arizona vacations magazine - sedona issue 2

Front Cover

Sedona – No. 2

TouchstoneGallery

Pink Jeep Tours

Great Photography

on the Rocks

Uptown Sedona

Oak Creek Canyon Still as Beautiful as Ever

Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village

A Hiker’s ParadiseWinter in Sedona

Snow Decorates the Red Rocks

Red Rock Crossing

Arizona Vacations Magazine Sedona 2015

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PAC Ad

A frosty winter sunset on Cathedral Rock in Sedona.

CONTENTSCandy Gemmill

No. 2 – Sedona 2015Arizona Vacations Magazine

9635 N. 7th St. #26832 Phoenix, AZ 85068

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Visit our website to view additional beautiful color photos of Arizona. Get details on fun and economical weekend trips, special offers, and discounts for our subscribers. Find links to unique lodging, tours, and restaurants you won’t want to miss. Our collection of photography tips, secret locations, slide shows and more will help ensure your Arizona vacation is one you will enjoy and always remember!

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Publisher Tyger Gilbert

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Associate Editor Bob Forrest

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Arizona Vacations Magazine™(Print) ISSN 2374-5576 (Online) ISSN 2374-5584 is published 10 times a year by Tyger Gilbert. Subscription price is $48 per year within the USA, or $6.95 for single copies. Prices are in US Dollars. Digital Edition subscriptions are FREE. Subscriptions and single copies may be purchased on our website: ArizonaVacationsMagazine.com For any change of address, email: [email protected], or write to Subscriptions, Box 26832, Phoenix, AZ 85068. First Class postage paid at Phoenix, AZ. Foreign delivery extra. Copyright © 2015 by Tyger Gilbert. All rights are reserved worldwide. No part of this publications may be reproduced or stored by any method without prior written permission.

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Sedona Red Rocks ........................................2

Schnebly Hill Back-Road Day Trip ..................5

Red Rock Crossing and the Crescent Moon Picnic Area .......................6

Why are the Red Rocks colored red? ...........10

Uptown Sedona ..........................................12

Touchstone Gallery .....................................16

Pink Jeep Tours ..........................................18

Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village ...............20

Ken Rowe Gallery ........................................22

Bearcloud Gallery ........................................24

Winter in Sedona ........................................25

Oak Creek Canyon ......................................34

West Fork ....................................................38

Find Beauty in Arizona’s Contrast Zones ......44

Critters Nearby ............................................48

Photo Tips:10 Simple Ways to Get Better Landscape Photos ........................50

A Hiker’s Paradise ......................................52

Buy a printed copy of this magazine or subscribe to the FREE digital edition at:

ArizonaVacationsMagazine.com

Cover: Cathedral Rock at Oak Creek Crossing . Larry Pollock

Articles may contain links to websites with additional information on the topic. Photos without a credit line were taken by Tyger Gilbert unless otherwise noted.

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Arizona Vacations Magazine Sedona 2015 Arizona Vacations Magazine Sedona 2015

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Even houses are colored to blend in.

Cathedral Rock is reflected in a pool of standing rain water in Sedona.

The iconic Bell Rock just off AZ-179 east of Sedona. Nicholas PappagalloNicholas Pappagallo

Larry Pollock

The main reasons to vacation in Sedona are all the Red Rocks. The beautiful Red Rocks are the signature of Sedona. You can go just about anywhere in the area and find them all around and towering above you, just calling out to you to photograph them.

Because the scenery here is so spectacular, Sedona’s only rival for tourism in Arizona is the Grand Canyon, and many people say they prefer the Red Rocks.

Whether you like to stay in an exotic resort, camp out in the wilderness, or park your RV and drive around in your “toad”, the Sedona area can accommodate your needs in luxury and style.

Your choices for recreations are almost limitless, too. Hiking and

The big rock on the right end is called Coffee Pot Rock.

backpacking often top the list for folks who are active and in good shape. The number of great trails in wilderness areas and national forests around Sedona provide plenty of opportunities to see the Red Rocks up close.

But horseback rides, jeep tours, helicopter or airplane tours, and just driving your own car will get even the less physically fit out to see the magnificent views of this geologically amazing area.

There are many camp sites and picnic grounds by Oak Creek or in Oak Creek Canyon to relax in the shade and just unwind. And any resort has a swimming pool where you can sit back, order a

cool drink, and bask in the sun with a view of the Red Rocks.Sedona has a dry climate with a relative humidity of just 12% and little rain in May and June. August has afternoon rains just

Laura BavetzRain and thunderstorms happen frequently during the summer but usually don’t last very long.

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BACK-ROAD DAY TRIP

Schnebly HillAlthough the road up Schnebly Hill is used by the jeep tours to give visitors a thrill, the route is passable by any vehicle with high-clearance. Four-wheel drive is not required, but patience is!

Your trip starts at AZ-179 in Sedona and follows the same wagon road constructed from late 1896 to 1901. Many original retaining walls are still in place on the switchbacks needed to climb over 1,800 feet in just five miles. The rutted dirt road is not for anyone with a weak heart or bad shock absorbers, but you can stop at several turnouts on the way up to take photographs and steady your nerves.

