Elmore Wash

ELMORE WASH

Wickiup Mesa Trail System

Elmore Wash trail in Coconino National Forest

Access to Arizona wilderness areas is a mixed bag of easy walk-ins from paved suburban roads. (Munds Mountain Wilderness in Sedona) to miles of driving on white knuckle two tracks in the middle of nowhere (Bear Wallow Wilderness near Hannagan Meadow). There’s also a middle ground. 

Elmore Wash trail is well signed

The Wickiup Mesa Trail System located in the adjacent communities of Rimrock, McGuireville and Montezuma Lake offers a hikeable link between Interstate 17 and two of Central Arizona’s most popular wilderness destinations. 

Trailhead on Forest Road 618

The 6.5-mile, non-motorized trail system in Coconino National Forest east of Sedona opened in 2018 through a partnership with the forest service, Yavapai County and the Beaver Creek Trails Coalition.  Situated on 700 acres of thorny grasslands and juniper woodlands the system provides seamless access to the Wet Beaver and West Clear Creek Wilderness areas.

Cedar Knoll trail grasslands

 

The singletrack trail system is anchored by the 2-mile Sunset Loop. Tendril spurs connect to community access points, OHV trails, a scenic ledge overlooking the Montezuma Well heritage site and the Elmore Wash trail which makes a straight shot toward the wilderness.

Sunset Loop anchors Wickiup Mesa Trails

Trailheads in the Rimrock community and along Forest Road 618 make it easy to plan out-and-back day hikes or longer trips by connecting with the Bell, Walker Basin or West Clear Creek trails.  From the Forestglen trailhead at the south end of the Rimrock community, the hike begins on the Cedar Knoll trail.  This easy-rated 0.6-mile segment twists through sunny pastures dotted with yucca and junipers. 

Mesquite trees clutter around Elmore Wash trail

Big views of the Munds Mountain Wilderness and Sedona’s red rocks front barely-there glimpses of the San Francisco Peaks to the north. 

Forestglen trailhead in Rimrock

At the Sunset Loop junction, the route veers east (go right) taking on a slightly more rugged character as it gradually leaves the open terrain behind and ascends between tree-covered knolls. 

Looking west on Elmore Wash trail

The 0.8-mile leg ends at the Elmore Wash trail junction where wilderness mountains hover over the gorge of Walker Basin.  Although it’s rated moderate in difficulty, the Elmore Wash trail delivers a decent workout with a rollercoaster series of ups-and-downs. 

Sign with historical info at the trailhead

The trail alternates between dips and crosses of the eponymous wash and highpoint vistas of the Bradshaw Mountains to the west. 

View of Bradshaw Mountains from Elmore Wash

The hike in an immersive experience into the Middle Verde Watershed that’s part of a 4.2-million-acre ecosystem that includes roughly 500 miles of perennial streams that feed into the Verde River which provides a substantial amount of the surface water delivered to the Metro Phoenix area.

Snow-capped peaks seen from Cedar Knoll

As the trail nears its terminus at Forest Road 618, tree cover increases with a dusting of pinyon pine joining the mix of mesquite, scrub oak and sharp-spined Crucifixion-thorn.  At the 3.3-mile point, a kiosk with map and historical information marks the border of the Wickiup Mesa Trail System.  Across the road, though, the hike may be extended with a mile-long walk on Forest Road 9201C that leads to the Walker Basin Trail, a difficult 8-mile primitive route into the drainages between Wet Beaver Creek and West Clear Creek. For an easier add on, the 11-mile Bell Trail, which leads to swimming holes and amazing geology, begins 3 miles north on FR 618.  About 4.5 south of the FR9201C turnoff for Walker Basin, the West Clear Creek Trail may be accessed by following signs to the Bullpen Ranch trailhead.

Junctions feature map signs

Old trough on Elmore Wash trail

LENGTH: 6.6 miles roundtrip (out-and-back hike)

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 3,631 – 3,853 feet (731 feet of accumulated elevation change)

GETTING THERE:

FORESTGLEN TRAILHEAD:

From Interstate 17 north of Camp Verde, take the McGuireville exit 293 and veer east (right) onto Beaver Creek Road (County Road 77). Continue 1.8 miles and veer right onto Montezuma Ave. Go 1.3 miles to Cliffside Trail, turn left and follow the winding road 0.9 mile to Geronimo Road, turn right and drive 0.4 mile to Forestglen Road. Turn right and continue 0.3 mile to the trailhead at the intersection of Redrock Road. Roads are paved.

FOREST ROAD 618 TRAILHEAD:

From Interstate 17 north of Camp Verde, take the Sedona-Oak Creek exit 298 for State Route 179.  Turn east (right) at the bottom of the ramp and continue 4.5 miles on Forest Road 618 to the Walker Basin TH sign and the trailhead on the right.  There is limited parking along the road and on adjacent FR 9201C. Roads are maintained dirt and gravel.

There are no fees or facilities at either trailhead.