Secret Canyon - Sedona, AZ - Trail Guide to backpacking in the Secret Canyon Wilderness
Vložit
- čas přidán 4. 05. 2019
- Secret Canyon - Sedona, AZ
Here's a trail guide to backpack the Secret Canyon Trail, located in the Secret Canyon Wilderness of Sedona, AZ. Secret Canyon is a remote and lightly trafficked out and back hike. It can be done as a day hike or an overnight. It features an arch, waterfall, pine trees and amazing views that Sedona is known for, only without all the people. The long and rough road to access the trailhead is a deterrent for many. You can walk down it to the trailhead, but it's a miserably 7 mile (total) slog with full sun exposure, jeep traffic and lots of ups and downs. However, if you can get there, Secret Canyon is a great hike that offers all the good parts of Sedona only with more solitude.
Red Rocks Ranger Station - 8375 State Route 179, Sedona, AZ 86351
Turn off Dry Creek Road; 34.88776944, -111.82250000
Secret Canyon trailhead parking; 34.93003611, -111.80666667
Thank You, did the hike today in total solitude, passed lot's of "walkers" driving in. No issues getting there. The hike is everything you described. Loved it! We did NOT backpack, creek was not running, but the colors and the vistas are amazing. Thank You!!!
Glad you enjoyed it! It's about time we got back there, actually.
The easiest (and nicest) hike, if you don't have 4x4, is to park at Long Canyon and take Chuckwagon to Secret Canyon TH via FS 152.
Did not realize this. I wish you could edit video after uploading so I could add/modify info.
Very informative! I am glad i have 4×4 :)
Really want to try this trip!
Thank you for sharing 👍
it's now officially on my fall bucket list!
Watching your videos from Switzerland and hiking vicariously through you! Never knew these places existed - can’t wait to visit when things return to normal.
Switzerland? I would love to go there some day. Hopefully this all calms down soon.
Great video and very informative! We went backpacking to Secret canyon this weekend and it is absolutely beautiful
Glad you got to it. We love that area.
Awesome job as usual.
Thanks for the video. I been wanting to do this!
Thank you so much!
Wonderful hike! I loved the water canyon 😍
Have you done it recently? I need to get back there. It's been a few years.
Great video
I cannot wait until the kids are old enough to go on hikes like that. Going to be amazing.
If you don’t know about it, walnut canyon just outside of flagstaff is super cool.
How do you not have more subscribers??! Love the channel! And nice Tacoma👌🏽🔥
Very good clips of walking in slow motion! That’s exactly But I get on CZcams to find!
Sweet video Jerry! Currently scoping the area for a potential backpacking mission. Might check this one out 🤙🏼
I knew your name sounded familiar. You make great content. Yeah man, this one is pretty scenic. It reminds me of West Fork (still my favorite though). There is also an arch in there, but we were too tired to walk up to it. (Not well known or traveled; the path fades away, but it showed up on my Gaia oddly enough.) Still exploring the area. There's so much to see.
@@JerryArizona awesome!! Would you say West fork is the best then? Planning on going around Thanksgiving. Any recommendations is much appreciated 🙏
@@JerryArizona oh btw thanks for the compliments
We backpack West Fork every year. Get there early. It is very crowded for the first 3 miles, then the trail ends, and it gets interesting. The crowds die off and the scenery just gets better. However, keep in mind you have to get in the water (at least up to your waist) in West Fork; you stay dry in Secret Canyon. November would be pretty cold to go wading. There is plenty of other hiking out in the Secret Canyon area but I haven’t explored it yet. (Only know that Devil’s Bridge is stupid crowded.) So you could probably make a longer backpacking trip at Secret Canyon. Some other recommendations I can give are Hangover trail (day hike) and Edge of the World (car camp overlook).
So I guess the short answer is that I prefer West Fork once you're past the crowds. I have 2 videos of that hike you can check out also if you want to compare. You can also hike all the way through West Fork (shuttle required) but I haven't done that yet. (Seemed to get pretty bush wacky after 10 or so miles in.)