The road is a total of 13 miles, with 6 of them being the climb up to the Schnebly Hill Vista overlook where you can see down into Sedona and the

A spectacular view from the Schnebly Hill Vista overlook at the top of the road up the mountain.

The road follows an old wagon route and provides great scenic red rock views.

Verde Valley. The last 7 miles goes through pine forests and grassy meadows and ends at Interstate 17, where you can go north to Flagstaff and return by Oak Creek Canyon, or south to

go back on AZ-179. You can do the trip in two hours, or take all day and enjoy yourself. You will need to buy a Red Rocks Pass sold at many places in Sedona in order to park along the way.

Rachel Houghton

A Century Plant flower stalk.

Red Rocks surround the beautiful Boynton Canyon.

Red rock formations on the south side of the Munds Mountain Wilderness northeast of Sedona. Nicholas Pappagallo

about every day, but it usually clears up in the evenings again. Mid-summer temperatures get into the 90’s F with lows of about 70°. Winters are mild, with the highs in the 50’s and

30’s for the lows. Spring and fall are the most ideal times to visit Sedona. Low levels of rain and snow make travel easy any time of year, with the best rates for lodging available in winter.




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Marcus Reinkensmeyer

Many weddings are performed here.

Sunset on Cathedral Rock in Red Rock Crossing park.

Residents of Pebble BeachNicholas PappagalloThe old waterwheel and pumphouse.

Nicholas Pappagallo Reflections of Cathedral Rock at Red rock Crossing.

Likely the most photographed scenic spot in all of Arizona, Red Rock Crossing is also a popular place for weddings, picnics, and just plain relaxing in the shade.

Said to be the site of a powerful vortex, Pebble Beach along the

edge of the creek, has hundreds of rock cairns and is an amusing sight whether one believes it to be an energy center, or not.

The historic waterwheel and its pumphouse, and other buildings preserved from the frontier days





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Marcus ReinkensmeyerOak Creek below Cathedral Rock

on a cold January day. (Right)

Horseback riders stop to water their horses from Oak Creek. Ed Hodges

The spectacular view of Cathedral Rock from Oak Creek Crossing is probably the most photographed scene in Arizona.

are also worthy subjects of your photos when you visit here.

It’s all part of the Crescent Moon Picnic Area, a park operated by a concessionaire of the National Forest Service, which charges a small entrance fee for day use.

The park has many picnic tables and ramadas, barbecue grills, trails for hiking, and restrooms. Visitors can wade or swim in the creek, fish for trout, bird watch, and wear out their cameras on all the fantastic scenes.

There is a rustic three-bedroom cabin that sleeps up to 10 people which is available to rent from the forest service. It has a porch with a great view and is private and secure. Info: 928-282-4119.

You will find this beautiful place by taking US-89A west of Sedona for 7 miles, then south 1.5 miles on Upper Red Rock Loop Road.




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Why are the Red Rocks colored red?The red and white rock cliffs in Oak Creek Canyon in Slide Rock State Park, north of Sedona. Steamboat Rock at the south end of Oak Creek Canyon, viewed from Huckaby trail.

The east side of Courthouse Butte, northeast of Sedona.

Keith Swango Al Tomas

Al Tomas

Al Tomas

One of the most frequently asked questions in Sedona is why are the Red Rocks colored the way they are? Sedona’s beautiful Red Rocks are a result of geological processes which have transpired over the last 270-300 million years.

Sedona’s sandstone was created when sand and sediments were deposited on river floodplains or wind-blown dunes, compressed into stone as layer after layer was built up, and eroded by wind and rain during millions of years.

After the sediments were buried, ground water seeped through it and chemically reacted with the iron minerals in it. Iron oxide coated the grains and stained the white sand red. The red rocks have a thin layer of iron oxide that coats the outside of each grain in the sandstone.

Some deposits consisted of larger sand grains with additional space between the granules. This allowed water to pass through more readily, flushing away the red stains and leaving those layers white. The white sandstone may have been red at one time, but the iron stain was flushed out. An example of this is Coconino sandstone, which is the buff colored layer above the red rocks in Oak Creek Canyon.

The lowest and oldest red rocks in Sedona are called the Supai Layer. It formed a characteristic ledge and slope topography that is observed beneath the span of the Midgley Bridge. The Supai, with its bands of alternating sandstone, mudstone, limestone, and conglomerate is a record of the numerous times the Sea washed in and retreated.

Next came the Hermit Formation, containing more mudstone than

sandstone, washed down from ancient mountains in Colorado. It weathered into a broad terrace upon which much of the city of Sedona is constructed. You can observe the Hermit Layer in the road cuts on Highway 89A north of the city in Oak Creek Canyon.

The Schnebly Hill Formation, a collection of sedimentary rock layers named after Carl and Sedona Schnebly, the founders of Sedona, came from the Pedregosa Sea. Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Coffee Pot Rock, Cathedral Rock, and all the bright red rocks in Oak Creek Canyon are in the Schnebly Hill Formation. It is divided into four subdivisions called members.

The lowest bright orange member is called the Rancho Rojo. The next member is the Bell Rock Layer, which is slightly darker and composed of sandstone and siltstone.

The Bell Rock Layer forms the sides of Bell Rock. The multiple thin white layers in this rock are records of the times when the sea eased in and out of the area depositing a layer of flat grey limestone called the Fort Apache Layer, which is only about 8 to 10 feet thick.

