What is the Best Fall Hike In Sedona Arizona?
A jumble of vibrant fall leaves along the West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon.
My Favorite Fall Hiking Trail In Sedona
It pains me to admit this because of my severe aversion to crowded hiking trails. But despite its extreme popularity, all things considered, the West Fork Trail in Oak Creek canyon is still my favorite fall hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona. In my opinion it offers the best blend of dramatic canyon scenery with the added attraction and ambience of the gentle flowing West fork of Oak Creek that the trail parallels and crosses over several time on the canyon floor. This water source and the cooler micro climate of the West Fork canyon is the primary reason why deciduous trees likes Oaks , Maples, Sycamores, and Cottonwoods thrive in this narrow canyon and produce vibrant fall colors starting in early October generally. For a professional nature and landscape photographer like me, Its just a stunning and dynamic environment to capture- particularly during the fall season. Please see some of my fall inspired West Fork Trail photos below.
So, if you're planning a fall trip to Sedona, Arizona, and wondering which easy and designated hiking trail with restrooms and a picnic area offers the best “pound for pound” fall experience, I would have to say the West For Trail that starts in the Call Of The Canyon recreation area in Oak Creek canyon is a very safe bet.
You Will Not Be Alone
However, you in most cases will not be alone when visiting this well-known recreation site and depending on when you visit there is a good chance you could encounter a “Parking Lot Full” sign at the entrance dashing your hiking plans. Below I will outline some pros and cons as well as some tips for planning a hike on what many consider one of the busiest hiking trails in the trail Sedona system.
Here are a few pros and cons to consider before heading out:
Pros:
Stunning Fall Foliage: Oak, Maple, and Sycamore trees explode in color from mid October through early November.
Photographer’s Dream: Fall colors and light filtering through the canyon combined with reflections in the creek can make for amazing compositions. Please see some of my photos below.
Relatively Easy Terrain & Hike: This is a mostly level trail with some creek crossings making it a good choice for an easy to moderate hike. I generally hike in about an hour or so and then turn around.
Cooler Temps: At a higher elevation, this shaded canyon area can provide relief from the warmer temps you might experience in Sedona proper sometimes as much as 10 - 12 plus degrees cooler. During the winter months this narrow canyon is also one of the more likely places to see and experience snow in Sedona.
Peaceful Ambience: The sound of the ever present creek adds a tranquil soundtrack and vibe to your hike.
Cons:
Very Popular & Crowded: This trail is very well known and you can expect large crowds during peak fall weekends and even during weekdays. I have seen and run into groups of a dozen or more people on this trail in the Fall which can be very annoying to have to pass on this sometimes very narrow trail.
Limited Parking: The small parking lot at the Call Of the Canyon recreation area often fills up by 9 a.m. in the fall. It is possible to park in some pullouts on the highway North of the entrance, but this should be done with extreme caution and you may have to hike up to half mile.
Creek Crossings: I don’t personally think this is negative thing. And in my opinion makes the hike more of an adventure. But, even though the creek is very shallow, some crossings can be slippery and even icy in the winter months. Trekking poles can come in handy.
Day Use Fee: There is a fee to park in the designated lot and I believe its currently $12 per vehicle. If you walk in from the highway I believe its currently $3 per person.
Some Final Tips & Thoughts For Planning Your Autumn West Fork Trail Hike:
Visit Early and Avoid the Weekends if Possible: Fall is a very busy season in Sedona and its also a very popular day trip for residents in the Phoenix metro area which is only 2.5 hours away. When I do my annual fall hikes on the West Fork I generally try to get there very early (before sunrise if possible) so I can enjoy some solitude and beat the inevitable crowds.
The Late Afternoon Option: I get it. Most people when planning a hike want to do it in the morning or before lunch time. However, I have found its more likely to secure a parking space in the designated parking area in the late afternoon during the fall season than during the morning rush.
Be Prepared For Cooler Temps , Creek Crossings, Possibly Ice: I have found a lot of people underestimate how much cooler it can be in upper Oak Creek Canyon and in the West Fork canyon itself- Think layers. In addition, as you can see from some of my images below, in the late fall its not too unusual for this part of the Canyon to see some snow. I would say the more challenging issue is if ice starts to form on the trail or on the rocks or logs that provide a primitive foot bridge at the creek crossings. Bringing trekking poles and packing a pair of inexpensive Ice cleats in your backpack is not a bad idea in my view. And although its cooler in the Fall in Sedona, always bring adequate water or pack a water filtration device for your hike.
Conclusions:
Sedona’s unique and very popular West Fork trail in Oak Creek Canyon is beautiful any time of the year. But for me the fall season with the riot of fall colors found along the trail and the added vibe of a gentle flowing creek is in my mind what makes it the best overall fall hiking experience in Sedona.
More Info: Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the West Fork Trail or if you are seeking other less crowded fall hiking trail options in the Sedona area. I have a few favorite and less accessible trails along Oak Creek that I love and have discovered over the years Fly-Fishing but don’t want to share publicly where they are located in Oak Creek Canyon. Please also feel free to contact me about special requests for content or freelance photography of videography services in the Sedona area and beyond.
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The beginning of the West Fork Trail on crisp fall day.
On this early November morning a snow dusting fell during the night. As I mentioned in my narrative its not overly unusual to see snow and ice on this trail in late fall.
Before you reach the official trailhead sign, you will pass by this historic stone structure which I believe was a fruit bin. This is a remnant of one the the several fruit orchards in Oak Creek Canyon.
One of the half dozen or so rustic creek crossings you will have to negotiate. I think this provides a good illustration why trekking poles can come in handy.
Snow crusted fall leaves along the trail bottom. There are endless photography subjects in this unique canyon ecosystem.
The snow dusting really adds to the allure of a fall hike on this trail. Its not uncommon to see a few old growth Poderosa pine trees in that have found a cooler and safe haven to survive hundreds of years.
The West Fork trail for the most part is very easy with new views opening up around each bend.
This is one of my favorite sections of the trail and its a popular spot for photography.
Some fall magic on the upper West Fork trail. As the snow dusting began to melt from the trees it created a surreal scene with leaves and rain drops being illuminated and reflected by sun rays. I captured some sick video of this phenomena! This was a top ten day on this beautiful trail. Watch the short video clip below.
Its always fun capturing a sun star along the trail in the fall season.
A vibrant fall reflection on the West Fork Of Oak creek.
One of my favorite crowd avoidance tricks on the West Fork Trail…..
I usually hike in about an hour or so and then turn around. After 3 miles in the the trail becomes very narrow and lot more challenging to negotiate. Please feel to commnet or contact me if you have any questions!