2 trails muffle Sedona’s noise
Hiking blogger Mare Czinar likes nothing better than to hit the trail. You can find more of her news and recommendations at arizonahiking.blogspot .com.
Sedona’s red rocks are famous for their beauty and soul-soothing qualities.
What they’re also really good at is absorbing noise. This is especially apparent on the Jim Thompson and Wilson Canyon trails, where russet cliffs soak up the din of nearby uptown Sedona and the bustling recreation sites at the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon.
The well-marked route traces stony ledges high above busy State Route 89A where a constant stream of cars and trucks can be seen (but not heard) rumbling across Midgley Bridge. Jim Thompson Trail jogs around the mas- sive form of Steamboat Rock through a mix of cypress forest, sandy washes and exposed slickrock.
As the trail snakes around vertical rock escarpments, the white limestone cliffs of Wilson Mountain soon come into view. There are two popular trails to its summit. The lesser-used Wilson Canyon Trail — which begins at the far east end of the Jim Thompson Trail — explores a wooded gorge below the south face.
The slender path makes a mostly easy, half-mile climb among scrub oak, cypress, juniper and occasional patches of cottonwood trees that inhabit mossembellished, spring-fed enclaves. To stay on course, look for basket cairns where the trail crosses gullies and drainages.
As the trail ascends, the canyon walls converge, echoing the sounds of dripping water and wild bird songs before ending in what appears to be a dead end. However, there’s a primitive spur path for sure-footed hikers who want to make a short but very steep, 400-foot haul up to a secluded lookout point surrounded by soaring bluffs and whispering mountain breezes. Length: 7 miles round trip. Rating: Moderate.
Elevation: 4,390-4,920 feet. Where: To reach the Jim Thompson Trailhead from the State Route 179/89A traffic circle in Sedona, go north on 89A and drive 0.3 mile to Jordan Road. Turn left and drive 0.8 mile to Park Ridge Drive. Turn left and continue 0.5 mile to the trailhead on the right. The last half mile is on a gravel road with potholes but is suitable for most carefully driven vehicles.
Details: 928-203-2900, www.fs.usda .gov/main/coconino.