. Namely, getting parked at trailheads, congestion and parking passes. in 6 reviews in 4 reviews The entire route is well shaded by trees. Avoid the heat and do not hike when it is above 100 F. Listen to your body and dont hike further out than you have the energy and strength to get back from. 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. The jeep road ends 0.2 miles in and you will follow the trail along West Fork Canyon. No Red Rock Pass works for West Fork Trail, with the exception of the Grand Annual Red Rock Pass which costs $40 for 12 months. The terrain will vary along these trails with the gentlest gradient located in the first four to five miles, becoming progressively steeper. The trail surface is not mostly ballast. It was a steady, comfortable rain that felt very good on our sweaty bodies. So, if this is something that you are likewise concerned about, here are some tips on how to help address this issue. Get a FREE Rail Trails Guidebook when you become a Member with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. ; at least from ticketing? Youll also find a caf and grocery store in town, as well as the 1-mile Widney Park Rail-Trail, which connects a campground near the train station with a park. The southern end of the trail ends in a parking area just outside of the town of Durbin. We are both strong riders and were on mountain bikes converted to gravel grinders. It is hard however to tell exactly where you are so I recommend a detailed Forest Service map or greatly blowing up and copying the Google map on this trail site to see the identification of the side roads and to know where the town names are in the field. If youre a quick hiker you can probably do West Fork Trail in 2 hours 30 minutes. On the first part of the trail we pedaled through knee to waist high vegetation. The West Fork Trail (# 1) passes Calamity Falls, Sentinel Falls, and Quinnebaugh Meadows enroute to Sundance Pass. I am interested to learn more about Sedonas plans for dealing with this issue. It needs to be remembered that there are no bike shops, grocery stores, gas stations, etc. connected to the .gov website. along this trail. I was surprised to find the surface is in really good shape, the scenery beautiful. Concessionaire. Share sensitive information only People prepared to wade can keep going for some beautiful views of this part of West Fork, which resembles a slot canyon with its sweeping stone walls. That's just about when my buddy lost the pin that holds the lower cog on his derailler. Great hike, trails in good condition, most of the downfalls have been cleared. connected to the .gov website. Need adventure pass. The sign for Weminuche Wilderness is 2.36 miles in. Call of the Canyon (West Fork Trailhead) parking fills up every day by 9:30 a.m., seven days per week during busy seasons (summer, fall color, spring break). There is a steep trail from the campsite that takes you down to the hot springs. Follow it for approximately 10 miles to the town of Glady. ", "My wife Pam & I began riding on the West Fork Trail at Drubin, WV. In some sections I was riding through thick grass and weeds. Stay on the main trail. (3) If you have to visit Sedona during the high season and want to spend most of your time there, be very contentious of the rules and be flexible. This is a remote and scenic trail that is especially attractive in the fall. I didn't think there would be snow that deep in April. Starting in the small town of Glady, youll travel south along a slope overlooking the West Fork of Glady Fork, a tributary of the Cheat River. From Phoenix. This is also a great area for birding. Perhaps someday we'll get naked in the hot water, but we were not disappointed by the the consolation prize of a trail through a spring warmed canyon, all to ourselves. I have hiked the majority of the trails around Sedona but its getting harder and harder to find any peace and solitude around here, let alone parking. The maintained path is mostly flat and undulating as it passes through a stunning landscape in Coconino National Forest. It is depressed and has few amenities. The trail feels really remote, and though a road parallels it the whole way, there was no sound of traffic. River is running high at the moment. Call Red Rock District 928-203-2900. Bell Rock Hike the Bell Rock Courthouse Butte Loop Trail for stunning Sedona views, a fun slick rock climb and our hidden loop half way up the formation. United States. Coconino NationalForest We were able to get 2 dogs down there (shepherd mixes) but had to lift them over a rock section on the way down. Have a backup plan for a different hike or day use area if the parking lot is full. This should only take you about 2-3 hours to hike, but youll most likely want to spend all day here. My daughter and I rode the West Fork Trail this past Tuesday (8/21). In Durbin parking at the trial head is limited. The adventurous hiker may want to consider continuing beyond the subway tunnel. Hard 4.6 (233) Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! We stopped a few times for photos and to partake of a few apples that grew along the trail, however