• Loopy Sedona hike with fall color
    Posted by at November 8th
    Share on Facebook+1Share on Twitter

    BALDWIN TRAIL
    View of Oak Creek from Baldwin Trail
     
    Cathedral Rock, Nov 4, 2012
    An aerial view of Sedona’s network of trails reveals a very loopy web.  Most of Red Rock Country’s short trails are interconnected, allowing hikers, bikers and equestrians to customize their treks.  The Baldwin Trail loop anchors the far west end of the Bell Rock-Cathedral Rock cluster of paths.  Beautiful as both a standalone or combo hike, Baldwin makes a scenic swoop near the base of world-famous Cathedral Rock, topping out at a sunny highpoint with great views of Sedona and the Bradshaw Mountains before dipping down to graze the wooded fringes of Oak Creek.  A map kiosk at the trailhead details the route and its connecting trails, including a (highly recommended) diversion to a vortex (place known for its spiritual energy) site Oak Creek via the Templeton Trail.
    The diversity of this trail is a wonder.  Hikers wander through flood plain grasslands, over slabs of bare rock dotted with cypress and agaves and among enormous creek side sycamore-cottonwood riparian forests flanked by soaring red walls of sedimentary stone.  All this variety makes it a good “appetizer” trail to get a little taste of all the goodies of hiking in Sedona.
    LENGTH:  2.1 mile loop (according to my calculations–FS says its 1.6 miles)
    RATING:  easy
    ELEVATION:  4020′ – 4150′
    FEE: a Red Rock Pass is required.  $5 daily fee per vehicle. http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/coconino/passes-permits/recreation
    FACILITIES: restroom
    GETTING THERE:
    From Phoenix, travel north on I17 to exit 298 for Sedona AZ 179.  Turn left (west) and continue 6 miles on AZ 179 to the Verde Valley School Road traffic circle. Veer left and drive roughly 5 miles to the Baldwin Trailhead. Last few miles are rough dirt, but passable by sedan.  Alternate access:  a point on the right side of Verde Valley School Rd just before FR 9829 where a 0.3 mile spur path connects to the trail.  Also connects to the Templeton Trail.
    INFO: Red Rock Ranger District, Coconino National Forest, 928-203-2900
    http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=72019&actid=50
    MORE PHOTOS:
    http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3294431098359.105290.1795269672&type=1&l=9b96b9c293

    Recent Travel Blog Posts
    Blogroll

    More Posts by Arizona Hiking

    Arizona Hiking

    Post Author: Arizona Hiking


    Bio: Serial blogger, manic hiker and “mom” to a dozen adopted dogs, Mare Czinar has been exploring Arizona trails for more than 20 years. After being led astray (or just plain confused) by outdated hiking books and online resources (hence the tagline: We got lost, so you don’t have to), Czinar sought to create a fully vetted, frequently updated online hike travelogue with current driving and hiking directions to spare fellow hikers the mental and physical wear-and-tear of aimless wandering. In addition, blog entries are amended when road closures or wildfires restrict trail access. When not working, blogging, writing about the great outdoors or picking up dog poo, Czinar attempts to “stay found” while checking out new trails.


    Website: http://arizonahiking.blogspot.com/