Arizona Fall Hang

**MuseJr** · 10-15-2011, 00:59

I want to car pool!!! Anybody want to swing by and pick me up?

I will be heading down Friday morning after work. Is anyone hiking in Friday afternoon/evening? It looks like a 10hr road trip from here. That would put me there around 4pm. I can leave a little early to meet someone at 2:30-3:00 if necessary.

**dejoha** · 10-15-2011, 01:23

Woot! Great MuseJr! Come on down! I'm hoping to get off on Thursday. I rarely get long backpacking trips (mostly Fri/Sat), so if I can get off Thursday and come home Saturday, that would be great.

**Swingblade** · 10-15-2011, 13:11

So that no one gets too concerned about the accessibility FR152. Parking can be found at, or within a short distance of, the transition from pavement to dirt. It is about 2.5 miles as the crow flies to the Secret Canyon trailhead. So let's say 3 miles or less of reasonably easy trekking. Road is wide and slow going for vehicles so traffic is not a concern.

Nothing is as good, or in this case bad, as it seems. First and foremost there is not a vehicle (excluding lower than av') that cannot handle this road to it's end accept for when it's wet. I've seen all kinds of regular passenger cars all along the five miles of dirt/rock road. There are a min' of 6 major trailheads which are visited by hordes of people each year. This is what many who visit Sedona come for. That said, I would not take my car.

**longbow** · 10-15-2011, 13:26

I tried my hand at creating a couple of maps. Are these correct regarding the location under consideration?

**dejoha** · 10-15-2011, 23:20

Thanks for the maps, longbow!

So, if I'm understanding the directions correctly (in comparing with Google Maps), drive through Sedona on 89A and then North on Dry Creek Road. Continue on Dry Creek Road at the "Y" (staying to the right) also known as Vultee Arch Road/FR152. It appears, from the satellite view, that Vultee Arch Road/Dry Creek Road/FR152 is dirt beginning at the Y.

Swingblade, are you saying that a sedan would have a rough go of it from this point up to the trailhead? This looks like 3.4 miles of easy walking (just over an hour on foot).

How far up the canyon do we need to go? I'm trying to figure out how much hiking I should plan on.

**Swingblade** · 10-16-2011, 01:26

dehoja - Swingblade, are you saying that a sedan would have a rough go of it from this point up to the trailhead?

Yep pretty much. Some stretches are okay, others not so much. Deep & wide tire ruts (think big trucks & 4X4's), elevated rocks/boulders, and uphill/downhill rock ladders are strategically dispersed along the FR and just for added laughs sharp rock minefields are thrown in along the way. At least that's how it was a month ago and I can't imagine it's improved since.

I personally would not drive far on this road in anything less than a suburu or small suv.

**Roadtorque** · 10-16-2011, 11:03

Sounds like 3.4 miles of road walking followed by the length of the trail. Has anyone scouted the trail before to know where good campsites are? I thought I remember reading there was a good site about 3 miles up and another one about 5 miles.

**Swingblade** · 10-16-2011, 11:43

I plan on scouting the road & trail next week. I emphasize "plan on" since every time I plan, God chuckles. I will report.

**xCarbonSteelx** · 10-18-2011, 15:09

I would be interested in going. Need to check my plans with the wife. I would need to carpool as I do not have a 4x4 vehicle. Anyone planing on going up Saturday?

**dejoha** · 10-19-2011, 00:09

Well, I just checked out the photos and videos from Hike Arizona -- I'm excited! I'm sure I'll be hiking in on the road unless Swingblade offers to drive the road -- it looks pretty bad. Should we rendezvous at 5 miles from the trailhead (near the waterfall) or at 3 miles from the trailhead?