The day-use park provides restrooms, covered picnic areas, grassy lawns, local farming history and easy walking trails along Oak Creek.

No matter what time of day you visit this area, be sure to bring your camera. Perhaps you’ve seen a locally famous photo of Cathedral Rock with reflecting water in the foreground. If you’ve wondered where you might find this location, you’ll discover that the photo was taken in Crescent Moon Picnic Area, out toward the end of the trail. As the sun recedes in the west, the red rocks here become exceptionally picturesque.

Crescent Moon Picnic Area is a relaxing stop. Wildlife watching is readily available to anyone who walks quietly or slows long enough to take in the majestic scenery that surrounds this beautiful red rock area.

The park is located west of Sedona via Upper Red Rock Loop Road, off 89A. At approximately 1 ½ miles begin following signs leading to “Red Rock Crossing”.

There are times when this area becomes overly crowded, but it is a beautiful place to visit during all times of the year.

For more information, including instruction for booking this area for your wedding, visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/red_rock/crescentmoon-picnic.shtml

The beautiful canyon was once home to Native Americans, and later, western cowboys. The former homes of both inhabitants can still be found in the canyon. Please be respectful toward the historical importance of ruins and cabins when you come upon either.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/red_rock/sycamore-canyon-wild.shtml

Today the area is primarily visited by hikers and horseback riders. There are many trails within the 21-mile-long by 7-mile-wide canyon that can be reached from all four sides. The trail leading to Parsons Spring, also a summer swimming hole, is the most popular of all.

To get to the trailhead, one must drive an11-mile rutted road along the Verde River. This is best traveled via a high-clearance vehicle. We left our “good car” in the garage and drove the Jeep on this rugged stretch of mostly unimproved road.

Parsons Trail begins by descending a quarter-mile, rocky path to Sycamore Creek. The “gate” at the top of the trail and accompanying signage, provides laughs for everyone. Do be mindful that later you’ll have to make your way back up this slope to your vehicle, so save some drinking water for the end of the trek.

Once you’ve arrived at the creek below, the rest of Parsons Trail is relatively easy-going. This is one of the most beautiful and surprising hikes we’ve made in the northern Arizona area. Turtles, friendly fish, butterflies and birds amazed us as we hiked the trail. It is an unexpected abundance of lush, green vegetation and golden, dry desert that meet just above Sycamore Creek. Parsons Trail meanders through both. This area has a reputation for being spectacular in all four seasons. We experienced Parsons Trail in early April when wildflowers and even morel mushrooms were abundant.

On our visit, snowmelt caused the Sycamore Creek to be high. Unless you’re ready to hop boulders during wet seasons, a shorter walk to the headwaters of Summers Spring may be more appealing. The spring is notable in that it rises out of the ground by the side of the trail.

To reach Parsons Trailhead drive AZ 89A from Sedona to Cottonwood. Follow 89A to Tuzigoot (National Monument) Road. Immediately after crossing the Verde River, turn left/north. The paved road is Sycamore Canyon Road or FS 131. Signage is minimal here. The road will become increasing rutted and dusty gravel as you drive north along the Verde River. Pass the slag dumps and crusty farms to climb, finally, toward red rocks and, at about 11 miles, parking for Parsons Trailhead.

If you take this scenic road, a Jeep (or vehicle with good clearance) is really the only way to travel. A paved road begins your tour at Oak Creek, on State Route 179, in Sedona. After a mile, the pavement literally drops off onto a rutted, graveled road, built atop jagged shelf rock.

You’ll pass several pull outs and marked hiking trails along the creek. One popular destination is The Cow Pies, a large group of rounded red rocks that are fun to walk on and located about 3½ miles into the trip.

Soon you’ll be making a twisty climb up through Bear Wallow Canyon. At an open gate, you’ll have risen 1,800 feet and will have arrived at Schnebly Hill Vista. At this 6000’ elevation and halfway point (6 ½ miles), you’ll want to stop to take advantage of the overlook. Enjoy views reaching as far west as Mingus Mountain. West Sedona’s airport hangar, most recognizable in the distance, is a perfect landmark to guide you as you take in the tiny civilization below.

