EASY BREEZY LOOP

EASY BREEZY LOOP: Sedona.

A slick rock segment on the Templeton Trail

At the Back O’ Beyond trailhead one recent Sunday morning, a chirpy declaration from a group of young people spilling from a parked SUV broke the silence. “Cathedral Rock! Counts for church.”

Cathedral Rock seen from the HT Trail

Regardless of where your beliefs fall on the spiritual spectrum, the trails surrounding the iconic Sedona rock formation grab your heart and don’t let go. 

The Easy Breezy Trail has many wash crossings

Whether the come-hither call is the result of magic, faith or the magnetic pull of the high-iron-content rocks, the emotional tug of Cathedral Rock has a way of luring hikers back again and again.

The Two Nuns (far right, center) seen from HT Trail

 

The maze of trails that wrap around Cathedral Rock’s looming parapets that resemble a medieval fortress keeping watch above Oak Creek, offer many ways to commune with the stony behemoth. 

A raven takes flight above the Easy Breezy Trail

An edgy traverse on the flanks of Cathedral Rock

Trail choices include a rugged scramble to a scenic saddle, edge-hugging rambles, creekside walks and easy forest strolls.  A less busy option that samples the many moods of this enchanting landscape is a hike on the Easy Breezy-Templeton Loop.  From the Cathedral Rock trailhead, the circuit steers clear of the crowds by heading left on the recently adopted Easy Breezy Trail.  The theme of the circuit’s first mile is immediately revealed as the path drops into a scoured drainage channel. 

Beginning of the sketchy return leg of the Easy Breezy Trail

Alternating between cloistered cypress-pinion woodlands and open spaces of filtered sunlight, the route makes several wash crossings aided by native stone “stairs” built into water-carved embankments.  Annual deluges have exposed layers of colorful sediments and the artful stylings of tree roots that sprawl snake-like through spillways of sand, stone and crystalline pools.  The HT Trail junction marks the end of the shaded, water-centric leg of the hike.  Head right at the sign and follow HT Trail uphill for a 0.3-mile traipse through high-desert grasslands with clear views of a seldom-seen angles of Cathedral Rock and the familiar silhouettes of Courthouse Butte and the Two Nuns formations. 

Mountain vistas on the Templeton Trail

At the Templeton Trail junction, go right and follow the swerving path as it works its way toward an exposed slickrock passage on the east flanks of Cathedral Rock.  Clinging to the barren mound, the trail swings north to meet the west end of the Easy Breezy Trail. The junction sign here points into a ravine with no obvious trail.

A rocky passage on the Easy Breezy Trail

If you choose this 0.4-mile return leg option, be prepared for some route finding, bike traffic and loose rock. Otherwise, continue north on Templeton and connect with the less confusing Cathedral Rock Trail to get back to the trailhead where a map kiosk can help harness the metaphysical or earth-grounded urge for more into a return trip.

Arizona cypress trees shade the trails

The hike shows seldom-seen angles of Cathedral Rock

Artful exposed roots along the Easy Breezy Trail

LENGTH: 3.3 miles

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 3998 - 4203 feet

GETTING THERE:

Back O’ Beyond/Cathedral Rock Trailhead:

From Interstate 17, take the Sedona/Oak Creek exit 298. Turn left (west) and continue 11 miles on State Route 179 to the traffic circle at Back O’ Beyond Road near milepost 310. Veer left and go 0.6 mile on Back O’ Beyond to the trailhead on the left.

FEE: A $5 Red Rock Pass or equivalent is required. There’s a pay station and restroom at the trailhead.

MAP:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3851980.pdf:

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FIREWATER LOOP

FIREWATER LOOP

Prescott National Forest

South Fork of Willow Creek spills over the Javelina Trail.

The constantly evolving and growing system of woodsy trails surrounding Thumb Butte in Prescott National Forest has a new darling. Although the former social trail (a user-built, unsanctioned path) had been around for a while, it was only recently adopted, rerouted, signed and officially named the Firewater Trail No. 325  by the forest service and group of Prescott-area volunteers known as the Over the Hill Gang.

Wild candytuft blooms along the trails Feb-Aug.

An edgy section of the Firewater Trail.

Since this 2017 debutante is located inland from trailheads, it’s necessary to build an outside-in plan to reach it. There are many options for tying it into a day hike circuit including a loop that begins at the new White Rock trailhead off Thumb Butte Road just 5 miles from downtown Prescott. 

Signs at the beginning of the loop portion of the hike.

With its stimulating blend of water, far-reaching vistas, historic artifacts and several bio-zones, the moderate, three-trail circuit is bound to become a classic.

Corral on the Javelina Trail.

Creek crossing near the Javelina-Firewater junction.

Start on the West Trail No. 318, which is also part of the Prescott Circle Trail--- a 55-mile route that wraps around town.  Ponderosa-pine-shaded and replete with gigantic granite boulders and trickling drainages, West Trail is an effortless 0.5-mile traipse up to the Javelina Trail No. 332 junction---the beginning of the hike’s loop section. Veer left and follow Javelina Trail through an undulating terrain flanked by alligator junipers, manzanitas, oaks and mossy ravines. Much of this deeply forested segment traces trickling drainages and the South Fork of Willow Creek.