The capstone of Bell Rock is the Sycamore Pass Layer, documenting a withdrawal of the Pedregosa Sea.

When the sea made its final retreat, the dunes it left behind became the Coconino Sandstone formation, the cream colored layer above the Schnebly Hill red formation. Thick deposits of Coconino Sandstone are seen in Oak Creek Canyon and elsewhere on the Mogollon Rim.

Courthouse Butte has the Bell Rock Layer at its base, then the grey limestone Fort Apache Layer, the Sycamore Pass Layer, and Coconino Sandstone above it.

Al Tomas is an avid photographer, hiker, and geology enthusiast.



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Beds of brilliant flowers line the street in summer.You never know who you will see hanging around Uptown.

Many sculptures are on the street.

The main street of Uptown Sedona has a spectacular view of Wilson Mountain and Steamboat Rock to the right of it.

Nicholas Pappagallo

Larry Pollock

Every tourist attraction has its gift shop, but the Red Rocks of Sedona have a whole street several blocks long lined with gift shops – and galleries, jewelry stores, tour guides, t-shirt sellers, candy stores, restaurants, and cafes. It’s called Uptown Sedona, and it is filled with an eclectic collection of places to buy interesting and unique items to serve as souvenirs or artwork for your home.

You won’t find any shopping malls or the big box stores so ubiquitous to cities everywhere. Sedona has lots of shops and art galleries located along US-89 to the south and AZ-179 to the east, but Uptown Sedona is where the greatest number of stores of interest to visitors are concentrated all in

one place. Located just north of the second traffic circle at the intersection of US-89A and AZ-179, it’s the main street of Sedona and the center for tourists wanting to shop and eat without driving too far to do so. You can spend a couple hours, or stay all day enjoying the vast array of things to see and buy, with a great selection of food, drinks, and incredible views of Red Rocks in the process.

With about four million visitors passing through Sedona each year, the only downside to Uptown is finding a parking space, especially on weekends. If you are lucky, you might grab one of the many slots on the street itself, but the city has several free parking lots, too. Look for the blue signs.





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A view of the west side of the main street of Uptown Sedona from the Huckaby trail north of town. Al Tomas

Frank Kehren You can shop for artistic crafts, gifts, t-shirts, and more, or book a tour, or eat lunch in Uptown Sedona.The Sinagua Plaza has over 30 boutique-style shops with clothing, jewelry, and Native artworks. It’s home to the Touchstone Gallery, which is like a museum of natural gems, crystals, and fossils, and the Open Range Grill and Tavern, where you can enjoy dinner, drinks, and a superb view.

The Canyon Breeze Restaurant in the middle of Uptown offers sandwiches, pizza, ice cream and more, with a full bar and an outdoor patio.

For excellent southwestern and Mexican cuisine, the Taos Cantina has genuine Agave Tequila and favorites like street tacos, sizzling fajitas, shrimp ceviche, and other freshly-made specialties.

The Taos Cantina in Uptown Sedona.






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At the crossroads of spectacular beauty and hard-core science is a shop in Uptown Sedona called the Touchstone Gallery where you can find specimens of bone and rock that tell many stories of geologic history in Arizona.

This art gallery which doubles as a museum of Nature contains large and small mineral samples, ancient fossils, and similar shiny and valuable treasures of the Earth turned into fine artworks, furniture, and jewelry that you can proudly own. You’ll discover many interesting, unique, and gorgeous rare items at excellent prices which are not available anywhere else.

Whether you are in the market for an incredible piece of art for your home or a special gift for someone, or you just want to look at it all, it’s well worth the time for you and your family to explore this place. Your visit will be fun and educational as you marvel at their exhibits.

Touchstone GalleryNature’s Art Etched in Stone Sinagua Plaza, 320 N. S.R. 89A, Ste. 14 Sedona, AZ 86336 • 928-204-4405

TouchstoneGalleries.com

A Cave Bear skull on display in the Touchstone Gallery in Uptown Sedona.

An impressive view of the exhibits and displays from the entrance to Touchstone Gallery. Photos by Larry Pollock

A huge 27 lb. geode of Chrysocolla with Quartz drusy from Globe, AZ.

A Cave Bear skeleton on display.An exhibit of fossils and mineral crystals as distinctive artworks for the home.

Closeup of the grain in a large petrified wood slab table. Closeup of a large slice of petrified wood art on the wall.

One of several displays of Turquoise, Sonoran Sunrise Cuprite, Chrysocolla, and other gems and mineral specimens that are found in Arizona and valued by collectors.




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Two Pink Jeeps returning from a tour on a cool but sunny and beautiful day in January.

Tour Jeeps are specially built and regularly maintained to ensure safety.

A view on the Broken Arrow Trail, a very popular tour. The top of Submarine Rock is a fun stop to explore.

Nicholas Pappagallo

Exciting photo opportunities are non-stop as your driver navigates the rocks.

The expertly driven Jeeps are agile and sure-footed.Tours follow rough jeep trails in Pinyon Pine and Mesquite.

Pink Jeep® Tours Sedona204 North State Route 89A Sedona, AZ 86336 • (800) 873-3662

PinkJeepToursSedona.com

Tyger Gilbert

Taking an off-road tour is a fun experience that everyone who visits Sedona should do at least once, if not every time they come to this beautiful vacation town.