You should do something with mt graham, I don’t know much about it but I’ve seen it on the Coronado trail and it’s bwautiful
I struggle with the hosting aspect of videos too lol. Could a Forester with Skid Plate and 8.7” make it? Looked it I have enough clearance but always hard to tell on video.
It's been a while since I was there. I have about 12" clearance on my truck and didn't have any problems; felt like I needed every inch of that in a couple spots. I believe I saw some un-lifted Ford truck out there at the trailhead, but I wasn't paying that much attention. It gets better once you get past the part at the very beginning. I always worry more than I should about our vehicles, but off roading isn't my area of expertise. Some people worry a lot less; I've seen vehicles in places where I personally never thought they could get to. Best I can say is you can try it, and turn around if you don't think you can make it.
Jerry Arizona thanks for the feedback and the trip! Agreed safe and steady to be safe. It’s one thing if you have an old beater but if you have a nice working ride it’s best not to chance things. Stay well.
Hiked this one yesterday (Sat, Aug 6th). Even though it was a Saturday I did not see a soul the whole time I was there, actually it looks like nobody’s been there in a while, lots of overgrown and mosquitoes are out in full force after the rains last week (regretted not bringing my bug spray big time! 😫).
Water was not running ☹️ and did not find the ruins that are supposed to be there somewhere, got off trail several times (willingly and unwillingly) with no luck. Found bear tracks and some fresh bear poop too, luckily did not run into mama bear 😬👍
What time of the year is better to find water running there? 🤔
I think it's typically wetter in the spring. I'm kinda surprised it wasn't running with all the rain they've been having. We've been three times and water was running two of those. It's been too long for me to remember when that was. Didn't know there were ruins out there, but they're all over Sedona. there is a small arch right past where we camped. I need to go back and see if I can get all the way to the end of the trail.
Can you go swimming in there? its 115 degrees this summer, is there any deep swim spots here or a way to get down or should I bring rope
I doubt it. It's a seasonal stream, so it probably isn't running right now. The place by the waterfall looked like it was deep enough to swim in, but I'm not sure how you would get down there. You would have to go way downstream and try walking up the creek. I haven't tried it, so I'm not sure if you can do that without running into a dryfall or something. Might look into the Crack at Wet Beaver creek, Fossil Creek, Bullpen Ranch (at West Clear Creek), Blue Ridge Reservoir (maybe East Clear Creek) or even West Fork if you go far enough in.
Is this hike doable in November without getting your feet wet wading through the canyon?
Unless it's snowed or rained a lot, I think you'll be fine most of the time. There were some minor stream crossings on this trip, but it's been dry on most trips we've done there.
Would a Subaru make it past line of rocks to the parking spot?
I'm not sure, honestly. I'm a little conservative when it comes to what roads I'd recommend for lower clearance vehicles. Someone in the comments said they drive their normal truck on this road all the time....but I don't pay for their suspension.
You said you bought a day permit for $5. Will that cover if you wish to camp overnight, or do toy need a seperate permit for that?
No....I noticed that mistake AFTER I published. Same permit, but if you go overnight, you need to get a permit for two days. $5/day, so $10 for two days/one night. If you go two or more nights, just get a week pass for $15.
You can get a 1 year pass for $20. This is useful if you live in AZ and plan to head out that way for several trips in the season.
@@JerryArizona Can I leave my car overnight at any trailhead in Sedona with this pass, granted I pay the 2 days?
@@juliomiranda7013 I know you can at some trailheads. Like the Secret Canyon one and West Fork. I'm not sure if you can at the parking area further down by Devil's Bridge. Some other ones like the parking lot at AB Young said 'day use only'. I'd check with the red rock ranger district website.
@@JerryArizona thanks a lot for the answer. I'm gonna call and see what they say
I tried to find this trailhead twice! I started on the chuck wagon trail took the brins Mesa trail to the frontage road and went left on the road. Couldn’t find the trailhead. I went as north as the road could go. I passed dry creek. Up to private property and a golf course. Can you tell me where I messed up???
