Sometimes the greater the push the bigger the reward. I certainly am not quite ready for this hike rated strenuous by the NFS, but J. and the dog were game so I agreed to see how far I could go.
North Wilson Trail #123 is a 2.8 mile in and out with a 1450 elevation gain. The trailhead is at the Encinoso Picnic Area about five miles north of Sedona on 89A north. The first .2 miles or so is like climbing Chase Field...from the Diamond to the nosebleed seats....or at least that's the way it felt. But the views are spectacular even from the lower parts of the trail and the narrow trail winding through tall grass is a delight to the senses.
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| Boundary of Secret Mountain Wilderness ©2011 Marcia Mauskopf |
At about 500 feet elevation the trail levels off a bit. It winds around tree trunks split and blackened by lightning strikes and quickly enters into the Secret Mountain Wilderness, which has over 43,950 acres of forest held within the high canyon walls.
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| Wildflowers overflowed in the middle of the forest. ©2011 Jeff Felske |
This part of the trail is so different from what we are used to in Phoenix. The lushness that my memories of California's Central Coast are made of and wildflowers personal to the region. I could have stayed forever but a fast look to the cliff tops told us that the time had melted away and a lack of flashlights made our decision to leave that part of the canyon and head back to the parking lot.
As we broke through the shadows back into the sunshine of the crest of the trail we watched the hikers ahead enjoying the view of Oak Creek and vowed to tackle this trail again and again and again.
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| Hikers making their way back down the trail. ©2011 Marcia Mauskopf |
HOW TO GET THERE:
Take 89A north through Oak Creek Canyon to the Encinoso Picnic area which will be on your left. This will be about five miles north of Sedona. There is a small parking lot here with restrooms and water fountains and ramadas shading picnic tables and charcoal grills. The trailhead itself is directly at the entrance of the park and starts elevating immediately.