Granite Mountain seen from the Firewater Trail.

Roughly 1.4 miles from the junction, the trail bends right into a rocky, willow-cluttered  corridor, crosses the creek and heads uphill into a clearing with an old corral.  This rustic pastoral scene culminates at a clearing with ruins of an old stone chimney where the route heads right, crosses the waterway again then swings right (avoid the social trail that goes left) and connects with Firewater Trail No. 325.

Javelina Trail passes by Thumb Butte.

The 1.2-mile leg begins with an edgy climb on the slopes above the creek that plows through some of the most stunning scenery of the loop. Deep canyons, steep drop offs and lots of shade make the twisting course a joy to hike and an all-too-short dip into a rich pocket of Prescott National Forest. 

The route crosses several drainages.

Where the route leaves the deep woods and  bumps back into Trail No. 318, head right for the view-centric return leg. Here, high ridge vantage points showcase multi-level mountain vistas. 

Granite boulders on the West Trail.

In the foreground, the massive hulk of Granite Mountain commands the landscape.

Prescott Valley seen from West Trail.

Farther out, a dim chain of peaks that includes Bill Williams Mountain, Kendrick Mountain and the San Francisco Peaks appear as vague humps jutting above a sea of pines and the plains of Prescott Valley.  At several turns along the final mile, Thumb Butte peeks out from breaks in the pinion pine cover, signaling the end of a short but multi-faceted trek.

Part of the Javelina Trail flanks the So. Fork of Willow Creek.

White Rock trailhead on Thumb Butte Road opened in 2018.

LENGTH: 5.3 miles

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION:  5614 – 6010 feet

GETTING THERE:

From Courthouse Plaza in historic downtown Prescott, go 5 miles west on Gurley Street (turns into Thumb Butte Road) to the large White Rock trailhead on the right. Roads are 100% paved. No fees or facilities.

INFO:

City of Prescott

http://www.prescott-az.gov/recreation-events/recreation-areas/trails/

Prescott National Forest

https://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott

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Wickiup Mesa Trail System

Wickiup Mesa Trails

High desert vegetation on the Cedar Knoll Trail

Just a few miles north of Camp Verde, Wet Beaver Creek cuts a meandering course through  high desert plains and sparse mesas on its way to the Verde River. For thousands of years, the perennially-flowing stream has been the life blood for peoples who settled near its green corridor.  

Excellent signage on the Wickiup Mesa Trails

The communities of Rimrock and Montezuma Lake are the most recent to evolve around the reliable water source. The tiny towns are a quaint mix of ranch homes, antique shops, cafes and honey stands that sit at the hub of several important heritage sites off Interstate 17.

Montezuma Well (center far right) seen from the overlook.

Montezuma Well seen from the Well Vista trail.

The trail system crosses rugged washes.

Gordon's bladderpod bloom along the trails.

A scenic spot on the Cedar Knoll Trail.

Up until last year, out-of-town visitors had few reasons to do anything but drive through the creekside hamlets on their way to somewhere else, but a new system of hiking trails now tempt travelers to park and stay awhile.

View of Wet Beaver Creek from Well Vista Overlook

The Wickiup Mesa Trail System, which sits on 700 acres of Coconino National Forest at the far southeast edge of the towns’ suburbs, is the result of years of effort by the Beaver Creek Trails Coalition--a volunteer organization dedicated to creating and sustaining trails in the Beaver Creek area-- in cooperation with the forest service. The tentacular network of 7 trails tethers the communities to Forest Road 618, filling a void between the splashy recreational hot spots in Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness (think: Bell Trail) and the Montezuma Castle-Montezuma Well National Monuments that preserve the legacy of the area’s ancient inhabitants.  

A classic high-desert scene on Sunset Loop.

MacDougal's biscuitroot bloom through June.

Situated in a landscape of striking contrasts, the trails meander in a place of sprawling flatlands, fractured cliffs and mountain vistas.  A strong undertow of earthiness guides visitors through spotty juniper-cedar forests, cactus-dotted grasslands, moist drainages and roughed-up washes on the highlands above the creek’s leafy riparian ecosystem. 

Mountain vistas surround the Wickiup Mesa Trails.

Anchoring the 6.5-mile network is the Sunset Loop Trail. A hike on this easy-rated circuit is a good way to get to know the area. From the roomy Forestglen trailhead, pass the gate and use the excellent map signs posted at every junction to navigate. Almost immediately, views of Sedona’s red rock formations and Flagstaff’s San Francisco Peaks appear on the northwest horizon.

Sunset Loop overlooks Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness

Hazy silhouettes of mountain peaks near Prescott and Jerome bolster the south and western skylines. 

View of snow-capped peaks seen from Sunset Loop.

Roughly halfway through the loop, the Well Vista Trail leads to a scenic ledge overlooking Montezuma Well and the floodplains of Wet Beaver Creek.  

A side trip to Montezuma Well complements the hike.

