BEAR SIGN TRAIL AND DRY CREEK TRAIL
If you're looking for a more secluded hike near Sedona and hiking down
a canyon appeals
to you, this is your hike.
HOW
TO GET THERE
This hike is located near Sedona, AZ.
From the Sedona area, take HWY 89 about 3 miles after the junction of
HWY 179 and HWY 89 in Sedona. Turn right on Dry Creek Road and go 2 miles
to the dirt road of Dry Creek Road. After about 4.4 miles on a sometimes
rough road, park at the trailhead.
RATING
Be Aware of: Rough road to get to the trailhead.
30 yr old Recommendation: This hike flat with a walk down two
occasional running streams. This is an easy
hike.
DETAILS
Elevation change: about 500 ft gradual gain.
Distance: 5.0 miles round trip.
Time: It took us two and a half hours, not including our lunch break.
Time of year: all year
Solitude: This is a good choice for secluded hiking in the Sedona area.
Not many people take this hike. When we were on it, we didn't see anyone
else on these trails.
There's actually two different canyons you can take on the Bear Sign
#59 trail. After about 0.5 miles from the parking area, the trail splits
and follows two different canyons. If you go left, you will walk down Bear
Sign Trail. If you go right, you will walk down Dry Creek Trail. Either
route is rewarding. High cliff walls and solitude abound. If you have the
time or the inclination, take both routes.
The Vultee Arch trailhead is also at this parking area (about 1.6 miles
and 500 feet up from the parking area to the arch).
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.
After you're warmed up from this hike, you will probably want to try
one of the other hikes in the Sedona area.
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