The Beauty of Boynton Canyon

Boynton Canyon is recognized as one of the most popular hikes in Sedona.  I’ve hiked it before but didn’t make it all the way to the end.  This time I was bound and determined I would do so.   My goal was to get that beautiful picture taken from the back canyon wall looking outward.  I usually hike alone and being somewhat directionally challenged, I prefer to hike trails that are fairly well travelled.  This trail does get a lot of foot traffic, especially on the first leg.

The first mile of the trail skirts around Enchantment Resort that sits in the mouth of the canyon.  The views on this section looking down at the resort and into the canyon are beautiful, but I found the noise from the resort to be a little distracting.  I think many hikers just do this part and turn around not realizing the real beauty of the canyon begins after you get past the resort.

The next couple of miles were truly enchanting as I traveled into the heart of the canyon.  At this point, I saw few people and the only sound was that of the canyon.  There is a gradual climb and it’s realized as you see the change in the terrain and experience the drop in the temperature.  During the winter months, you can expect to find ice and snow in the back of the canyon.

Boynton Canyon is also well known for being one of Sedona’s famous vortex sites.   I’m a gal from the show me state of Missouri and a natural skeptic, but even I can’t deny that there is something special about this canyon.  I tell my guests that the vortices are subject to everyone’s own interpretation, and that to feel it is to believe it.

The last half mile or so was a steady climb up the back wall of the canyon.  I did some huffing and puffing but I made it!  I ventured up a little onto a sandstone ledge and as I looked outward, I saw and experienced the true beauty and feeling of Boynton Canyon.   Plus I got my picture! J

Boynton Canyon is approximately seven miles round-trip and rated as moderate.  The Red Rock Pass is required to park at the trailhead.

Contributed by:  Debbie Dubois, Concierge @ Sedona Real Inn

Colors of Fall in the Call of the Canyon

The Fall colors of the West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon are hard to beat during the month of October. Friends from Prescott joined me and my husband on a weekday in mid-October and away we went with cameras around the neck and walking sticks in hand. We reached the Call of the Canyon parking lot at 10:30am and glided into the last parking spot available.  It was our lucky day!  After meandering the trail for about a mile and grumbling amongst ourselves that we were too early for colors, we were all of a sudden in the middle of a kaleidoscope of red, pink and yellow hues. It was absolutely breathtaking! Canyon, Creek and Colors, the 3 C’s to a perfect hike. The actual defined trail is 3.3 miles one way encompassing 13 maneuvers crisscrossing the shallow, rocky Oak Creek.  Our hiking sticks came in very handy on those slippery creek crossings.  The Call of the Canyon/West Fork Trailhead requires a $9.00 per car fee for parking at the site.