Hiking Sedona - (Our amazing hikes into the red mountains.)

Have you ever been somewhere and said to yourself-

 "This is the most beautiful place I have ever seen."
~

 Go to Sedona. 

You will say it again~~

One morning near the end of our vacation, we stopped for breakfast at a little cafe restaurant and my husband found a book in the gift shop there called "Sedona's Top 10 hikes".  Looking through the book, we realized that we had already done 3 of the hikes without even knowing their significance. Not bad for being "new in town!"

~~

 Come along with me as I take you along on these amazing trips into, around, and on top of 

the red rocks of

 Sedona~

Our first hike will take us to the famous

"Cathedral Rock".

~

When we first arrived in Sedona, we stopped at the Ranger station to pick up some trail information.  In one of the photo books there I saw THE most amazing photo of Cathedral rock towering over still waters, the reflection of the majestic rock shimmering in the water.   "Where is this?" I asked.  "I want to go here!!"  

The ranger explained that we would need to follow the river and that the trail to the reflecting waters was not marked.  Just keep bearing to the left she said~~

Well, we found the water.  Come on -- we must be close!  

~~famous last words~~

"Courthouse Butte" in the distance
(we will go there later!)

3 hours and a few wrong turns later~

we found it!

I was so hot --

and tired--

and hot--

and that water looked so cool

and wonderful~~

I just had too!

we just totally gave in to the cool waters

swimming and laying in the sun

 the view looking away from Cathedral Rock

but, eventually we had to leave~

~~

Trail info:

3 miles round trip

(via the Templeton trail)

moderate difficulty

trail head starts at Verde Valley School road

Sedona is more than just a quiet little town nestled between ruggedly beautiful red mountains~

It is something of an artistic mecca, with handicrafts, art galleries, and a hint of hippie/new age character thrown in for good measure.

  

Sedona is a haven for those who seek the healing powers

of mystical forces. 

~~

Deep within these mountains are reputed to be

powerful soul cleansing vortexes. 

Bell Rock 

is said to be one of those places.

Come along with us --

we're going to the top!

Along the trail head were artists
painting the legendary
 scenery~ 

there is no real trail that leads to the top-
just a worn path over the rocks
where over time
souls have climbed in search 
of the mystical powers
that are hidden within the
rocks.

It's a big climb! 
Here we go!!

We are near the top here~
I'm not sure that I'm feeling any mystical powers,
but the climb has been
exhilarating!

leaving our mark to commemorate
this incredible climb~

Sending you all
a little love!

So--
I'm straddling this deep crevice
Working my way back down from the mountain~
and my phone rings!
"hello-- ahh, could you make it quick?"
"I'm sort of in a predicament here!!"

Our 
"just down from the mountain"
pose!
~~
we did not actually make it all the 
way to the top -- almost,
but I admit that I kind of 
wimped out just short
of the top! 
~~
Trail info:
3.5 miles (to the top and back)
Moderate to hard difficulty
(this trail joins with the Court House Butte trail)

The Courthouse Butte trail is a meandering hike that takes you through lush fields and desert areas as it circles both Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte~

No serious climbing for this hike -- 
we are just taking the long way
around~

Trail info:

4 mile loop trail

easy to moderate difficulty

(this trail intersects with the Bell Rock trail)

We hope you have enjoyed hiking with us in beautiful Sedona. My apologies (again!!) for such a long post -- (I wanted to keep all the hikes in the same place.) During our visits to Sedona and the Grand Canyon, we stayed in Flagstaff and drove the short distances between our hiking destinations.  We LOVED Flagstaff -- it is a destination all by itself and it was the perfect place to stay on our trip.  I have one more post to share with you regarding our trip to this area-- Sunset Crater (and the surrounding Pueblo ruins).  That post will be coming soon-- 

 ~~ 

I'm taking a few days to try and organize the Sacred Yarn room so that I can participate in Karen's "Where Women Create" event -- and believe me, this room needs a lot of work!!  This is the one time a year when the room gets a good cleaning and reorganizing -- so I can thank Karen for that!! I hope you will join me here when I open the doors to this special place where I create.  I'll try to make it look pretty for you~~
xoxo,

Vicki