West Fork is another canyon I back packed when I was in college in Flagstaff. 91 degrees predicted at the high, sunny and beautiful. This canyon is very shaded and you walk in water much of the way, great place for a hot day.
West Fork, 13 creek crossings in 3.3 miles each way. It is a very popular hike. They have a parking lot that costs $10 a car- or show them your senior pass. The lot was full at 11 am, we had to park a quarter mile down the road and then walk back. The trail starts out in forests of ponderosa pine with a carpet of ferns and flowers.
Interspersed with lush green tree tunnels. We ran into Jeff Sambur from Fort Collins. We knew he might be there, but did not expect to run into him. We were going in, he was going out.
Very lush canyon. Narrow red rock walls and green, green trees. Very cool colors and rock formations.
After the offical trail ended you walk in water by undercut cliffs. No one else came this far, we had it to ourselves. We wore chacos instead of boots, so water hiking was not a problem. John claimed he was walking on the water anyway. The reflected light was shimmering on the walls.
Lunch in a shaded part of the canyon. Then we walked back through the creek.
Walking back through the creek.
Cool, colorful walk.
More undercut canyon, like a tunnel. Violets, spiderwort, periwinkle and fern growing out of the red rock wall.
Shimmery light on the canyon wall. Stripes of desert varnish.
On the way out the canyon widened up a bit and we walked on trail. The view coming into Sedona from the north along the highway.
Jeff got the camp spot right next to us and John cooked us dinner. Lupine, boulder rasberry and wall flowers.
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