07/27/2007 to 07/28/2007
Going up I-17 to Flagstaff you pass the exit to Sedona and that is such a great place to hike we decided to "just do it" as they say.
Since it was threatening to storm we figured it would be prudent to pick something short so we decided on Little Horse Trail. It is only about a mile or so each way but the formations are just beautiful. What else do you expect from Sedona?
I have no idea which formations these are
You kind of head toward these on the trail
A trail branches off that will take you to Chapel of the Holy Cross (see our HS Trail site)
At the end of this trail you get to look across a valley at this beautiful site
What's this strange beast coming up the rocks behind us?
It's just the Pink Jeep Tour folks. Stupid us we walked up here when we could have ridden!
A nice place to stand and look around the valley
During the summer you can take a guided hike along the path used by the ancient people who used to live in the dwellings in Walnut Canyon. The path takes you along the very rim of the canyon.
Our guide was a Hopi ranger and she pointed out many plants still used for medicinal purposes by her people and how the way she was raised has ties to her ancestors who lived here. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and our guide.
This is the Cliffs Ranger Station. The park was established in 1915
The addition almost doubled the size of the original cabin
These are the dwellings across the valley floor as you approach them
This is the trail along the rim used by the original inhabitants. You really can't get the feel for how narrow it is and how steep that right side is
The nice thing about this tour is it is limited to 5
What modern day apartment can boast a view like this?
Strawberry Crater is a cinder cone just like Sunset Crater, only you can still follow the path along it and enjoy the stark beauty. Happily for us you get to drive on fire roads for several miles before you see it looming up in the distance.
Depending on the time of day the vegetation almost glows and the black cinders contrast nicely with the red rock formations.
On our trip there was quite a bit of cloud cover which gave us some relief from the heat but doesn't let you get that great splash of color.
There is Strawberry Crater in the distance
On the trail to the crater
A view from inside
That's me among the cinders. It's kind of like walking on course, black sand
The formations vary widely inside
The plants stand out so nicely against the black