As you continue to climb, Schnebly Hill Road becomes less rutted as it snakes its way uphill. In mid-June, stately Century Plant flowers will greet you along side the road. Arriving at the top of the ridge, you’ll find yourself in open pine forests and grassy meadows. This section of the drive continues for about 7 miles to intersect with I-17.

Once you’ve arrived at the freeway you can join it to travel north to Flagstaff or south to Phoenix. If you wish to return to Sedona, you may head south on I-17 to State Route 179 and follow the highway through Village of Oak Creek into Sedona, or drive north on I-17 to the 89A exit and return to Sedona via scenic Oak Creek Canyon.

Schnebly Hill Road is located in a wilderness area. Be sure to gas up your Jeep in Sedona before setting out, and take plenty of drinking water. Bring your camera, too. You might want an additional layer of clothing if you plan to spend time outside at higher elevations. Flag sits at 7000’ and is noticeably cooler than Sedona. Including a picnic lunch, to enjoy at one of your many stops, will help you extend your visit in this beautiful area.

]]> http://www.arizonafieldtrips.com/2011/04/15/schnebly-hill-road-sedona/feed/ 0 http://www.arizonafieldtrips.com/2011/01/17/honanki-heritage-site-pink-jeeps-tour-or-self-guided-visit/ http://www.arizonafieldtrips.com/2011/01/17/honanki-heritage-site-pink-jeeps-tour-or-self-guided-visit/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:52:34 +0000 admin http://www.arizonafieldtrips.com/?p=104 The Sinagua, ancestors of the Hopi, lived in this area from approximately 1100 to 1300 CE and are believed to be responsible for the ancient architecture of Honanki Heritage Site. It is now part of the Coconino National Forest. Located about 10 miles outside Sedona Arizona, and 4 1/2 miles beyond Palatki Heritage Site, this is an interesting stop for anyone who enjoys visiting ruins of the people who inhabited this land long ago. You can easily combine the trip with Palatki Heritage Site, or make this a one-destination visit. Please note that Pink Jeeps offers the tour to Honanki only and does not stop at Palatki.

Presently, the site itself is maintained by Pink Jeeps, but try to ignore their commercial parking lot presence.  On the day we drove in, their greeter, located just off the parking lot, was as personable as any Forest Service volunteer we’ve met. While drinking water is not generally available here, she offered it to us from her storage container. She also seemed very knowledgeable of the area and was eager to answer our questions about Honanki. They do not maintain a visitor’s center.

If you choose to take in Honanki Heritage Site via a Pink Jeeps Tour from Sedona your visit will include transportation to, and a guided walk of, the ruins. By driving yourself, the walk will be self-guided. Unless this is your first visit to Native Americans ruins, a tour seems unnecessary here.  The walk is easy– a 3/4 mile loop that requires only a few steps of vertical rise to the ruins and rock art. The path, that begins at the parking lot, goes through a wooded area before reaching the red rock walls where the ruins are located.  Although, much like that seen at nearby Palatki, it is just as amazing to see this striking architecture and artwork.

This is a beautiful area. Please respect it by taking nothing but pictures and leaving no more than your footprints.  While these may look like ruins today, they are what remains of a once thriving community. We may not know much of the people who inhabited these ruins, but the archeological clues they left behind when they abandoned the area 700 years ago suggests they were a rich and thriving culture.

