OK-Dawa-Arizona Cypress Loop

OK-DAWA-ARIZONA CYPRESS TRAIL LOOP

Mescal Mountain seen from Dawa Trail

Best tip for hiking in Sedona—learn to appreciate the little trails. Many of Red Rock Country’s lesser-used routes offer easy access, no fees and surprisingly available parking.

Arizona Cypress Trail

The Upper Dry Creek Area Trails are a great place to start exploring the joys of under-the-radar hiking.  

Sycamores in Dry Creek

Easy to access off Dry Creek Road and Boynton Pass Road in West Sedona, the maze of short, interconnected trails wind through classic high desert ecozones, mingling with the jumbled corridor of Dry Creek and scoured drainages.  Excellent map signs placed at all trail junctions make finding your way around so easy.

Bear Mountain seen from OK Trail

One scenic loop to try uses the OK, Dawa and Arizona Cypress trails. The simple-to-follow routes are neither secret nor hidden. They’ve been around for decades, existing in relative quiet not far from the famously popular Bear Mountain, Fay Canyon and Devils Bridge trails.  

Doe Mtn (L) and Bear Mtn seen from Dawa

Starting from the blink-and-you’ll miss-it OK Trailhead, a short access path dives into juniper-cypress forests with glimpses of Doe Mountain on the western skyline.  At the first junction, pick up the Dawa Trail (Dawa is Hopi for moon) heading west. Evidence of this trail’s former life as a dirt road pops up intermittently as it jogs between sunny meadows and deep woods. Sometimes wide, sometimes a narrow footpath.

Shaggy bark on an AZ Cypress tree

The trail makes a gradual climb to a scenic high point where views of Bear Mountain, Mescal Mountain, and the Cockscomb formation stand out in an arc of rusty stone. At the 0.8-mile point, veer left at a junction to stay on the Dawa trail as it twists down to meet the leafy corridor of Dry Creek.

Dawa Trail crosses Dry Creek

AZ Cypress Trail

Lush with manzanita and flowering shrubs, yucca and mesquite, there’s plenty of shade between breaks in the tree cover that frame mountain and wide valley views.

Chimney Rock seen from Dawa Trail

Just past a crossing of the creek, pick up the Arizona Cypress Trail (go left again), which parallels the creek.  True to its name, the route is flush with the eponymous shaggy barked conifer with distinctive geometric seed pods.

Map kiosk at the OK Trailhead

For the final leg, follow the OK Trail back to the first junction and backtrack to the trailhead where a kiosk shows an overview of the many hike options available to hikers who love solitude, options and a good leg stretch. 

LENGTH: 2.7-mile loop

RATING: easy

ELEVATION: 3,339 – 4,539 feet

GETTING THERE:

OK TRAILHEAD: From the State Route 179/89A traffic circle in uptown Sedona, go 3.2 miles west (go left) on SR 89A to Dry Creek Road.  Follow Dry Creek Road 2.8 miles to Boynton Pass Road, turn left and continue 0.5-mile to a small parking area on the left.  There’s room for 3-4 cars. A Red Rock Pass in not required at this trailhead. 

NOTE: The Sedona Shuttle does not serve this trailhead.  For info on how to use the FREE shuttle to access popular trailheads Thursday – Sunday, visit https://sedonashuttle.com

Maverick-Cholla Mountain-Corral Loop

MAVERICK-CHOLLA MOUNTAIN LOOP

Saguaros on the Maverick Trail

All it takes is a little rain to paint the desert in wildflower color.  

Buckwheat

The late December precipitation in the Phoenix area soaked the Sonoran Desert just enough to revive drought-stressed plants and spur new growth.

Chuparosa

Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve is a rich botanical garden that’s already teasing of spring blooms to come.  

Desert lavender

A short hike using Browns Ranch Road, Maverick Trail, Cholla Mountain Loop and the Corral Trail provide a good tour of desert plant diversity.  From the Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, follow Brown’s Ranch Road north.

Dry Gulch Trail

Along this wide passage, fragrant turpentine bushes and yellow-flowered brittlebush dominate the fringe, shading delicate wishbone bushes sporting tiny white blossoms.  

Cholla Mountain Loop

At the one-mile point, turn right at the Maverick Trail sign.  Fiddleneck, globemallow and shrubby deervetch sprout along washes and at the bases of desert hackberry and wolfberry shrubs.  

Mormon tea

Wolfberry

This early in the season, it takes a sharp eye and slow pace to catch patches of rattlesnake weed, lacepod and scorpionweed emerging from the sandy soils.  

Wishbone bush

Continue following the signs to the Cholla Mountain Loop trail where massive boulders harbor clumps of chuparosa, desert lavender and jojoba bushes.  

Shrubby deer vetch

Hang a left at the Dry Gulch Trail and follow it a short distance noting the expansive basin of giant saguaros that front views of Tonto National Forest mountains to the north.

Christmas cactus

Next, turn left at the Corral Trail. This leg features acres of filaree, also known as stork’s bill.  Introduced by Spanish settlers, the low-growing naturalized plant with purple flowers and a beak-like seed pods served as forage for livestock.

Filaree aka stork's bill

Brown's Mountain seen from Corral Trail

Also, along this leg, look for spiny Mormon tea, fragile paperflower, pungent triangle bursage and Christmas cactus.

Fiddleneck

Back at the Browns Ranch Road junction, head back to the trailhead taking in big views of distinctive flat-topped Brown’s Mountain framed by mesquite, yucca and creosote. 

Fairy duster

Happy New Year!

