FYI: If you're planning to go during the government shutdown, you can't drive all the way to the…read moreparking lot -- it's about an 8-mile hike (a lot of it on gravel). But honestly, it's worth every step! Just when you think you've reached the falls... you haven't. Keep going! The road in is pure washboard -- about 13 miles of bump city -- so make sure you have a 4-wheel drive and that nothing inside your car is loose. Fossil Creek is absolutely stunning, and bonus -- no permit needed after October 1st. The other thing says this trail is easy. No, it's not to be careful if you're taking somebody elderly over that doesn't have good mobility because there's some rocks you had a climb and what not also make sure you take plenty of water to drink and a little snack everything you pack in your pack. I would also suggest leaving the house by three 330. No later you don't wanna be hiking in the pitch dark.

I didn't know anything about this place beforehand. If my boss had never been here and my cousin…read morehad never told me about the Permit, I would've made a wasted trip. I wish I knew more before going. I need to know more information about how things work at Fossil Creek. Even after going, though we enjoyed ourselves, I still don't know how it works. There were no signs telling you where you can access trails to get to the creek. You just had to guess. I found a trail at our Homestead parking lot, but it was very steep and a little dangerous. We found a spot okay in the shade but was very small for our party of 6. We worked so hard getting down there that we just made it work. After leaving we went up the road a little way in our vehicle to see what the other spots looked like, but I saw no bridge or easy access from The Bridge parking lot either, and the road was just way too bumpy. I hope my wife's suspension is okay on her Mazda CX-5. The information before going should've told us about the road and what to expect, basically how to plan. It's all a guessing game. I could've asked the Ranger lady more questions, but I didn't know what to ask. My boss made things sound different. Apparently you can't drive people to the waterfall trailhead anymore. You have to walk over 2 miles on a dusty dirt road in over 100 degrees with vehicles driving by kicking up dust. That makes no sense whatsoever. We enjoyed our time at the water. Everything else leading up to it and after it we could've done without. I don't see us coming back unless we have someone with better suspension and/or better knowledge of the area. Thank you.

Sycamore canyon is located near Cottonwood/Clarkdale, accessible via 11 miles of dirt road,…read moresignificantly less people compared other trails, great place to come to enjoy wildlife and water holes. I would recommend SUV or truck to drive this 11 miles dirt road but I did see one Sedan parked at the trailhead. No entrance fees to this area. Hike to the first water hole/ swimming hole is only 1.1 miles one way, except the initial 200 feet elevation drop off, trail is relatively flat. Trail is marked with carin, since trail is less traveled, look for carin to stay on the trail. First water hole is deep enough for cliff jump. If you arrive early in the morning, water and lights are perfect to take reflecting images. Water stays cold even in the summer. No restrooms or drinking water available, bring plenty of water and food when visiting this trail

Absolutely beautiful hike and a nice watering hold at the end. Would recommend a off road vehicle…read moreas the road gets a lil gnarly.

Short and sandy. Nice and shady during our walk June of 2024. Morning temps were in the high…read moreseventies. Take water for sure. Enjoy the shade of the trees and graffiti under the bridge. We extended our hike to 2.5 miles by looping out to River Walk by the ball fields and community gardens. Boots recommended for the soft sand but not necessary.

This is a fun popular hike in Cottonwood that is good for hiking, walking, and trail running. It is…read morepretty easy and is accessible from historic old town Cottonwood near the old jail parking lot. It is 1.6 miles through a dense riparian forest where you can spot many species of birds. This trail is great for birdwatchers. The trail itself connects Old Town Cottonwood with Riverfront Park and the Verde River. I have walked the Jail Trail a couple times when visiting Cottonwood and have always enjoyed the peacefulness it offers.

Recommend: Hiking boots, sun screen, backpack for water bottle, and long pants…read more Park and ride shuttle parking lot filled up before 10AM. Go early if you are a morning person. This will help to finish the hike before noon. If you are not a morning person, download the Sedona shuttle app, follow the shuttle into the lot for a parking spot. The trail up to the cathedral rock can be narrow and steep at some sections. Going up is more difficult than coming down based on our experience. The view at the top - spectacular!

It's a great hike, views are great. The transportation can be a bit challenging. If the parking lot…read moreis full and the shuttle parking is full, you will need to park in uptown and take another shuttle. Spent more time getting to the trail head vs. the time on the hike.

We parked at the Tuzigoot River Access point after visiting the National Monument. This is a large…read moreparking lot, suitable for boat trailers. We went in January to walk along the river. It was very scenic, even though most of the leaves had fallen form the trees. There is a small beach at one location and small rapids for kayaking. Several dog walkers and a few mountain bikes were using the pathways. This would be a lovely place in the spring to fall when the trees are full.

This natural area is located next to Dead Horse Ranch State Park near Cottonwood. There is no…read morecamping or campfires in the riparian zone, but you can camp at Dead Horse Park. The river is stocked with bass, catfish, and bluegill. In the winter they stock it with trout. There is a lot of wildlife in this region to see. The Verde River is a great spot to canoe or kayak because of all the twists and turns in the river. You can load your boat at the ramp at the Tuzigoot River Access Point which has plenty of parking nearby. Swimming is at your own risk.