A Red Rock Pass is required for entry.  No pets are allowed beyond the parking lot.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/red_rock/honanki-ruins.shtml

Reaching Honanki Heritage Site via Sedona:
Drive Hwy. 89A through west Sedona, continuing 5 miles beyond the last traffic light. After passing mile marker 365, turn right onto  FR525 and follow the road for about 5 1/2 miles (bypassing the Palatki entrance of FR795) . The road will become more rough as you continue. After traveling over the cattleguard at the trail head to Loy Canyon, stay left past private property signs and continue on into the parking lot of Honanki. We suggest you call ahead to determine that the road is passable during winter months and in summer monsoon season. The Forest Service suggests these telephone numbers:   Red Rock Ranger District at (928) 282-4119 Palatki Heritage Site at (928) 282-3854.

On a warm late-fall day we drove our Jeep south from downtown Prescott, via AZ-Hwy 89, to the Hassayampa River.  Our plan was to explore the Hassayampa River and Orofino Wash area during the dry season.

This is a loop trip that leaves the highway below Kirkland Junction and rejoins it just above Wilholt.  The total drive from downtown Prescott is approximately 52 miles long.

After a 22 mile drive down 89, we turned left onto Waggoner Road.  This dirt road oddly turns into pavement after a short distance.  The rolling-hills scenery is beautiful in the area.

Near Milepost 6 we turned left off Waggoner and onto . The route is marked only with the typically slim, brown Forest Service marker located a few yards down the dirt road.  Here, we made our way through more rolling hills on a fairly rough 4-wheel drive track toward the Hassayampa River bottom.

FR72 takes a sharp grade up, and then steep downward route through a boulder-strewn hillside, into the dry Hassayampa River bottom. This is a rough road and not particularly 2-wheel drive friendly. (”difficulty rating” is #2) Down in the wash, the road becomes smooth and would be easy to negotiate in any vehicle with good clearance.

The approximately 9.5 mile drive through the Hassayapa River bottom, and on into Orofino Wash, is beautiful.  Despite the lateness of the season, on that day the foliage was still green. We’d read that this is a one-hour drive, but we took more than two hours to stop several times and explore the area.  We waved to picnickers along the way.

This is also a birdwatchers paradise. We spotted several Roadrunners, many coveys of Quail, Hawks, and countless songbirds along the drive. Footprints in the sandy bottom suggest many more critters call this area home. Range cattle were foraging near the road as we made our way toward AZ-Hwy 89, just east of Wilhoit.

Once we’d rejoined AZ-Hwy 89, our only slowdown came just below Prescott, when we had to stop to let 4 Javelina cross the highway.

We also suggest that a smoother driving route might be to join FR72 at our exit above Wilhoit, enjoy the River and the Wash, but turn around at the Orofino Wash Well and head back out at Wilhoit.  Unless, of course, you’re driving a Jeep!

On reaching the monument area, two paths await visitors:  The Island and Rim Trails. To reach the Island Trail, visitors pass through to the lower floor of the the visitor’s center.  Bathrooms and a drinking fountain, as well as vending machines are on site. A small fee is charged by park guides. They are also available to offer information and answer questions.

An informational gallery in the center provides more opportunity to learn about this area’s native people.  A small gift shop is on the premises for visitors’ enjoyment. Alternatively, the Rim Trail is reached from the parking lot.

Walnut Canyon National Monument offers us a glimpse into this area’s culturally rich history.  All that remains of those inhabitants who came before us are beautifully constructed ruins of the  Sinagua cliff-dwellers, constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries. While we can walk around an “island” of the ruins, there are many, many more (inaccessible) ruins across the ravines of this area that suggest a once-bustling community of activity. Pausing along the ancient pathways offers ample opportunity to imagine how richly a life was led on these 400 ft.cliffs above (once flowing, before dams) Walnut Creek. All that a community naturally required could be found in this canyon, including Arizona Walnut trees. This monument area is unique in that visitors walk along ledges that, without question, were walked by former inhabitants of these ruins.  The ruins themselves are right beside the (now concrete for stability) footpath. Due to the protective nature of the rock overhangs, original construction of the ruins can still be seen today.

Although the 1 mile Island Trail loop is a bit of a walk, especially on the return trip (a 185 ft. decent/ascent via 240 concrete steps), by carrying drinking water and taking a slow pace, the ruins can be reached by most visitors.

