Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona

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We definitely drove to the great Oak Creek Canyon. My stomach had butterflies because of how high we were going up the mountains and how steep the the cliffs were.

We passed so many canyons and it reminded me of the long and zig zaggy roads of Baguio City, Philippines!

On our way, we were followed by many travellers going to Flagstaff, Arizona.

The scenery at the Oak Creek Canyon is spectacular and the rocks were not as reddish as those in the Sedona proper. The rocks here are more of silvery in color.

After a few miles of driving, it snake down to a river where we found some camp grounds and local communities.

There are some hotels on this side of area, too, away from the crowded town.

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We had just driven the circuitious highway 89A from Flagstaff to Sedona and as we neared the bottom of Oak Creek Canyon, campgrounds began appearing throughout Coconino National Forest.

The scenery was amazing--red rocks soared high above the campground and the forest was lush and beautiful! (picture 4)

There are four districts that make up the national forest:

Peaks District (north)---high-country mountain forests and meadows

Mormon Lake District (central)---wide-open spaces, dotted with lakes

Red Rock District (southwest)---famous red-rock canyons, Oak Creek

Mogollon Rim District (southeast)---lush forests on the edge of the Mogollon Rim

All campgrounds have a LEAVE NO TRACE policy, so it is expected all trash goes home with you.

**Click onto picture #2 of this tip and it will give you information on rates, etc.

For important information regarding camping in the Coconino National Forest, please go to www.fs.fed.us and highlight this destination.

Oak Creek Canyon is just north of Sedona. It is a favorite place for tubers and rafters to go. If the water level is good, one can tube quite a way down the creek.
People picnic and just hang out there.
It's a nice, serene place to visit on a warm spring or fall day. Summer is not the best time to visit, it is usaully very hot and usually many people are there!

This photo was taken along a trail in Oak Creek Canyon. In the summer, the Canyon's oaks and douglas firs provide welcome respite from midday heat. The winter's mild and pleasant temperatures won't make anyone run for the cover of shade, but its still a nice out of the way place to go for a walk in the woods.

Oak Creek Canyon. Highway 89A from Flagstaff to Sedona. Not to be confused with highway 89. Its an incredibly scenic drive which begins under cover of trees and opens up into the canyon. The portion of the drive along hwy 89A which begins in Flagstaff and runs through Oak Creek Canyon, ending at this scenic turnoff on the outskirts of town is not to be missed.

Oak Creek Canyon, maybe also Sedona, is quiet off the beaten path as for the huge natural splendour in famous parks like Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Arches. Hopefully, reading my report and watching my pictures, more people will enjoy this 'little' canyon and the Red Rock formations around quite Sedona.

Oak Creek Canyon. Oak Creek Canyon is Arizona's second biggest attraction (Grand Canyon is number 1, of course), and it is a place of great beauty. Sedona is in the southern section of Oak Creek Canyon. Take the road north towards Flagstaff and soon you will be in the mountains among the pines. I can smell them now! It will be snowy in the winter.