Pink Jeep Tours is not the only company providing excursions of this sort, but they have been around more than 50 years and are the biggest and the best.

After hiking in the area for ages and seeing Pink Jeeps all over the place, I finally decided I had to try it myself. What a blast!

The driver was friendly and gave an almost non-stop description of the plants and trees, history of the region, and facts about the Jeeps and the geology of the rocks the vehicle was traversing. I thought I knew a lot about this, but I learned much more from him on this great two-hour trip.

The tour I chose is called Broken Arrow, and it goes through some of the most spectacular scenic

back country you can imagine. The views are so incredible you’ll get good pictures anytime, but for the best photos, plan to go in late morning or early afternoon, as the light on the red rocks is better and the shadows are less then.

These tours take you places you could never go in your passenger car or van, and the driving skills of the guide lets you enjoy the ride in comfort without worrying about getting stuck. It’s thrilling as a roller coaster, but it’s longer lasting and not as rough on you. You’ll be glad you did it.

Tyger Gilbert is a photographer and travel writer, and is the publisher of Arizona Vacations Magazine.





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Nicholas Pappagallo

Nicholas PappagalloLarry Pollock Stairway in the inner courtyard at Tlaquepaque.

The gateway arch at Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village.

Luminarias festival.

Fountain and courtyard in Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village. Logan Brumm

Designed to look like a Mexican village, Tlaquepaque has a mix of specialty shops, art galleries, clothing and jewelry stores, and restaurants nestled in among vine covered stucco walls and

sycamore trees that makes your shopping and eating here quite stimulating and pleasant. Watch as gifted artisans work on their paintings and sculptures in real on-site studios and galleries. See

traditional ceremonies and event celebrations that add interest and excitement to your shopping. It’s truly an experience you won’t get anywhere else because this place is so one-of-a-kind.

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Photos by Larry Pollock

Nature and animals in Arizona and the Southwest is the theme at the Rowe Fine Art Gallery in Tlaquepaque, featuring bronze sculptures by Ken Rowe and the works of 20 other distinguished sculptors, painters, and jewelers.

Ken’s wonderful style of sculpture was influenced by his love for animals and working for 14 years as a taxidermist where he got an education in animal anatomy.

He has been sculpting in bronze for more than 20 years now, and has won numerous awards. He adds texture and a finish to each bronze which expands upon the natural look of the animal and brings out the emotional appeal and artistic creativity of the work.

Whether you’re just a visitor who enjoys viewing great art, or are a serious art collector, you should drop in to experience this gallery.

Rowe Fine Art GalleryUnder the Tlaquepaque Bell Tower336 SR 179, Suite A-102Sedona, AZ 86336 • 928-282-8877www.RoweGallery.com

“With Age Comes Wizdom,” bronze wolf. “Petunia,” a Javelina, or Collared Pecarry, by Ken Rowe.

Ken Rowe, working on-site in his gallery sculpting clay for his latest piece to be cast in bronze, pheasants in flight.

“Moon Shadow,” Owl in Bronze by Ken Rowe, and an oil painting, “Revisiting History,” by Sue Kryzston.

“Mother Nurture,” a Bobcat and her kittens in bronze.

Bronze sculpture, “A Close Call,” by Ken Rowe, and an oil painting, “Monument Valley Cloud Break” by John Rasberry.

Sculptor Ken Rowe and his bighorn ram “Highborn” in bronze.




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Photos by Larry Pollock

A Mountain Lion Manitou figurine.A display of paintings in a corner of the Bearcloud Gallery in Tlaquepaque.

Stories of ancient symbols and Native American spirituality come alive in Bearcloud’s art. He says “I paint what my heart has to say. It is what I feel to be a mission of my spirit as I walk upon Earthmother.”

Visit his gallery to see the beauty of his work yourself.

Bearcloud GalleryTlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village335 SR AZ-179, C107Sedona, AZ 86336 • 928-282-4940www.BearcloudGallery.com

Bearcloud extends his paintings onto the mat and frame in his unique creative style. A winter storm dropped a light snow on the main street of Uptown Sedona in January. Jessie Ayers

Ed Hodges A male quail runs into bushes covered with snow. A winter snowstorm seems like a rare event in Sedona, because the weather is normally sunny and nice so much of the time.

it does snow a few times each winter, but it usually melts off by mid-day or late afternoon. The average monthly snowfall is less than 15 inches a month, which doesn’t compare with most areas in the Rocky Mountains.

But when it does snow, the Red Rocks show through and make a dazzling photograph when the light is just right. Many amateur and professional photographers are out looking for just the right shot here whenever it snows.

At an altitude of just 4500 feet, Sedona has a climate that is very comfortable and good for traveling most of the year. Even in winter, the roads are never closed because of snow. Resorts are open all year around, and if you like it cool but not freezing






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An old tree frames a snowy Cathedral Rock image.Marcus ReinkensmeyerRed Pyracantha berries in snow.

Ed Hodges

Ed HodgesThe El Rojo Grande rock formation in winter snow.

cold out, the rates for lodging and transportation are lower, there are fewer other tourists to deal with, and it may seem like

an ideal time to take a vacation in the Sedona area. And, if you like hiking and taking photos, the opportunities for a fantastic

Red Rocks image may be waiting for you at the next bend in the trail. You won’t have to go far to capture that perfect shot.