If the vertical trek seems unmanageable, do visit the alternate Rim Trail that skirts the upper edge of the canyon.  Part of this route is wheelchair accessible and has two good overlooks onto the canyon and ruins below.  While you will not be in close proximity of the cliff ruins, a pair of binoculars will bring them into view.  On the Rim Trail, you can also see an example of a pit house ruins, pueblo and former cropland.

Walnut Canyon National Monument is easily reached via a 3-mile paved road off I-40 (7 1/5 miles east of Flagstaff) at Exit 204.  For all the information you need before visiting the Monument, we suggest visiting:  http://www.nps.gov/waca/index.htm In winter, the road leading to the Monument may be closed due to snow. Pets are only allowed in the parking lot.

As with all ancient ruins, please respect the area.  Take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints.

Jerome possesses a colorful past, and was formerly known as “Wickedest City in the West”. Its rich mining history (mostly copper, with gold and silver) is well documented in photographs, museums and architecture throughout the town. Not so long ago prostitution was still thriving in Jerome. Today, the locals have fun keeping their history alive via plays, ghost walks and presentations of an era that came to an end in 1953.

Although it is not known how many Native Americans once lived in this area, it was when copper ore claims were staked in 1876 that Jerome quickly became a large, diversely populated city of 15,000.  The town, once receding to 50, is presently a National Historic Registered ghost town of 400 (mostly baby boomer) inhabitants.

Paranormal phenomena is standard conversation among visitors and locals. If you are someone who has experienced such, prepare to sense a ghostly presence here.  Famous lodging*, sitting at the top of the town (5240 ft.) was once the United Verde Hospital and is famous for sightings. Several restaurants and shops also report unusual activity.
*Lodging:  http://www.jeromegrandhotel.net/

Jerome is built on the 50º slope of Cleopatra Hill.  You must experience the steepness of that hill for yourself.  The old buildings, in all states of repair or neglect, are known to slip about a half-inch per year.  Those that have been renovated were completed with an eye to the past and are a treat to behold today.  Those that are crumbling hold interesting architectural clues of their former grandness.

When you visit, be sure to allow time to visit the many art galleries and delightful shops of Jerome. This town is a treasure of unique and locally made objects.

We rarely pass through Jerome without stopping for lunch at Grapes.  Although, we haven’t been there yet, we’ve heard the Flatiron Cafe is very good also.

For historical interest, we anticipate the reopening of the Jerome State Historic Park*1.  Presently, the Jerome Historical Society*2 houses the best documentation of this area.  Be sure to poke your head into entries and hallways throughout the town for wonderful old photographs of Jerome history.
*1 State Park:  http://azstateparks.com/Parks/JERO/
*2 Historical Society:  http://www.jeromehistoricalsociety.com/

There are three ways to reach Jerome.  (remember, this place is located on a steep hill)  None are particularly large-vehicle-friendly, although the route up from Cottonwood AZ, via 89A, probably has the fewest hairpin turns.  Another route is to come from Prescott/Prescott Valley via 89A, over Mingus Pass.  A third route (and the slowest of generally rough dirt track) is to drive from Chino Valley AZ east, via Perkinsville Rd./FR318A/Jerome-Perkinsville Rd., into central Jerome. This is probably best traveled in a Jeep or other 4-wheel vehicle.

It is believed that Native American ancestors lived in the area from approximately 1150 to 1300 CE. Perhaps human history captured in rock art goes back even farther. Archeologists know little of the former inhabitants. They left the area without communicating to modern researchers where they went, or why. The ruins, rock art, evidence of crops, pottery shards and some tools are primarily what remain of this area. Volunteers are on site to answer questions and offer as much information as possible to visitors. Although most people have a desire to dissect and understand what they see, we feel it is far more interesting to simply take in this scenery and imagine a life spent long ago on the ledges of this beautiful land.

