Happy New Year, hikers! Now, let's go hike. Arizona Hiking

Happy New Year, hikers! Now, let's go hike.

WOODS CANYON TRAIL #93

Oak Creek, Munds Mountain Wilderness

Shortie inspects an icy pool

the red rock "beach"

What could be better than hiking in Red Rock Country on a
crispy cool winter morning? Sedona’s backcountry is especially stunning under a
layer of frost as we experienced on the Woods Canyon Trail this week. Following
the gorge created by Dry Beaver Creek, this trail begins with a traipse through
Jacks Canyon Riparian exclosure---a delightfully lush strip of cottonwoods and
reeds where you’ll need to make a pair of easy creek crossings. Beyond the crossings (which were frozen
over on our hike) the trail encounters a cattle gate and its first of two
junctions. Just past the first
gate, go right at the sign that warns of extreme conditions in the area. Not to worry, trail #93 is pretty easy
up to 4 miles making for an easy out-and-back day hike. The first mile follows a two-track jeep
road through a yucca-studded savanna prowled by resident cattle, but soon
dissolves into a sandy-muddy footpath as it delves into the canyon. At 2.1 miles, the junction for Horse
Mesa/Hot Loop pops up on a sunny ridge. Here, be sure to turn around for some
super sweet views of Mingus and Woodchute Mountains (snow covered on our trip).
Veer right at this junction to continue on Wood Canyon Trail, which will enter
the Munds Mountain Wilderness Area in another 0.1 mile. Now, the really good stuff starts to
show up. The hike transitions from
a flat stroll into a gentle ascent along the cliffs above Dry Beaver
Creek. Leafless, white barked
sycamore trees clutter a creek bed full of gunmetal gray basalt boulders
washing up against rusty sandstone escarpments. The cool winter color palette here is a memorable sight. The
skeletal trunks interspersed with junipers and ponderosa pines against a
backdrop of red and gray is chilly and wild. The highlight of the hike is “red rock beach”, a slab of
brilliant russet sandstone jutting into a stream of boulders. Beyond the beach, the trail gets
sketchy and ledgey, which is why many hikes make it their turnaround point.

crossing in Jacks Canyon riparian area

LENGTH: 5.3
miles one-way (trail degrades after 4 miles)

RATING:
moderate

ELEVATION:
3890’ – 4310’

FEE: Red Rock Pass is required. $5 daily fee per vehicle. Passes are available at the ranger station, which opens at 8
a.m. daily.

GETTING THERE:

From Phoenix, travel north on I17 to ext 289 for SR179,
Sedona-Oak Creek, Go left (west) and continue 8.5 miles to the turn off for the
Red Rock Ranger District Station on the right. Trailhead is located within the ranger station complex in
the south (lower) lot where a small metal sign indicates the start point.