If you want to rock hunt and experience a remote mining area with classic high desert landscape,…read more the portion of Black Canyon Trail starting at the intersection of Antelope Creek Rd and Crown King Forest Rd 59 is a great trail. The parking area is easy to access from the I-17 by taking the Bloody Basin exit, driving 3 miles west on a good dirt road, then heading south for 2.7 miles on Antelope Creek Rd (179), take a left at the fork and drive 1.3 more miles and turn left at a stop sign and another immediate left to park at a round water tank and corral. The hike heads across FR 59 following a single track, signed trail to the south. Numerous mountain bike tracks were seen on the trail, though on a Friday we did not see any cyclists or other hikers. There are numerous outcrops of quartz and iron rich rocks that are fun to search through, and excellent views to the Bradshaws and the valleys to the east and south. Walk as far as you like on the easy trail. As you return to your vehicle, take a detour to the old Hidden Treasure Mine a short distance up a Jeep trail. There is a rusted tank, some pipes and an old Adobe structure to look at, though no rock hunting. Give the old talus piles a miss as they have clearly been used to target practice with a lot of scattered glass bottles and rusted tin cans. Before leaving the area walk around the corral to the south where there is a lovely pond with a few old sycamores and water reeds. We did not see a pump, so the water may be from a natural spring.

Doing another hike today! Going to see how far I can make it this time last time I did 1 mile and 1…read moremile back in so let's see if I can go one mile and a half to two miles okay thank you it will be a great Trail today I like it it's a bright sunny day the trails Mark there's no getting lost all you need is moderate shoes and socks to do this Trail.

Simply a marvelous place. This national forest surrounds the Grand Canyon, but it doesn't get even…read morea small fraction of attention as the Grand Canyon does. Maybe that's a good thing, since the peacefulness is one of the attractions. You really get a good sense of place when visiting. The Kaibab National forest covers 1.6 million acres, from canyons to prairies and mountain peaks. There are three sections: the North Kaibab Ranger District (north of Grand Canyon National Park), the Tusayan Ranger District (south of Grand Canyon National Park), and the Williams Ranger District. There are several visitor centers that have information about the area and things to do. Some of the national forest is scarred by forest fire, but new plant life is colonizing those areas again.

GC was closed to overnights because a water main broke... This is a good alternate choice if you…read moreare mostly "self-contained"! Very close to GC and on the same road.

I recently hiked a gorgeous trail in 105-degree weather. It was quite challenging, and halfway…read morethrough I wasn't sure if I would reach the top, but I made it! If you decide to go, here are a few tips: - There are some shaded areas where you can stop to catch your breath. - Be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen. - Use a water backpack instead of a bottle; you will need both hands free for certain sections of the trail. - Parking is very limited, so I recommend arriving early. - I do not recommend bringing little kids *Beautiful views made it all worthwhile*

I have a "life list" and Devils Bridge has been on it for a while. Well another checkmark on my…read morelist. The hike is fairly easy but there is an area with a small climb. The bridge itself might be a little intimidating if you have a fear of heights. The experience was as I imagined... spectacular. People line up for pictures and everyone is nice enough to take other people's pictures. Please come and create your own adventure.

This is a beautiful trail with a lot of vegetation and scenic variety. We did the trail from the…read moreStrawberry side hiking towards Pine. Park in the lot just east of Ralls Dr on the south side of AZ-87 in Strawberry. The first 1.5 miles wander gently up and down through pine, juniper and manzanita forests with some of the largest junipers and manzanitas that I have seen. The first 1/4 mile is close to the highway, but after that the highway noise dies out. Views of the Rim to the east and also the town of Pine open up after a mile. At about 1.5 miles the vegetation changes to juniper and low growing manzanita with little shade; however in another half mile you come to a pine shaded area and a junction to trails that lead down into the town of Pine. On a weekday in May we only saw one other hiker!

It's a beautiful walk through the Rim Country with lots of wildlife and occasional views.read more

Beautiful hike for all fitness levels. Parts of the trails can be steep but you can modify your…read moreexperience to accommodate your level. Well-maintained, spotless, no trash or graffiti (shocking for someone from LA, sadly). Free parking and no admission. Highly recommended.

I've been hiking quite a bit this summer and I saw this trail as an option. I have a pup and she…read moreisn't the most athletic so I needed to find something she could handle. I definitely would call this a beginners trail, it's not super challenging, mostly flat and easy to access. Because of these things, the trail does get crowded I've heard, but we were lucky when we went and it was pretty quiet, though we were there on a weekday morning. As you go along the trail, it is of course beautiful because we are in Northern Arizona, but the unexpected beauty of this giant red rock wall that appears almost out of nowhere is incredible. There are also caves that are super cool and fun to imagine how they came to be. I had a great time on this hike and would absolutely suggest it for the beginner hiker, considering it is only about 3 miles, or those that just want a great time outdoors soaking in the glory of Northern Arizona.