West Fork Treasure

November 29, 2024

The fabled Oak Creek West Fork Trail is a seven-mile ramble, bejeweled with thirteen shimmering creek crossings, glowing red rock cliffs and patios, and the world’s most extravagant spectacle of Fall color. Every year around 200,000 people trek through this magical landscape to experience its wonders.

The Drovers of the Sedona Westerners Hiking Club chose West Fork as our kick-off hike for the season, due to its shady paths and cool, pristine waters during the heat of late summer. As we set out along the sandy path, we were engulfed by a profusion of wildflowers that extended for a third of a mile through sweeping meadows and fragrant apple orchards. Like children, we scampered amongst the trees, foraging for the rosy, tart fruits. Here we paused for a moment to watch a young, rogue hiker scramble up a tree, like a playful bear cub, to gobble up the ripest apples.

As we nibbled our tiny, sour fruits we passed into a cool forest of firs, box elders, and maple trees. We drank in the quiet and simultaneously quickened our pace to beat the plethora of hikers who would surely be close upon our heels. The trail then curved toward the creek and dropped down into the first crossing. There, a combination of logs and flat stones were cobbled together to create a makeshift bridge. We hopscotched gleefully from one bright stone to the next and carefully scooted across floaty balance beams to the trail on the other side.

Climbing out of the creek we headed uphill and encountered a rugged section of trail. The solid rock construction had been scrambled into a steep pile of rubble by monsoon storms and the boots of thousands of hikers. As we walked on, we encountered more of these washed-out sections of trail.

West Fork and other iconic trails like it are some of the most precious jewels in the crown of America. They give us access to the outdoors and allow us to engage in the wonders of our magnificent public lands. Their beauty and artistry grace the national landscape and generate an anthropological currency that reflects our values and our love of place. Our trails are our inheritance; they are our patrimony. Being such, should we not afford them ample provision of care and the highest priority when it comes to their conservation?

As we neared the end of the 3-mile trail we paused for lunch on a tiny beach surrounded by red sandstone cliffs and a “subway” rock formation. While we lounged on fallen logs munching our Stinger Waffles, several hikers waded along the subway curve to explore a bit of the 14-mile backpacking water trail that extends to the end of Oak Creek Canyon. Parts of the trail feature deep and very cold water through which backpackers must swim with thirty-pound packs of food and gear.

Heading back in the heat of the day, we splashed our way through the remainder of the thirteen creek crossings amongst a throng of pets going by fashionably ubiquitous dog names such as Ernest and Bill. The dogs wallowed and jumped for joy in the creek, while lashing together with their leashes the ankles of any Drovers caught in their midst. As we exited the creek we disentangled ourselves from the dog nation and finished our West Fork hike with another pass through the meadow perfumed with apples, ripe blackberries, and wave upon wave of a dozen species of brilliant wildflowers. This is what we mean when we say treasure - and West Fork truly is a Sedona treasure.

As Americans we should adjust our thinking and our priorities if we want to preserve gems like West Fork Trail for present and future generations. We must build a national culture of stewardship. How? Volunteer. Donate. Educate. Leave no trace.

The volunteer-guided hikes arranged by the Sedona Westerners are a good way to experience the trails around Sedona, and to learn about trail history, geology, and etiquette while enjoying all that the trail system in the area has to offer. Our upcoming hikes range in distance and elevation gains – offering something for every hiking level. The Rough Riders and the Dogies will climb the Huckaby Heights and Transept trails. While the Rustlers, Drovers, Amblers, and Mustangs will take hikes ranging from 4 miles to 6.5 miles, with elevation gains up to 850 feet. To find out about the upcoming hikes and to join the Sedona Westerners for the season ($30), go to ww.SedonaWesterners.org.