Weekend Warriors Arizona Hiking Guide

HARDING SPRING AND COOKSTOVE

If a semi-steep climb to nice views of the Oak Creek Canyon appeals to you, this is your hike.

HOW TO GET THERE

This hike is located in Oak Creek Canyon, which is just North of Sedona, AZ.

From the Phoenix area, take I-17 North to exit 298 to HWY 179 West into Sedona. Follow the signs to 89A North and park along side the road near mile marker 387 The trailhead is on the East side of the road.

RATING

Be Aware of: Short Steep climb. Careful about crossing HWY 89A.

30 yr old Recommendation: Short semi-steep climb to great views in quiet, cool Sedona. Good for those looking for solitude. This is a Moderate hike.

Leave the young kids and out of shape at home.  

DETAILS

Elevation change: about 1200 ft ascent to the East Canyon Wall of Oak Creek

Distance: 5 miles round trip.

Time: It usually takes us three hours with a 30 minute stop at the top for views and lunch.

Time of year: Late Spring, Summer or Early Fall.

Solitude: One nice thing about Sedona is not many tourists make it past the shopping.  Expect to see 3-7 other people on a weekend.

Not many people seem to know about this hike, as every time I've been there, I haven't had to share the views with too many people.

Sedona has recently instituted a "Red Rock Pass", which is a fancy way of saying you need to pay to play. As of May, 2002, the fee is $5 per day per vehicle. There are plenty of places in and around Sedona to pay this fee and get the receipt, which you need to put on your vehicle dash to keep from being towed.

From the Cookstove trailhead, it's just under a mile to the top of the East wall of Oak Creek Canyon. The top is a nice place to spend lunch, sitting on rocks and looking at the cool rock formations of the West wall of the canyon. Good views abound.

The hike continues south along the ridge of the canyon through a sparse forest of pine. The trail here is flat and the canyon views pop out once in a while. After about two miles, you reach the Harding Spring trail. Follow the trail back down to HWY 89A and walk the final 1.3 miles back to your car on the shoulder of the Highway.

[Views from the rim]

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