Hmm. If I'm reading what you did, it sounds like you went right past it. It's about halfway between those two. I wish I could post a picture, but I cant. The trailhead is at (approximately) 34.930094, -111.806727 (You can just type that in Google Earth or a GPS app). It branches off north/northwest. It's marked 121 on my GPS app (Gaia.) Hope that helps.
If it makes you feel any better, first time we did this, we hiked all the way from the asphalt parking for Devil's Bridge. We got ALL the way to where the trail turns into the canyon itself and turned around (because all of that part sucks, it was hot and we were out of water.) When we went back, we figured out we were maybe 1/10 of a mile from where it starts getting really cool.
@@JerryArizona I just watched a 'guided' video where he wouldn't give this location out, Excellent walkabout JA 👣 679.
@@tsns1 thanks. I found the place online, so I don't mind sharing. I think the condition of the road will always keep this place from being crowded anyway.
So you can backpack without an overnight permit? Just a 5 dollar day pass to leave your car overnight?
Actually, I think you're supposed to get two $5 permits if you spend the night. I usually just get a year permit. I think they're $20 for the entire year.
What’s the best time of year to hike and camp secret canyon?
Spring or fall. Too hot in the summer. Too cold in the winter for me, and the roads could get snowy/muddy and impassable.
Do you think I could make it up the road in a bronco sport?
Well, I am pretty conservative on where I drive so I'd say.....maybe? I think clearance will be your main problem. I've seen some people take vehicles to some pretty crazy places before, so you can try. If you can clear that first row of rocks, you should be OK.
This video does a good job showing the road; czcams.com/video/sx3AF5PV_-E/video.html
In what month of the year did you go?
This was late April, but we've gone in October and June. I would not recommend June. Too hot.
Is secret canyon the same as west fork?
No. Two different places, although they do look kind of similar.
@@JerryArizona oh ok I thought maybe their was 2 entrances . because in west ford their is also a secret canyon sign
I do this in my non 4x4 all the time , you don't need 4x4 just go slow crawl when you see rocks then no more than 15 mph because of dust, be considerate to the hikers they don't want to breath in your dust. But if you do blast the hikers with dust - remember your going to a parking area it dead ends and you park. An angry hiker who ate your dust cuz you were ignorant may damage your car or truck as righteous payback - im not condoning the payback just saying be considerate to the hikers if you drive up. Nuff said. This is a great hike til 9 miles in then you get in lets say somewhat restricted area where its not advised you trespass. Im not saying anymore but some 3 and 4 letter agencies and groups train in and round deep in this area if you meander climb scale clime and drop down and meander some more past the signage. You may or may not encounter a reason to turnback or someone telling you too but 2 out of 20 times I did way was back and deep in. Oh I camped overnight 2 nights its not something you'll do a day hike. But its really scenic peaceful and fun in groups. Don't hike alone.
We’re there other backpackers there?
We saw two other groups (of 2 each) last time we were there, then a group coming in as we were leaving. The road keeps a lot of people out, I think
Amazing country. It looks like a whole bunch of people go there so the place is not a secret anymore . Should it be renamed , " It Was a Secret Canyon " ? :O)
Honestly isn't that crowded, especially by Sedona standards. That row of rocks at the start of Dry Creek Road deters the crowds. It's a long walk if you can't drive to the trailhead.
I've been all the way to the back. It's not called Secret Canyon / Secret Mountain for nothing. There's secrets back there.....and THEY have been there for along... time.
Now I'm gonna have to hike the whole thing.....
4x4 did not seem necessary
I lean toward conservative when it comes to recommending vehicles for roads; I don't want to get people into trouble. But I also don't pay your mechanic bills, so if you want to try, go for it. I've had a few comments saying it can be done without 4WD and/or a lift.
or you could have just offered them a ride in the back of your truck
This is one of the most popular trails in AZ. There were dozens upon dozens of people hiking it when we were there. And in my opinion, this road would rattle you around the back of the truck like a ball bearing in a tin can. We have given rides before (including a super thankful couple at Meadow Canyon), but this definitely isn't the best place for it.