SUBMARINE ROCK TRAIL

SUBMARINE ROCK TRAIL

Hog Wash Trail

Hikers of a certain age will remember the 1960s TV submarine series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Each week kids across the nation could vicariously board the Seaview with Admiral Nelson for a new nail-biting peril, a new monster and an old predictable plot as seen through the sub’s massive control room windows.

Broken Arrow Trail

For me, the wonder of it all lasted up until a class trip to a naval base in Groton, CT where I got to walk through the tin-can corridor of a real-life docked sub. We kids lurched single file past walls of gauges, dials and buttons in sync with a baseline of parental “don’t touch, stay back, keep quiet”. But, unlike on the Seaview, there were no windows-- which dashed my hopes of a beastly freak festival. For those of us who had toed the line, the tour culminated with a consolation prize: a trip to a local ice cream parlor. It wasn’t exactly the one-eyed squid from outer space finale I had hoped for, but the tour fueled my life-long fascination with underwater suspense books and films.  (Yes, I have really watched U-571 three dozen times). 

Submarine Rock (center) floats in a sea of green

While there may not be any deep-sea-creature-themed sub tours here in land-locked Arizona, we do have the next best thing to a mutant flying beluga whale encounter: Sedona.

Given my childhood experience, I was naturally intrigued when I came across the Submarine Rock Trail while hiking Sedona’s Broken Arrow Trail a few seasons ago. That path wasn’t on the day’s agenda, so it took a slot on my hike to-do list.  The trail is situated just outside of the Munds Mountain Wilderness on the east edge of the Twin Buttes cluster of trails near the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Several trails and trailheads offer dozens of ways to build your own route to get to it. On my bucket list return visit, 

A juniper frames Wilson Mountain

I started at the lesser-known Mystic Trailhead and used the Hog Wash and Broken Arrow Trails. The trek wraps around vertical sandstone pillars for constantly changing views of Red Rock Country landforms including Capitol Butte, Wilson Mountain and the massive profiles of Lee and Munds Mountain.

The route also has an optional short side trip to Devil’s Dining Room, a bat-inhabited sinkhole off the Broken Arrow Trail.  Once through a corridor of cypress, yucca and slick rock, views open for a first look at Submarine Rock. The torpedo-shaped red rock outcropping looks remarkably like a submersible ship cruising the surface of an other-worldly ocean. 

Capitol Butte (left) seen from the Mystic Trail

The terrestrial vessel rests at the edge of the wilderness overlooking a wide valley painted in shades of emerald and moss bolstered by stony walls that soar to over 6000 feet.

Submarine Rock (right) 

At various times in geological history, this landscape was at the bottom of the sea. The surrounding escarpments and gullies are relics of ancient oceans, inland lakes and wind swept sand. Although it’s moored on terra firma, this fantastical ship provides a launch point for a journey of spirituality, imagination and science that rivals those featured in sci-fi films. Plus, this ship has one heck of a window. If after taking this incredible voyage, you still have a have a hankering for a bigger serotonin rush; then squeeze yourself into How Sweet It Is, a sub-cabin-sized candy shop in Sedona’s Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village for a well deserved ice cream treat.

Devils Dining Room

Red rocks of Munds Mountain Wilderness

HIKE PLAN:

From the Mystic trailhead, hike 0.4 mile north to the Hog Wash Trail junction. Go right and follow Hog Wash 1.6 miles and veer right onto Broken Arrow Trail. Continue 0.5 mile to the Submarine Rock junction and follow the trail 0.6 mile to the rock. Return the way you can or use the map posts to plan a loop.

