, then
up Mingus Mtn. to Jerome.. This cool mining town
has a neat museum and is clinging to the side
of the mountain by 'i dont know what'! it's now
an enclave for artists and harley riders on the weekend
but still is a neat place to check out. Then head up
and over Mingus Mtn. (probably cooler up here.. there
are USFS sites/places to camp up there I believe as well)
Then you drop down the back side, and you can head
straight to Prescott AZ (the old territorial capitol of AZ)
Outside of Prescott is the Granite Mtn. Wilderness area
some cool hikes here as well as climbing (closed for
raptor nesting to climbers.. but not to hikers I believe?)
more info here..
http://www.azhikers.org/Hikes/sedona.htm#granite
We're in the Mesa/Gilbert area.. there are also
cool things to see/do on this side of the Valley
as well (out towards the Superstition Wilderness,
Tonto Natl Forest.. out near the lakes) also there
is the drive up to 4 peaks that would be fun
I think
Hope this helps.. there are a lot of things to
see/do and I've just hit a few of the highlights,
so if you have any specific questions, shoot me
an email.
cheers
-tim