Larry PollockA visitor marvels at snow on Bell Rock.






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A light winter snow blankets west Sedona as the sun sets on Thunder Mountain and Coffee Pot Rock.

C. Edward Brice



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Nicholas Pappagallo

Snow on the rocks in Sedona.

Archie TuckerA cold day looking up at Cathedral Rock from the park at Oak Creek Crossing in Sedona.

Courthouse Butte wearing a coat of winter snow. Larry Pollock Jessie AyersBuildings in the town of Sedona and the Red Rocks to the west covered in January snow.

Larry PollockWhere Fall meets Winter in Sedona.

A winter sunset on Cathedral Rock and Oak Creek. Candy Gemmill

To get the best exposure preset your camera for bright light, or put it on program mode and set the contrast flatter than normal to avoid losing detail in shadows and highlights.








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Larry Pollock

Late afternoon sunshine on Cathedral Rock with Courthouse Butte in the background after a light snowstorm in early January.



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Slide Rock, where swimmers enjoy riding a natural sluice in the river at Slide Rock State Park.

Oak Creek provides a wonderful space where families can enjoy the water.

Kevin Dooley

Looking down into the canyon from the Oak Creek Canyon Vista at the top on Highway AZ-89A. (Left)

Tyger Gilbert

Oak Creek Canyon is just north of Sedona and it contains many places where the whole family can have fun and enjoy seeing the Red Rocks up close. Highway AZ-89A runs the length of the canyon and connects Sedona to Flagstaff. The drive itself is a rewarding experience. Be sure to stop at the Oak Creek Canyon Vista overlook for photos of the entire expanse below you.

Slide Rock State Park is 7 miles north of Sedona. Visitors enjoy sliding down a natural chute in the creek and sunning on the rocks. The park is also the site





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A visitor to Cave Springs Campground.

Midgley Bridge, built in 1939, stands at the entrance to Oak Creek Canyon.

Oak Creek provides a cool place to relax at Junipine Resort.

Indian Gardens is a popular place to stop for lunch in the canyon.

Marcy Burgis

A yellow Camphorweed blossom.

Trout are stocked in Oak Creek.

Numerous tranquil pools like this can be found for fishing and relaxing along the entire length of Oak Creek Canyon.

A pink Pineywoods Geranium flower.

of historic homestead buildings and apple orchard of Frank L. Pendley, who came to the area in 1907 and built his home and later cabins for tourists in 1933. You can’t rent the cabins, but they and the orchard buildings can be explored on the site.

There are a number of rustic but modern lodges and cabins in the canyon which can be rented and are right next to the creek for a cool and quiet stay.

Three campgrounds are run by national forest concessionaires within the canyon. Cave Springs Campground is the largest and prettiest, nestled into ponderosa pines with 82 sites right next to or near the creek. It has the full compliment of tables, grills, and toilets available. It even has hot water showers for a small fee.

Pine Flat Campground is just a mile farther up the canyon and

has 56 good sites in the pines with all the same amenities. The showers at Cave Springs may be used by guests at Pine Flat.

Manzanita Campground is the

smallest, with only 18 campsites close together in ash and box elder trees, but nice fishing and swimming pools are nearby in the creek. No RV’S here.

Grasshopper Point is a popular place for swimming and picnics. Many people jump off the cliffs here, though it is discouraged by the Forest Service officially.

Six day-use picnic areas with tables, ramadas and restrooms are located in the canyon. a small fee or access pass is required.

Several hiking trails start in the canyon and go along the creek or up the side cliffs. Call of The Canyon has a gorgeous picnic area and is the trailhead for the West Fork Trail going next to the West Fork of Oak Creek.










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Towering trees with colorful autumn leaves in the West Fork Canyon. (Left)

Larry Pollock

A Fuzzy Bear caterpillar in West Fork.

The ruins of a 1930’s orchard storage house at the entrance to the canyon.

The trail in West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon is one of the prettiest in Arizona any time of year. Marcus Reinkensmeyer

Proclaimed by many to be the most beautiful place in the state, the West Fork of Oak Creek and the canyon that bears its name, or simply “West Fork”, is truly special to anyone who has gone there, no matter the season.

You have to get there early to get a parking place at the Call of The Canyon where the trailhead is, but it is well worth the effort.

The trail winds along the creek and passes over it several times, eventually requiring wading in the water to continue going to the end of the canyon.

The canyon itself is very narrow and the red cliffs tower above you with trees and cactuses in the cracks and crevasses of the rocks all the way up.

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An abstract of fall leaves and bubbles in the creek water.Red and golden leaves of Fall backlighted in the canyon.

A pattern of yellow leaves in October. A large Ornate Tree Lizard on a log.

Many different shades of yellow, red, and brown leaves cover the ground in Fall. Marcus Reinkensmeyer

A family having fun sliding down the rocks in West Fork of Oak Creek.A young girl enjoying the pond.

This pool in West Oak Creek is a popular place to stop, rest, and take photos of the beautiful water and surroundings.

There is only one bridge at the beginning of the trail. You will have to step on stones to cross the creek everywhere else.