it still took my friend and I nearly 5 hours to do the 44 miles, this included about a 15 minutes lunch break at the Glady trail head. ( Location: 17.5 miles south of Flagstaff (9.5 miles north of Sedona) on paved roads in scenic Oak Creek Canyon. Oak Creek Canyon is known for its towering walls and lush, diversely vegetated stream banks. Pin It For Your Hike! Wear plenty of sun screen, it's going to be about a 6-7 hour hike depending on how many scenic breaks you take. I can imagine the mosquitoes might be bad mid-summer but I had no problems that way. I'm guessing daybreak as there is limited parking? Park in one of the roadside pullouts a half-mile north of the main parking lot. I turned around as I like to see what I'm riding into, and could not. On this trail you will be hiking alongside and crossing over the creek. M-F 8 a.m. - 4p.m. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55260. West Fork trail is the perfect place for that. Hiking is among the best things to do in Sedona and West Fork Trail offers a unique experience away from the overcrowded hikes closer to town. The trail had uncut grass and thorny blackberry bushes, making it difficult for our family. It isnt close to being as striking as The Subway in Zion, but it is still a hugely impressive formation. All Trails has a similar app but we have found Gaia to be excellent for navigation. Read our popular guide to the 50 best hikes in the USA next! There is a family style restaurant, a bar and a grocery store. Only arificial flies, lures and barb-less hooks may be used. It is only one of three excellent trails we've ridden in West Virginia this fall.". Once in the canyon, you will soon find yourself needing to cross the stream. Also, the excursion train out of Durbin looked real cool too! The trail parallels the river for most of the way (approximately 17 miles), and there are quite a few places along the way that looked very tempting to jump in for a swim. It looked like the grass/trail is maintained/mowed by the locals (thank you). We paid by credit card. Backpackers are encouraged to occupy sites used by others, and practice leave no trace ethics. Its highly likely you already have an annual National Parks pass, which is also known as America the Beautiful or the Interagency Pass. Big Heart Lake via West Fork Foss Lakes Trail. I am a strong rider with mountain bike skills. Well, West Fork Trail also ends at a subway tunnel-like formation, not to the same scale, but it is still incredibly beautiful. Afternoon showers/storms are very likely. The water here is not passable without submerging shin deep. It's also steep - not terribly so, but it's relentless. Winter and Summer offer quieter periods in Sedona, which means you have more chance getting parked up without issue. Comments. It is a short ride into Durbin from the trail head where there is a grocery store. This trail is very beautiful but also very remote. This is a super popular hike, so try coming out as early as you can so you can actually snag a parking spot! Luckily the trail was broke and the hot springs were nice and warm! We rode on a tandem with 700x35 tires. Fire restrictions are strictly enforced. Thirteen river crossings await hikers over the next 3 miles. My lover suggested I film him attempting to traverse said overhang, but I suggested that a film of the father of my children dropping to his death may not please the crowds. Cross-country ski travel into the Pecos Wilderness is becoming more popular. If you keep your eyes peeled, however, you will see all kinds of trees and shrubs, as Oak Creek sits in a transition area where the higher shrub forests give way to the pine forests that surround Flagstaff. website belongs to an official government organization in the Camping is not permitted at this site. This blog was thoughtfully written by Gabby Martinez. This is a super popular hike, so try coming out as early as you can so you can actually snag a parking spot! Is it worth taking time from your Sedona itinerary to include a lesser known hike in a hard to reach area? West Fork Trail is one of the most popular trails in Oak Creek Canyon, and for good reason. Let people know where you are going if you are going solo. After using the bathroom before you head out, you will head straight into the tree covered track and cross a sturdy bridge over the stream. The campsite sits right on the edge of the canyon and oversees the hot springs and river. Map Information. The creek provides definitive guidance, so it's nearly impossible to lose your way. A bit over 5 miles from the trailhead. This trail starts at the West Fork of Whiterocks Trailhead and climbs 1500 feet in 6.5 miles to Fox Pass before descending 600 feet after 2.0 miles at the Junction with the Highline Trail at Fox Lake West Fork Whiterocks has parking for twenty vehicles, campsites, toilets, corrals, and a stock-unloading ramp. Only two other couples on the trail that day. Day hiked this today, October 2nd, 2022. Trail users should be sure to carry food and water, as there are no towns or facilities between Glady and Durbin. 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