We hope you’ll find yourself at Palatki on a day when Charlie, a well-educated volunteer, is in residence. We wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Charlie has already been adopted by local Native American tribes for his dedication to the people who once lived here, and his desire to share a love of this land with Palatki visitors. Each time we’ve visited Palatki, we felt Charlie’s discussions of the Site greatly enhanced our appreciation of the people who once lived in and traveled this region.

There are two areas to visit at Palatki Heritage Site. After parking and checking in at the visitor center, you are presented with a trail to the left, and one to the right. The rock art is reached by the trail to the left. The path takes a gentle climb upward to rock alcoves. Descending toward the visitor center, a sign will guide you across an open path toward the cliff dwellings. Be ready for a rocky stairway climb to the dwellings. A filled water bottle makes the climb more enjoyable on a hot day.

As with many places we visit in Arizona, getting to Palatki Heritage Site takes more time than the stay. Before setting out, call the Palatki visitor center for reservations at (928) 282-3854. Palatki volunteers suggest calling a day ahead, but we’ve always been able to stop by within a few hours of our call. You must have a current Red Rocks Pass, available at the Palatki visitor center, to visit this site.

The Site is open 7 days a week. Plan to visit Palatki earlier in the day, as it is open between 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Also, in summer, the area can be quite hot in the afternoon.

Pets are not welcome. We also request you leave your guns, your candles, your sage smudges and “new age” paraphernalia at home. This beautiful site has already been desecrated by too many who feel they need to leave their “mark”. Questions? See: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/red_rock/arch-site-etiquette.shtml

No matter whether you come in from Sedona or up from Cottonwood, plan on a bumpy drive on red dirt roads. Either road can generally be driven by most vehicles, but one with good clearance is preferred. The road is sometimes rutted from recent storms, and odd boulders have been known to find their way onto the track. Occasionally, the roads are impassable due to inclement weather.

Directions from the Coconino National Forest website:

From Sedona: Take Hwy. 89A through West Sedona and continue past the last traffic light for five miles. Just past mile marker 365, turn right onto Forest Road 525. Go north for 5 miles and when F.R. 525 bears left, continue straight ahead onto Forest Road 795 for two miles. This road will lead directly into the Palatki parking lot.

An alternative way to access Palatki it to travel through west Sedona on Hwy. 89A, turn right onto Dry Creek Rd. There are signs at every intersection that will direct you towards Palatki. At the end of Dry Creek Rd, turn left onto Boynton Pass Road (FR 152C). At the next stop sign, turn left again. In a couple of miles, the pavement will end and you should continue on the rough gravel road for three miles until you reach another T intersection where you should turn right. It is 2 miles to Palatki from this intersection. These roads are generally passable to passenger cars when dry, but it is not regularly maintained by the County and has some rough and rocky stretches.

From Cottonwood: Take 89A north from Cottonwood. About 1/2 mile north of mile marker 364, turn left onto a dirt road (Forest Road 525 to Forest Road 795; passable for passenger cars when dry), and drive 7 miles to Palatki Heritage Site and the parking lot.

Note: You may find that after visiting Sedona and greater Northern Arizona that you would like to relocate to the area. If you decide to make the move we would recommend using Sedona real estate agent Elisa Andreis of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty. If you are looking for a home builder in Sedona Arizona, we recommend Canyon Custom Homes of Sedona. Those in need of a new metal roof or roof repair in Flagstaff or Sedona should contact Hahn Roofing of Northern Arizona.

We like to take our Jeep Wrangler whenever we head off into the National Forest. There are always side roads along the way that pique our interest. Most of this drive is on a narrow, one-lane track, so an all-terrain vehicle is handy for pulling to the side to let others pass. You can expect washboards on the uphill stretch.

