West Fork

Approach

From the 'Y" in Sedona drive 10.5 miles. You will see a road sign for the parking area, which will be to your left. The first 4 miles of this hike is one of the more popular trails in the area and has a large parking lot and toilets. There is a $7 fee to get in.


Head west on I-40 to Flagstaff Ranch Road, exit 192. Turn left at the bottom of the exit ramp, drive a short distance to a 'T' intersection and turn left. After a couple miles you'll come to a stop sign, turn right onto Woody Mountain Road (Forest Road #231) which becomes a well graded dirt road shortly thereafter. Drive for 18.1 miles to where the road crosses the Left Fork of Oak Creek.

Route Description

Most route descriptions will tell you that this hike is about 3-4 miles long, but to truely say you have done it you have to do all 12 miles of it. From Oak Creek Canyon the easy part up it is the first 4 miles. After that it becomes a different story. There is no trail and you just follow the canyon up. There are swimming holes you cannot avoid, so you do have to expect to get wet. The best thing to hike in here is tevas. The upper parts of this hike there are large boulders you have to climb over as well. Most of this hike is in the dry creek bed of West Fork. From the bottom to the top you start at the mouth of the canyon and walk through the whole thing until you hike out of it on the Colorado Plateau where it starts to barely cut into the earths surface. This hike is best done as a shuttle and either camp on top and hike down to Oak Creek Canyon, or start at Oak Creek and hike up to the top. Then there is the option of having two parties starting at either end and swapping keys in the middle.


This hike is also part of the Arizona 20-20 Challange.

Essential Gear

Water shoes, quick drying clothes.

Arizona's 20-20 Challenge

Yes Arizona has it's own little challenge just like other states do like the Colorado/Califorina 14ers, Idaho 12ers, or even doing all the State High points.
Arizona's Challenge is the 20 highest and the 20 deepest. What this means is the 20 highest mountains that are not on protected areas and has a trail to the summit and the 20 deepest canyons with the same criterea.
The mountains all have an elevation gain of at least 1,000 feet. The listing of the Peaks and Canyons are yet to come.
For more information go to Arizona's 20-20 Challenge

Images

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