LENGTH: 6.2-miles

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 4360 - 4600 feet

GETTING THERE:

Mystic Trailhead:

From the Sedona exit 298 on Interstate 17, turn left onto State Route 179 and go 11.5 miles to Chapel Road located past milepost 310. Turn right and continue 0.3 mile to the trailhead. A Red Rock Pass in not needed at this trailhead.
Coconino National Forest:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=55362&actid=50

LITTLE HORSE to CHICKEN POINT

LITTLE HORSE TRAIL

Oak Creek-Sedona

Approach to Chicken Point

You'll want to save your camera batteries for the last quarter-mile of this hike. That's because the final uphill scramble over slick rock lands hikers on Chicken Point--one of Sedona’s most photographed sites. From this rust-red perch, "fly-over" perspectives of Sedona's iconic Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte rival those seen from helicopter tours.  Located between busy SR179 and Munds Mountain Wilderness, this hike straddles the spheres of "been there" and "out there". In addition to views of the keynote landmarks, the Little Horse trail's soft substrate and simple route ambles among high desert vegetation on its climb to the scenic overlook where the trail connects with Broken Arrow and Chapel Trails as well as a popular Jeep tour road.

Photo moments on Chicken Point

LENGTH: 2.2 miles one way (include access path)

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 4280' - 4570'
FEE: a Red Rock Pass is required. There's a self-serve kiosk at the trailhead. Daily option is $5.
FACILITIES: restroom, map board

GETTING THERE:

From Phoenix, travel north on I17 to the Sedona-Oak Creek/SR179 exit 298.  Head west (left) on SR179 and continue to the Little Horse trailhead at milepost 308.9.

INFO: Red Rock Ranger District, Coconino National Forest, 928-203-2900

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=55336&actid=50

Chapel of the Holy Cross as seen from Little Horse Trail

MORE PHOTOS:

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Make friends and influence tourists on AZ trails

BROKEN ARROW & SUBMARINE ROCK TRAILS

Sedona

Chicken Point

Blame the looming federal tax due date or the start of another baseball season, but this past Saturday, I found myself without a hiking partner.  We all know the mantra---"never hike alone", still, I simply HAD to hit the trails.  The solution---head out to a very popular trail and tell someone of my plans.  As the month of April is prime tourist season for Sedona, picking a busy route wasn’t too tough. Close to town and easy-to-find, Broken Arrow Trail is a perfect choice for tourists and locals looking for an easy trek with lots of company.  The trail parallels rugged 4x4 Broken Arrow Road, which is used by Sedona jeep tour companies and off-road enthusiasts alike, so be prepared to see them cross your path.  At the trailhead, I met two very nice guys visiting from the east coast who asked if they could tag along with me as they didn’t “get” the whole basket carin system of route-finding and worried about straying off on one of the unofficial bike routes that cross the main trail.  Actually, save for one confusing junction, the route is easy to follow, but I was happy to have someone to chat with during the hike. (We also “adopted” two ladies from New York for the return trip). In addition to its proximity to town, this hike comes highly recommended due to its ample supply of things to see along the way.  At the 0.6-mile point, there’s Devils Dining Room (not to be confused with Devil’s Kitchen) an impressive sinkhole inhabited by bats.  Next up is an optional side trip to Submarine Rock, a long sandstone formation a couple hundred feet below the main trail.  Soon, the route becomes a series of slick rock passages, each more scenic than the one before, until, just over that last weather worn red rock mound, the incredible vistas of Chicken Point cause a frenzy of “here-take-my-picture” moments.  From here, the trail connects with Chapel and eventually Little Horse trails if you want to add distance or do a car shuttle. However, we returned the way we came as my visiting travel companions had exhausted their camera batteries and were suffering from blissful visual overload.

 

Scene from the trail

LENGTH:  4.8 miles (including 1.4 mile side trip to Submarine Rock)

RATING:  easy

ELEVATION:  4280’ – 4630’

FEE: a Red Rock Pass is required. Daily, $5 daily, $15 weekly, $20 annually.

http://www.redrockcountry.org/passes-and-permits/index.shtml

Slick rock ledge with Submarine Rock on left

GETTING THERE:

From Phoenix, travel north on I17 to exit 298 for Sedona-Oak Creek AZ179.  Head west (go left) on AZ179 and continue to the Morgan Road traffic circle at milepost 312.  Turn right onto Morgan Road and drive 0.5 mile to the trailhead on the left.  Roads are paved up to the last 0.1 mile which is rough dirt, but passable by carefully driven sedans. 

INFO:  Red Rock Ranger District, Coconino National Forest
http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=55250&actid=50 

MORE PHOTOS:

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