Several tranquil pools are used for swimming when the water is warm. Places where the creek turns and washes up against the red stained walls of the canyon are favorite photography scenes.



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Bees attending a patch of sunflowers by the creek.White Santa Catalina Mountain Phlox flowers.

A Common Buckeye butterfly on a flower in West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon.

Green bug on a yellow Camphorweed flower. Raindrops catching the light just right on Lupine leaves.

The rock cliffs of West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon tower above the

pine trees by the trail. (Right)

Tyger Gilbert

It’s like something out of an old storybook tale you treasured as a kid, with colorful leaves and flowers all around you, and bugs and butterflies on many of them. It appears so beautiful and ideal, almost too much to seem real at times. But there you are, and yes, it is very much real.

Be sure you allow enough time to thoroughly enjoy West Fork. Don’t try to hurry just to get to the end so you can turn around and come back. Stroll casually so you see more of all there is to see. And take a flashlight with you. It gets dark way too soon.

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Lisa Langell

What does exploring Arizona look like to you? Is it hiking through the high country, camping near an alpine field, or skiing the slopes? What about boating on Lake Havasu, off-roading near Sedona, trail riding in the Sonoran Desert, or stargazing into an ebony sky? Each endeavor offers exquisite experiences, but to elevate your sense of what Arizona offers – to sense two separate experiences almost simultaneously, and to truly feel the uniqueness of this beautiful place, you must seek a secret unknown to even many locals. You must tune into – and discover – the places of contrast.

Points of contrast allow us to experience two opposing textures, feelings, colors, senses, or states in a polarized, yet connected way. For contrast to occur, one subject cannot exist without the other. They are opposites that

define each other, juxtaposed. Lightness, by definition, cannot exist without darkness. A state of dullness makes the existence of sharpness possible. Coolness sets the table for warmth to be felt. These points of contrast are often where displays of nature are at their finest.

Experiencing Arizona’s zones of contrast allows explorers to absorb another side to the stunning vistas, flora, fauna and character that is uniquely part of the iconic Southwest. The region in and around Sedona is abundant with contrasting examples of nature. From the cliffs of the towering Mogollon (muggy-yawn) Rim, to cool waters deep into the heart of Oak Creek Canyon, and the land along the nearby Sonoran Desert, here are a few tips to initiate and discover your own unique and fulfilling outdoor sensory experience.

A male Anna’s Hummingbird stops to rest on a twig for a moment.

Two white Great Egrets.

Photos by Lisa Langell

Spring Migration – a Contrast of Color:The muted feathers of wintering birds are dull, in contrast with the brightly colored breeding plumages of over two hundred species of birds that migrate through the region each spring. There are transitional zones as the altitude changes within the Verde Valley, offering excellent points of contrast that concentrate numerous diverse species within close range.

When the coolness of winter starts to mingle with warming temperatures of spring, a flutter of color and contrast paint Sedona and the Verde Valley area. Birds such as Summer Tanagers, hummingbirds, waterfowl, wading birds, warblers, raptors and more pass through. Numerous areas such as Dead Horse State Park, Red Rock State Park, Sedona Wetlands, Bubbling Ponds, Fossil Creek and many more

offer excellent bird watching opportunities within the region.

Wildlife in the Contrast ZonesLarge mammals in Arizona can often be elusive; however, look for

them in zones of contrast, such as along the boundaries between forests and open meadows, along the banks of bodies of water, and at dawn or dusk when they are most active.

(Continues)

A Collared Peccary, called a Javelina in Arizona, in the brush near Sedona.

A bright Western Tanager in its summer plumage. A bull Elk in the pine forests north of Sedona.




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A male Western Bluebird with a caterpillar for dinner.

The Landscape in the Contrast ZonesVisit the shared boundary between the Verde River and Sonoran Desert. Explore the beautiful waters along the extensive, 170-mile long Verde River – running just south of Sedona through to the Fountain Hills area of the Sonoran Desert region. The proximity of iconic desert sentinels – saguaro cactuses – sit in contrast against their reflection among the mirrored pools of the tranquil Verde River.

The land in and around Sedona and the Verde Valley offers stunning contrasts between day and night. Catch a sunrise or sunset when there are a few clouds in the sky – and you are instantly offered a spectacular view of mountain silhouettes defined by a color-rich sky.

Find the contrast in your own journey through Sedona and the Verde Valley region. Look at the highlights, shadows, river

banks, and places of transition. Beauty in these special places can be found in the simplest of things. Simply take pause and observe the area around you. Attend to the details. Notice the song of a bird punctuating the silence of the cool forest. Study the softness of an agave leaf in contrast with its tack-sharp tip. Take in the redness of Sedona’s

vertical cliffs against the greenery and waters of the canyon floor. You will leave this area far richer for the experience.

Lisa Langell is a photographer and writer for Arizona Vacations Magazine, is an award-winning wildlife photographer, and instructs nature and wildlife photography workshops in Alaska and Arizona.

A Coyote looks over his shoulder for some water birds he is hunting.

Saguaro cactuses are reflected in a pool of the Verde River in the Verde Valley, south of Sedona in early Fall.



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When you live in Sedona, sometimes you get to see Bobcat kittens or Coyotes in your back yard.