Although only the rim of the massive limestone sinkhole that holds over 15 million gallons of water is visible from the ledge, the site is only a short drive away on the road you came in on and makes for a fascinating post-hike side trip. Beyond the overlook, the loop swings west on a ridge overlooking the mesas and canyons of the wilderness area and V Bar V heritage site  along Forest Road 618---another point of interest just a short drive away. 

The rustic Forestglen trailhead.

 Whether hiked alone or in conjunction with visits to the nearby attractions, the Wickiup Mesa Trail System is a sweet addition to the Verde Valley-area recreational menu.

Yucca dot the grasslands on the Wickiup Mesa Trail system.

LENGTH: 6.5 miles total for 7 trails. (4 miles for Sunset Loop-Well Vista circuit)

RATING: easy to moderate
ELEVATION: 3646 – 3791 feet (for the loop)

GETTING THERE:

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. No fees or facilities.

Beaver Creek Trails Coalition

http://www.beavercreektrails.org/

V Bar V Heritage Site

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55424

Montezuma Castle-Montezuma Well

https://www.nps.gov/moca/planyourvisit/exploring-montezuma-well.htm

Badger Brawl-Cliff-Walk-Esplanade Loop

Badger Brawl-Cliff-Walk-Esplanade Loop

Phoenix Sonoran Preserve

Mountain views on the Esplanade Trail

If the human brain has a “dangerous things archive”, an image of a roaring desert wash ought to be seared into it. 

This hike exposes the power of running water.

For Arizonans especially, the fear of running water should rank right up there with snakes and heights.  Although storm water raging through usually-dry channels solicits choirs of oohs and ahhs, the flows are definitely not something to mess with.

Creosote smells wonderful after rains.

They can go from trickle to torrent in minutes.  Driving, riding or hiking through them is extremely risky and potentially deadly. Need more evidence? Next time you’re hiking by a creek or wash, look up into the trees. Those wads of debris dangling high above mark where the water was.

Wash and creek bed crossings are key features of the hike.

That’s why it’s always smart to steer clear of trails that cross waterways until the swells subside. It only takes a day or two for the trails and crossings to dry out enough to pass through safely. Also, not using trails when they are wet and soggy helps prevent the kind of damage that ruins drainage systems, creates dangerous conditions and encourages the blazing of “work around” paths that destroy native vegetation.  

Skull Mesa framed by greenery around Apache Wash

A good place to observe the force of water in a desert landscape is in the north sector of the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve. Hedged between the Carefree Highway and Sonoran Desert Drive east of Interstate 17 in north Phoenix, the chunk of pristine desert holds many surprises.

The trails here offer a diverse menu of options including moderate ridgeline rambles, barrier-free strolls and easy explorations of the wily water alleys that permeate the area. 

A healthy saguaro on Badger Brawl Trail.

A hike on the easy-rated Badger Brawl-Cliff Walk-Esplanade loop on the preserve’s far east end is one of the best ways to explore the transformative powers of water.

Using trails when they are wet causes damage like this.

The circuit begins with a short walk on the Apache Wash Trail which traces a ragged drainage fringed with greenery.  Soon, the trail dips into the first of several wash crossings where signs warn not to attempt when water is running. 

Ironwood trees dot the desert plains.

The circuit is flat and easy.

Above the washes, sunny stretches of classic desert are dotted with saguaros, cholla and isolated patches of mesquite and Palo Verde trees that throw bits of shade on a flatland littered with basalt lava blobs and milky quartz.

Filaree or Stork's Bill grows along the trails.

Where the route wanders through open desert, mountain views--dominated by Skull Mesa and Black Mountain to the north--bolster the horizons.  

Heed this warning.

The  2.9-mile Cliff Walk Trail tethers the three legs of the loop with a traverse of the banks above the Cave Creek river channel. Scattered boulders, plant dregs and frazzled edges of the waterway document the ferocity of flash floods.

Phoenix Sonoran Preserve Trails are well-signed.

The return leg of the trip follows the level grade of the Esplanade Trail--an unfettered space of quiet beauty safe from the sporadic deluges of creeks and washes.

Black Mountain (right) seen from Apache Wash Trail.

LENGTH:  8.56 miles

RATING: easy

ELEVATION: 1720 - 1910 feet

GETTING THERE:

Apache Wash Trailhead, 1600 E. Sonoran Desert Drive, Phoenix.

From Loop 101 in north Phoenix, take Cave Creek Road exit 28 and go 4.5 miles north to Sonoran Desert Drive. Turn left (west) and continue 3.5 miles to the trailhead on the right. The preserve is open daily from sunrise to sunset. There are restrooms but no water at the trailhead.

HIKE DIRECTIONS:

From the trailhead, follow Apache Wash Trail (AW) 0.5-mile to Badger Brawl Trail (BB). Continue 1.55 miles on BB to Cliff Walk (CW) and hike it 2.9 miles to where you’ll swing back on the Esplanade Trail (E).  There’s a shortcut roughly halfway up CW that cuts 2.25 miles off the big loop. Follow Esplanade 3.4 miles back to AW, veer left and hike 0.73 mile back to the trailhead.

INFO & MAPS:

https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/sonoran-preserve/trails

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