The West Fork Trail In Sedona
There are no shortage of beautiful hiking trails in the Sedona Arizona area to explore year round. But in my opinion the most beautiful trail in Sedona is the West Fork Trail located in the Northern part or stretch of Oak Creek Canyon. However, enjoying the beauty of this trail that meanders along the bottom of steep and narrow canyon with a gentle creek comes with a price. In most cases you will not be alone as it is by far one of the most popular hiking trails in the Sedona trail system. Its popularity also stems from the fact that this is an easy and mostly level hike with lots of shade from the soaring canyon walls and trees. There are a few sections where you will have to cross the creek on rocks or logs to get to the other side. However, the creek is very shallow in this narrow canyon and most fit hikers with decent balance should easily be able to negotiate these crossings. A hiking stick or Trekking poles can come in handy. I advise people to hike in an hour or so (about 3 miles) and just turn around as the trail starts to becomes much tighter and less obvious in the upper reaches of the canyon.
Keep in mind also that there is limited parking for The West Fork trailhead . The fee based parking lot is also used for the popular Call Of the Canyon picnic and day use recreation area so it can fill up very quickly- particularly on weekends and high seasons. There are some unorganized opportunities to park along side of highway 89a north of the trailhead parking lot but this requires a bit of a walk along side a busy and tight road.
As far as Photography tips, to me the most important dynamic is the seasons. Late fall is my favorites time to hike this trail as fall colors start popping on the Oaks and Maple trees in the canyon. However, the crowds during this time of year can be extremely annoying and I avoid at all costs going on the weekend. Winter is second favorite season to shoot photos on the West Fork Trail. And if you time your visit right and catch a snow event it ca be a truly magical experience.
Below are images and some video footage of various sections of the West Fork trail and trailhead taken during all four seasons. Please click on the pictures to see full size high resolution images that are available for sale and digital download. You can view more Sedona related images here. You can also view a short video here of a fall hike on the West Fork trail.
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West Fork Trail entrance at the Call Of The Canyon day use area in Oak Creek Canyon.
Some hiking scenes along the West Fork Trail during fall time.
Foot bridge across Oak Creek at begging of trail.
A late fall snow storm provides a dusting to this historic old building at the narrow canyon entrance of the West Fork Trail.
The West fork trail runs mostly parallel to the slow flowing West Fork of Oak Creek . Autumn is a great time to see vibrant reflection’s from fall foliage lining the canyon bottom.
The top of this ledge above the creek is a popular spot for hikers to stop and take in the view along the trail.
Ponderosa Pine trees thrive in the canyon’s cooler micro climate.
In my opinion the best time of year to go for a hike on the West Fork trail is the fall season which begins in Mid September and winds up in late October. The Oaks and Big tooth Maple trees along the trail and canyon bottom in particular put on a brilliant fall display.
More fall colors on the West Fork trail in Sedona.
Unique canyon wall feature
This image will give you an idea of the scale of the canyon walls along the West Fork trail. This canyon environment creates a cooler micro climate that allows for the growth of Ponderosa Pines & Douglas Fir trees that normally would be found at much higher elevations in the American Southwest.
The slow flowing waters of the West Fork provide the opportunity to capture some cool reflections.
Some of the Brilliant fall colors you will see along the West Fork trail in mid to late October.
A tunnel of vibrant fall leaves on the West Fork trail in Oak Creek Canyon.
A late fall snow storm dusts trees and leaves deep in the canyon along the West Fork trail.
The gentle flowing West Fork of Oak Creek enters a narrow canyon.
Snow covered fall leaves along the trail…
Ray deep in the West Fork Trail canyon at fall time.