You also may see them when you visit Sedona, but you’ll need to take your time and look carefully. Our wild animals are shy and quickly disappear.

A Gila Woodpecker enjoying cactus fruit. Lisa Longell

A Collared Lizard on top of Doe Mountain west of Sedona.

A female orange Dragonfly perched on a dried Mullen flower stem at West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon. Tyger Gilbert

Lisa Longell Lisa LongellCottontail Rabbit A Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly on a red flower.

Twin Bobcat kittens on a rock in the back yard. Coyote in the grasses. Ryan SmithLarry Pollock








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Cusi Taylor

Have you ever found yourself looking at your travel photos thinking; “I wish I could have captured that amazing sky (or grand vista, or towering pines) the way I remember it was.” Well, here are a few pointers to help you bring home that beautiful image.

1. Shoot when the light is golden – during sunrise, or sunset. This is called the “golden hour”, when the sky is still bright, but the sunlight is much warmer in color and isn’t shining from directly overhead. This allows for less harsh shadows and reflections, and more saturated colors in your images.

2. Don’t shoot right into the sun (unless you’re purposely going for a starburst kind of effect), or you could end up losing all the detail in your image. Shoot with the sun directly behind you or at an angle over your shoulder to ensure your scene is evenly lit with that warm, golden sunlight.

3. Check camera mode or scene setting and make sure it is on landscape, outdoor or the equivalent setting. If your camera is still on macro/flower mode from that long beautiful hike up to the overlook, you may miss getting the shot you worked so hard for. For more complex cameras, choose Aperture Priority (A/Av) mode

Photography Tips

10 Simple Ways to Get Better Landscape Photos

Golden hours make colors richer and a tripod allows for longer, sharper exposures.

This photo doesn’t tell much of a story about its subject or its location.

Photos by Cusi Taylor

between f11 and f18, and put your ISO at 100.

4. Use a tripod to get the sharpest shot. If you don’t have a tripod, or can’t bring one where you are shooting, get creative. Find a big rock, guard rail, or other solid object to brace your camera against movement. A small travel bean-bag pillow can do wonders to stabilize your camera on an uneven surface. Even your rolled up jacket may do the trick. The solution doesn’t have to be fancy, just functional.

5. Make sure that your camera is level. Try not to allow sloping hillsides or architecture to cause you to accidentally shoot at an angle. Look for naturally vertical and horizontal components in the image, such as straight tree trunks, cloud lines, etc.

6. Place your horizon on the upper third or lower third of your image, rather than right in the middle so the viewer knows which to focus on. If the sky is magnificent, place the horizon low in your image. If the sky is blah, but the terrain is gorgeous, place the horizon high in your image.

7. Be sure to include foreground, mid-ground and background elements in the scene. You may need to look for alternate vantage points. For example, crouch down low to fit a plant into the frame. Step up on a bench or other sturdy object to get a different point-of-view.

8. Put your focus point on something that is about 1/3 of the way into your scene. This will ensure that the image is sharp from your foreground through your background.

9. Weather is interesting. Clouds add depth and texture to an image. Clear, flat, empty skies can leave your image looking as if something is missing. Don’t be afraid to shoot when there is a bit of weather going on.

10. Include people. Many images, particularly landscapes, look better when people are in the picture. We all have a good general idea how tall the average person is. A photograph of a river, canyon, natural rock feature, etc. can be much more compelling to the viewer when people are included in the photo help to give the viewer a sense of scale.

That’s it! These tips will help you get great landscape shots to capture the memories of your next day trip or vacation. Now get out there and get shooting!!

Cusi Taylor is a contributing writer for Arizona Vacations Magazine, an avid photographer and Vice President of the Photographers Adventure Club.

Centering the subject and horizon can create a boring image.

Turning the camera to a horizontal position, shifting the horizon, and offsetting the subject creates a more interesting image.

Foreground, mid-ground and background elements give your images depth and distance.

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Pam BarnhartHikers get a spectacular view on top of the Bear Mountain Trail #54 northwest of Sedona.

Mountain bike riders can enjoy many trails in Sedona, like Bell Rock Trail here.

Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus flower.

West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon trail ablaze with color in Fall.

The rough and eroded south side of Hell Rock, east of Sedona.

The Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte loop is relatively easy and well maintained.

Pam Barnhart

The Sedona area has more than 300 miles of trails of various levels of difficulty, many of which are quite suitable for beginners or anyone wanting an easy hike to just get a better look at the Red Rocks while on vacation. Others may be challenging even for the more experienced hikers. Some great hikes we recommend:

Bear MountainOne of the most difficult hikes, 2.5 miles one way with 2000 ft. climb in about 2 miles up the side of the mountain. Junipers, pines, and lots of prickly pear cactuses by this steep and rocky trail. The sights keep getting better the higher you go, and on top you have panoramic 360° views as far north as Flagstaff.

West ForkGreen and full of life in spring and summer, a riot of colors in fall, and always full of hikers and photographers. Serene and quiet after snows in winter. Almost flat and very easy hike, but the trail crosses the creek 13 times in a total of 6 miles one way.

Begins at the Call of the Canyon day use picnic area and goes by the ruins of Mayhew’s Lodge that was built in the early 1900’s. See a forest of Gambel oak, bigtooth maple, cottonwood, juniper and pine trees surrounded by ferns, reeds, and colorful wildflowers.