LENGTH: 4.5 miles

RATING: easy

ELEVATION:  2,678 – 2,800 feet

GETTING THERE:

Browns Ranch Trailhead:
30301 N Alma School Pkwy, Scottsdale

 

 

 GALLEY SHOW TO BENEFIT SUN CORRIDOR TRAIL

FRIDAY NOV 7, 2025

Mare Czinar is showing original oil paintings of Arizona hiking trails. Proceeds will go to the Sun Corridor Trail  to help build a 1500-mile non-motorized route from Douglas AZ to Las Vegas NV. Learn more about the project here https://suncorridortrail.org/

Free wine, too. 

WHEN: Friday Nov. 7, 2025, 6-9 p.m.

WHERE: Olney Galley at Trinity Cathedral

100 W. Roosevelt St, Phoenix

https://trinitycathedral.com/visit/olney-gallery/

VOLUNTEERS NEED FOR MARICOPA TRAIL

BECOME A MARICOPA TRAIL AMBASSADOR

The Trail Ambassador Volunteer Training Program is a collaborative effort between Maricopa County Parks and Recreation and the Maricopa Trail & Park Foundation. Trail Ambassadors are crucial in preserving our trails and creating a safe, enjoyable environment for everyone. Funding for the training is provided by the Arizona State Parks and Trails Grants Program.

Ambassador Responsibilities

·       Offer guidance and share information with trail users

·       Monitor trail conditions and report any hazards

·       Perform minor trail maintenance and participate in maintenance projects

·       Promote Leave No Trace principles and proper trail etiquette

·       Encourage a welcoming and positive atmosphere for hikers, bikers, and equestrians

Fall Recruiting Events

Join us at one of our upcoming recruiting events—meet the team, ask questions, and sign up to become a Trail Ambassador. We will provide information, swag, and have on-site registration.

·       October 4: Desert Botanical Garden (9 AM–12 PM) — Includes a presentation on Sonoran Desert Plants and Invasive Species, plus a short walking tour. There is no charge to attend this event

·       October 11: Usery Mountain Regional Park Windcave Trailhead (9 AM–12 PM)

·       October 18: White Tank Mountain Regional Park Mesquite Trailhead (9 AM–12 PM)

Program Benefits

·       Flexible shifts on your favorite trails

·       Official Trail Ambassador apparel

·       Safety and educational training

·       Recognition at annual volunteer events

·       Opportunities to connect with nature and fellow trail enthusiasts

Basic Requirements

·       Must be 18 years or older and able to pass a background check

·       Attend an Ambassador training session

·       Familiarity with desert trail use and etiquette

·       Comfortable working outdoors independently

How to Join

Stop by our booth at a recruiting event or register online:

·       🌐 www.maricopacountyparks.net

·       🌐 www.mctpf.org

Training Sessions

·       October 26: Usery Mountain Regional Park Visitor Center (9 AM–12 PM)

·       November 8: White Tank Mountain Regional Park Visitor Center (9 AM–12 PM)

·       November 9: Desert Outdoor Center at Lake Pleasant (9 AM–12 PM)

·       November 22: Cave Creek Regional Park Visitor Center (9 AM–12 PM)

Del Sol Trail

 DEL SOL TRAIL

Cathedral Rock and Wilson Mountain

An 

underappreciated slice of 

Coconino National Forest just got an upgrade.  

A slick rock overlook on the Del Sol Trail 

With the  opening of the new Del Sol Trail off Verde Valley School Road near the Village of Oak Creek, hikers, bikers and equestrians get a taste of what’s in the works for the Turkey Creek area south of the popular Baldwin-Cathedral Rock system of trails.  

Cliffs bolster the Del Sol Trail

The 3.3-mile, moderate-rated route which opened this summer is to be a main artery in a 10-trail, 21-mile matrix of non-motorized trails which are projected to be completed between 2026 and 2028.  

Sign at the Transept Trailhead

Beginning at the Transept trailhead, the Del Sol Trail never strays too far from the road and brushes up against private properties in spots.

Amazing rock formations throughout the hike

But the fringe of suburbs, ranches and the Verde Valley School visible below the trail doesn’t dilute the distinct Red Rock Country ambience.  

A shady patch on the Del Sol Trail

Patches of pinion pine, junipers, sugar sumac provide sporadic shade as the trails twists its way through shrubby high desert terrain.  

A sunny meadow on the Del Sol Trail

The, yucca-studded, easy-to-follow route gains over 400 feet of elevation, but hairpin turns that slingshot around scoured drainages and long switchbacks make the climb sections virtually sweatless.

Verde Valley School below the trail

Where the trail traverses slickrock, white arrows mark the way. Bolstered by soaring sandstone cliffs to the west and expansive vistas to the east and north, the trail is generous with eye candy.  

North terminus at the Turkey Creek Trailhead

White arrows mark the way over slick rock

About half way in, slick rock overlooks serve up gorgeous views of iconic rock formations including Capitol Butte, Cathedral Rock and Bear Mountain.  Beyond the highpoint photo opps, the path winds downhill ending with an easy stroll in soft pink sand to meet the Turkey Creek Trail—a legacy route that until now, was one of only a handful of sanctioned trails in the shadow of the House Mountain Volcano.

More trails are coming to the Turkey Creek area

Bear Mountain on the horizon

LENGTH:  3.3 miles one way

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION:  3,962 – 4,200 feet

GETTING THERE:

SOUTH (Transept) TRAILHEAD:

From the State Route 179 in the Village of Oak Creek, go 2.1 miles west on Verde Valley School Road to the parking apron on the left.

NORTH (Turkey Creek) TRAILHEAD:

From the State Route 179 in the Village of Oak Creek, go 4 miles west on Verde Valley School Road to Forest Road 216B on the left.  Go a few yards and park near the forest service sign on the left. The Del Sol Trail starts directly behind the sign. The last half-mile on Verde Valley School Road is graded dirt suitable for all vehicles.

There are no fees or facilities at either trailhead. E-bikes are not allowed.