The Sedona Westerners' Amblers arrive at the Aspens

November 14, 2025

As the crow flies, Snowbowl is only 34 miles from Sedona…but the 48 miles it takes to get there by road never ceases to amaze me. Starting out in the red rocks, going up a beautiful canyon, topping out to pine trees, going through a thriving college town, and eventually ending up at over 9,000 feet surrounded by aspens, pines, and firs. The trip to get to the Kachina Trailhead did not disappoint on this day in mid-October.

Those familiar with the Sedona Westerners know that while the weather is still good up on the rim, we will do hikes in the Flagstaff area. Today was the Ambler’s turn to venture north and hike a portion of the Kachina Trail. There are actually several different versions of hike. They all start about the same place, Snowbowl parking lot No. 2, using the same trail--the difference being how far out you go before turning around. Being that it was the Amblers, this was the mildest version with about a 3-mile round trip and about 550’ of elevation gain.

You never know about the weather…especially with the recent weekend’s rain and wind event. The previous two days saw high winds up on the mountain, so everyone was prepared for chilly temperatures (forecasted to be mid 30’s) to start. When we arrived the car thermometers all said 37 degrees, but it felt much nicer than that. There was not a cloud in the sky, however. The blue sky contrasting with the green forest, a coating of frost on the higher elevations, and yellow aspens provided a near magical view for our start.

On the way up the approach road, we saw elk and several deer families with some fawns. There were several cars at Aspen Corner, but it was clear the leaf peepers were still down below having breakfast or sleeping in.

With one last warning about the many roots, rocks, and ruts on the trail we set off into the forest. There are not many vistas to be seen on the hike, so there are really no points of reference for elevation increases or decreases. Your body, however, knows immediately at 9000+ feet whether you are going up or down. The trail does not have any really prolonged grades, but there are a lot of smaller ones.

The tread is very comfortable to walk on, being forest floor, and there are many different plants and trees to see. There are fields and fields of ferns that were now brown, but just a few scant weeks ago when we scouted the trail, they were green and other vibrant colors. About ¾ mile in from the start is a huge boulder about the size of a delivery van that looks like it has rolled down the hill and been stopped by a larger tree and a smaller tree. It is a beautiful sight, but started a conversation of which came first, the tree or the boulder. I did not hear consensus on the answer. This stop also led to various layers of clothing being shed given a consistent increase in the temperature coupled with the physical exertion.

The aspens were not quite at peak color, in spite of what the Phoenix TV stations had been saying just the night before. Nevertheless, there were several beautiful stands of aspen that made for beautiful images with their white bark and yellow leaves contrasting against a blue sky. Several of us commented that there were still many green leaves on the trees so there should be beautiful color for another few weeks.

At the 1.5 mile point we came upon a sharp turn around a huge rock outcropping that was to be our break point. While some of the folks pulled up a rock and had their snack, others scrambled up another 100’ for some beautiful views down the valley towards Flagstaff and up the mountain towards frost-glazed Humphreys Peak.

After oohing, aahing, taking pictures and allowing our bodies to semi-recover from the altitude we headed back towards the trailhead. Some people find out and backs, or retracing your steps, boring but I have always found the new direction offers a whole new perspective on the trail.

On the way back we stopped for another group picture at an absolutely massive Douglas Fir…similar in size to those you find in Sequoia National Park. It must be 8 feet in diameter. There was also a little bit of wind that made for a mesmerizing whoosh through the aspen’s canopy. They truly were quaking aspens.

Arriving back at the parking lot there were a few more cars, a few more people beginning their treks down the trail, and happy Amblers having experienced a glorious adventure. We would normally carpool on a trip like this, but it seemed everyone had something to do either in Flagstaff or Sedona, so we said our goodbyes and started back down the mountain.

True to form this time of year, the leaf peepers had awoken, were parked all over the place, and gazillions of megabytes were being consumed taking pictures of the aspens. The drive back to Sedona was just as beautiful as the drive up.

The Sedona Westerners have hikes for all interests and abilities. We welcome you to check us out at sedonawesterners.org and start your new adventures. The website has the full season’s hike schedule, information on the different groups, and most importantly a link to join the club. It is the best $40 deal in town.