Goes through a narrow gorge with sheer red rock cliffs above. Easily the best canyon hike in the entire Sedona area.

Bell Rock Path and Courthouse LoopOn of the most popular trails in Sedona with both mountain bikers and hikers, this 4.5 loop trail is rated easy to moderate. It’s fairly flat except for some stair-stepping, or if you want to climb up Bell Rock itself.

View many other formations like Castle Rock, Cathedral Rock, Capitol Butte, Rabbit Ears, and Robbers Roost. Watch the signs and cairns so you don’t get onto connecting trails. And be sure to stop and explore Spaceship Rock northeast of Courthouse.

Accessible from Bell Rock Vista or Courthouse Vista off AZ-179.




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Many red rock formations appear on all sides of the Boynton Canyon Trail.

The Piano in the Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole on Soldier Pass Trail. Pam Barnhart

Pam Barnhart The Sacred Pools found on the Soldier Pass Trail.

Engleman’s Prickly Pear blossom.

Courthouse Butte seen from the Airport Loop Trail on the Airport Mesa.

Huckaby Trail crosses Oak Creek below Midgley Bridge in Oak Creek Canyon.

Different layers of the red rocks are visible on the Secret Canyon Trail.

Queen butterfly in Sycamore Canyon.

Boynton CanyonThis is a very popular trail that is easily accessible by the paved Dry Creek Road. Consequently you may find parking is crowded, but it is such a pretty hike that it will be worth the hassle.

Just 3 miles long, it’s easy and mostly level with no especially difficult spots or steep climbs except for a very short uphill section at the end. Total gain in elevation is only 400 feet.

You skirt Enchantment Resort at the beginning, but quickly are in the red-walled canyon walking in mesquite and juniper bushes. You can explore a small Anasazi ruin that is accessible by a short side trail halfway up the canyon.

Soldier PassThe trailhead begins at the end of Soldier Pass Road going north from West Sedona. The trail ends where it intersects with the Brins Mesa Trail. You get spectacular views of Coffee Pot Rock and the ridge north of it, Less than a mile out, you visit the Devil’s Kitchen, a huge sinkhole, and the Seven Sacred Pools worn in sandstone.

At 1.3 miles from the trailhead, a side trail takes you up to the three Soldier Pass Arches.

This is a moderately difficult hike with an elevation change of only 450 feet. It’s just 1.5 miles one way, or you can extend it to as much as 7 miles by adding the Brins Mesa Trail to it.

Airport LoopYou enjoy great views of Sedona in every direction on this trail that circles Airport Mesa, which officially is Table Top Mountain. Many trails intersect with this, so follow the signs. It’s moderate, with an elevation change of 270 feet in 3.5 miles. Access is off Airport Road going up the mesa.

HuckabyThis popular hike can start at the Midgley Bridge trailhead or at the trailhead on Schnebly Hill Road. It’s 2.6 miles one way and gives you views of Uptown Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, Steamboat Rock, and Wilson Mountain.

You cross Oak Creek on stones, or get your feet wet trying. A short 0.3 mile trail connects Huckaby to Grasshopper Point, where you can swim, or find pools next to the trail to dip. Bring a swimsuit.

Secret CanyonTrailhead is off Dry Creek Road, and you will need high clearance to get there, but you get breath-taking views of the red rocks for the effort. The hike is moderate at 5.5 miles with an elevation change of 800 feet. Extend it to a loop with David Miller and Bear Sign trails and it becomes a strenuous loop at 6.2 miles.

Secret Canyon is long, narrow, and overgrown with lush growth and has a year-around stream with pools and cascades. Worth the time for a very pretty hike.

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Arizona Vacations Magazine Sedona 2015

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Looking toward Fay Canyon from top of Doe Mountain northwest of Sedona.

A brave hiker standing on the Devil’s Bridge natural rock arch.

A view of Sycamore Canyon from the Parson Springs trailhead.

A large Spectacle Fruit flower found by the creek in Sycamore Canyon.

(Opposite) A family hiking on the Munds Wagon Trail on Schnebly Hill.

Larry Pollock

Doe MountainA 450 foot climb up this isolated flat top mesa produces fantastic views of the entire area. Just 0.6 mile to the top, plus 1.3 miles on the loop around the rim.

Devil’s BridgeThe largest natural arch formed of red Supai sandstone in the area. Moderate climb of 492 feet and 1.4 miles one-way. View the arch from below, or go on top of it for a spectacular photograph.

Parson SpringsAn easy 7 mile round trip up the gorgeous Sycamore Canyon by a lush riparian area of Sycamore Creek takes you to the Parson Springs pool for swimming. Trail descends 180 feet in 200 yards at the trailhead, which is tough coming out, but worth it. Popular and fun destination in summer.

Munds Wagon TrailThe historic Munds Wagon Trail follows the original route up on Schnebly Hill. It’s a strenuous 7.6 miles round trip with a 1050 foot elevation gain, but it’s very scenic and rewarding. Cow Pies Trail is just across the road and goes an easy 3 miles for great views, too.

Always check the weather report before you hike and take plenty of extra water with you.


arizona vacations magazine - sedona issue 2

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