This field trip is noteworthy for several reasons:

• Close proximity to wilderness is popular with locals (you’ll recognize them by their friendly waves)
• Thumb Butte Lookout, an overlook at the top-most point offers beautiful views of Skull Valley
• Opportunities to see wildlife
• Beautiful Aspen grove
• Rich mining history still alive in the area
• Abundant hiking trails
• Campsites, for longer stays in the forest

We like to take our leashed dog along on this drive.  She loves the many well-maintained trails and roads that take off from the main route. We keep her confined as we don’t want her to wind up like the lost dog we recently came across when we made this trip.  We nearly always see deer and small critters on this road; too enticing for any dog– well behaved, or otherwise.

The All Right-Turns Route:

• Beginning at Montezuma and Gurley street corner of the Courthouse Square in downtown Prescott Arizona, travel south on Montezuma (angles right to become White Spar) through 3 lights.
• After driving 1 mile, and at that 3rd light, make a right turn onto  Road.
• Begin your steady climb uphill, through neighborhoods, stopping at only one 4-way stop, as you go.
• Just after 4.1 miles, homes will be sparse and the pavement becomes a gravel road.
• When you’ve traveled about 5.6 miles, you’ll see a large parking lot on your right marked Aspen Creek Trail.
• Continuing on, there is a beautiful stand of Aspens on the left at around 6.3 miles.
• After driving about 10 minutes, and at approximately 6.9 miles into the drive, you are presented with 3 available directions to travel.  No signs will guide you here.  Turn right!
• You’ll find the dirt road continues to narrow as you go, but in less than 5 minutes (at about 8 miles) you’ll reach the half-way point in the trip, and the lookout. -Take time to enjoy the views of Skull Valley and beyond. We hope you’ve remembered to bring your camera.

• As you begin your descent, just beyond the overlook, you’ll continue to see magnificent scenery on your left.
• Passing through pines, oaks and brush, you’ll begin to see breaks that afford magnificent vistas of Thumb Butte, Chino Valley and Sycamore Canyon Wilderness in the distance.
• At about 10 miles, Granite Mountain becomes visible.
• When you’ve traveled 11.5 miles, you’ll come to a stop sign.  Again, signage is limited, but, by now, you know what to do.  Stay right!
• The road (Thumb Butte Rd.) will widen and definitely improve at this point.
• At 13 miles you’ll begin driving on pavement again and shortly you’ll pass the Thumb Butte hikers’ parking lot.
• Still traveling downward in elevation, there will be views of Prescott on your left.
• Reaching 14.3 miles brings you to the city limits of Prescott.
• Shortly before reaching downtown, Thumb Butte Rd. will become Gurley St.
• And, finally, when you’ve traveled just about 16.7 miles, you’ll be back at the corner of Montezuma and Gurley, and facing the Prescott Courthouse Square.

Although this is a loop drive, in late July, during “monsoon season” we made this trip as far as the Thumb Butte Lookout and then turned around and headed back toward Copper Basin.  At the overlook we were treated to an enormous thunderstorm in the valley below. While we stood in sunshine on the ridge above, that portion of the sky directly in front of us was black, and rain swept downward like a mass of fine threads.

Handy Resources:
City of Prescott:  http://www.cityofprescott.net/visitors/
Prescott National Forest:  http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/
Hikes in the area:  http://www.cityofprescott.net/services/parks/trails/

This website is ever-changing. As we, the editors, find new discoveries, we will post them here.  Bookmark our site and check back often to share our latest day-trip.  As residents of north-central Arizona, we will begin our day-trips locally and branch out frequently.

This is a website of family-oriented ideas for short, one-day, explorations of Arizona. We wish to spotlight the natural wonders of Arizona, therefore we don’t list lodging, resorts, eateries, shopping opportunities or any commercial establishments.  While we often note that an experience can be enhanced through the purchase of a tour or expedition, we leave it to you choose a provider.

Via our contact page, we invite you to share your experiences and/or recommend day-trips you would like included here.

Types of day-trips we like to make

• Parks and Monuments
• Short Hikes
• Scenic Vistas
• Native American Ruins
• Ghost Towns
• Museums
• Botanical Gardens