CRYSTAL POINT TRAIL
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| First glimpses of Sedona on the way up to Crystal Point |
Cut into a gentle ridgeline where the red rock marvels of
Sedona melt into Flagstaff’s tall pines and mountainous terrain, Crystal Point
Trail provides a taste of both worlds.
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| Franciscan Bells decorate the trail |
The trail has been adopted by the Munds Park Trail Stewards
(MUTS), an organization that maintains recreational routes around the
community.
Thanks to volunteer workers
who perform regular maintenance, the trail is neatly brushed, signed and
switchback-mitigated.
The non-motorized
path makes an easy climb through pine-oak woodlands, meadows and edges
bolstered by lichen-encrusted boulders.
Even
in dry years, high-country wildflowers like brilliant blue Franciscan Bells add
pops of color in sunny spots along the way. The trail’s appeal is rooted in its
birds-eye glimpses of Sedona that begin to appear through the trees about a
half-mile into the hike.
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| Summit ammo boxes hold trail log books for hiker notes |
Views of rusty
escarpments layered with white limestone that stand above the green valleys of
the Verde River watershed gain in scope as the route makes its way to Crystal
Point.
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| Views of Sedona from Crystal Point |
The trail tops out on a knoll at
the 1.3-mile point where a picnic table with ammo boxes full of hiker logs
invites visitors to stay awhile, enjoy the sights and peruse the
inspiring—sometimes weird—comments scrawled in dog-eared notebooks.
While some hikers are satisfied to call this
the turnaround point, it’s not the end of the trail.
The journey may be extended by continuing
down the ridge toward Odell Lake.
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| Munds Park Trail Stewards maintain the route |
This
2.5-mile segment descends on lazy bends offering even better views than those
seen on the summit.
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| Wood betony |
Once off the hill,
the trail follows a wide ravine to the lake. A dry winter has not been kind to
Odell Lake. The shallow reservoir has shrunk to a collection of muddy pools. Still,
the area near the water teams with birds and waterfowl.
The path ends at a gate in a residential area
at the end of Golden Lake Trail.
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| Oak buds |
 |
| View from the switchbacks |
Although it might be tempting to explore
around the lake, much of the land is private property, so be respectful.
From trail’s end, you could make a loop by hiking 1.3 miles
on paved streets back to the trailhead, but it’s not very interesting. Instead, head back the way you
came for a rewind viewing of a pleasant show.
LENGTH: 3.3 miles one
way
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 6480 - 7190
feet
GETTING THERE:
From Interstate 17, take the Munds Park exit #322 and
continue 2 miles east on Pinewood Blvd (Forest Road 240) to the parking area on
the left. Trail begins across the road. Roads are paved with a short section of maintained dirt that's fine for all vehicles.
INFO & MAPS:
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