New Hiking Group Drifts Gently Across the Trails

January 31, 2025

I am delighted to announce that there’s a new hiking group in town that is about to take the trails by storm. Well, maybe not by storm, but certainly by their presence. The new group is for those who prefer to hike no more than 3 miles on the easiest of trails at a relaxed and leisurely pace. Of the seven Sedona Westerners' hiking groups, the Drifters is now the shortest, slowest, and easiest group.

The Drifters welcome members who are new to hiking in the red rocks, getting in shape or back into hiking after time away, or who simply prefer shorter, easier trails. The group was created for anyone who wants to stay active, meet new friends, discover new trails, and enjoy the fresh air, deep blue skies and towering red rocks on the wonderful Sedona trail system.

Perhaps you enjoy hiking with a group, don’t want to hike alone, want to look more carefully at the rock formations and foliage, take photos, or just want to “stop and smell the roses” (or maybe the juniper) along the way. If so, this just may be the hiking opportunity you’ve been looking for. 

Sedona Westerners voted to add the new group to their roster on January 9, 2025, and the group took their first hike the following week. I envisioned the need for this group and became its most enthusiastic advocate, so I was very pleased to be approved as the first Drifters Hike Boss (coordinator) at the same meeting. I believe this group will serve a population of hikers in the community who may have dropped out of the Westerners or didn’t join because the distance and pace of our other groups may not have met their needs or desires.   

As Hike Boss, my job is to identify and select the hikes appropriate for the group. I will scout the hikes to determine the best routes and lead the new group every Wednesday during the hiking season.

The inaugural Drifters hike took place on Wednesday January 15, 2025. Ten hikers braved the very chilly morning temperatures. We met at the Courthouse Vista parking lot, and after the usual introductions, hike description and guidelines, the new group was more than ready to roll, hoping to shake off the cold. The hike combined 4 different trails: Phone, Bell Rock Pathway, Baby Bell, and Llama for a 1.7-mile loop.

The views were spectacular on the trail. Bell Rock, Courthouse, Baby Bell, Cathedral, Rabbit Ears, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, and others could be seen simultaneously in 360-degree fashion and separately at multiple points along the way. My favorite was the iconic Cathedral Rock looming in the background and seen from just the right angle to admire all its spires.  

The terrain went from narrow, sandy, and more wooded paths to wide open rocky outcrops where the group stopped for a few moments to drink water, take photos, or adjust their clothing as the sun began to peek over the rocks and blanketed the trails with light warming everyone up. 

The group marveled at the beauty of the landscape and agreed that this 1.7-mile easy loop trail was a keeper and should become a part of the Drifters’ repertoire going forward. 

An excellent time was had by all, but the fun didn’t end at the trailhead. Several of the hikers and I went on to Oak Creek Expresso for some well-deserved delicious hot chocolate, coffee, and tasty pastries as we looked forward to the next Wednesday hike. 

I would like to extend an invitation to anyone interested in hiking with the Drifters to join the Westerners today. Visit www.SedonaWesterners.org for details on joining the club. Current members are also welcome to join us – just don’t expect the pace to be as fast as our other groups. Our next hike will be Wednesday, February 5. Come drift along with us as we take in the beauty of the red rocks one step at a time!

The Sedona Westerners Hiking Club has groups for all levels of skill. The Drifters are a good place to start. For slightly more challenging hikes we have the Amblers, Rustlers, and Drovers. These groups hike between 3-6 miles with moderate elevation gains, with the Drovers being the more challenging of the three groups. For more experienced and adventurous hikes, we have the Dogies, Mustangs, and Rough Riders. These groups hike 5-10 miles and enjoy hikes with elevation gains, rock scrambling, and rough terrain.

The Drovers will meet at Sunset Park on Sunday to hike the Airport Table Top loop. The Sedona Westerners are encouraged to participate in two Red Rock Volunteer Workdays this week including Aerie/Ground Control on Saturday and Canyon of Fools on Thursday. The Trackers group will be taking a field trip to Phoenix for a Native People in the Southwest exhibit at the Heard Museum. Other hikes this week include Sterling Pass/Many Hands/Vultee Arch (Rough Riders), Huckaby Loop (Rustlers), Baldwin Lollipop (Dogies), Norm’s Notch Loop (Mustangs), and Munds Wagon Trail (Amblers). To find out more about these and other upcoming hikes, go to SedonaWesterners.org. Membership for the season is still a bargain at only $30.