Ecosystem 02 of 05
Rust-stained sandstone in a transition zone between desert and forest.
Sedona sits where the Colorado Plateau breaks off into the desert below, and that edge is what makes it so strange and green. Oak Creek runs year-round through canyons that hold cypress and sycamore, while a few hundred feet up the slope the plants are pure high desert. Two ecosystems, stacked vertically, separated by a short walk.
Field note
The rock's deep red comes from a thin coat of iron oxide, essentially rust, on sandstone laid down about 275 million years ago.
Plant life
Can seal off and kill its own branches to save the rest of the tree during drought. The gray dead limbs are a survival strategy.
Smooth mahogany bark and stiff evergreen leaves. Its seeds germinate best after fire has passed through.
The flat pads are stems, not leaves. Its magenta fruit, or tuna, has been harvested here for thousands of years.
Holds its cones closed for years and needs the heat of fire to open them and release seed.
Wildlife
Not a pig but a peccary. Nearly blind, it navigates by scent and travels in squadrons of six to a dozen.
A rare riparian specialist that nests in the sycamores along Oak Creek and hunts frogs and fish from a low perch.
Colored exactly like wet sandstone. You will hear its rattling call bouncing off the canyon walls long before you spot one.
Named for its enormous ears. It moves with a stiff-legged bounce called stotting, all four feet leaving the ground at once.
Where to go
Red Rock State ParkA quiet riparian preserve on Oak Creek with gentle loops and a visitor center. No crowds, no scrambling, excellent birding.Arizona State Parks2 hr northPer-person day-use fee
Slide Rock State ParkClosure: Swim area closedA natural sandstone water chute in Oak Creek Canyon. Arrive before 9 a.m. in summer or the lot closes on you.Arizona State Parks2 hr 15 min northPer-vehicle fee, higher in summer
Coconino National Forest, Red Rock DistrictWhere the famous trails actually are, Cathedral Rock, Devil’s Bridge, Bell Rock, and West Fork are all Forest Service land, not state park.US Forest Service2 hr northRed Rock Pass required at most trailheads
Palatki Heritage SiteCliff dwellings and one of the largest rock art panels in the region. Reserve ahead, access is by timed tour only.US Forest Service2 hr 20 min northRed Rock Pass; reservation requiredTrails to hike
West Fork of Oak CreekEasyClosure: Trail and trailhead closedA shaded canyon walk with a dozen creek crossings. The single best hike in Arizona for fall color, mid-October to early November.6.8 mi round trip249 ft gainCoconino National Forest
Devil’s BridgeModerateEnds at the largest natural sandstone arch in the area, with a short rock scramble to reach the top. Expect a queue for the photo.4.2 mi round trip524 ft gainCoconino National Forest
Cathedral RockStrenuousShort but genuinely steep, with hand-and-foot scrambling up exposed slickrock. Not a beginner hike despite the mileage.1.2 mi round trip740 ft gainCoconino National Forest
Bell Rock PathwayEasyWide, smooth, and mostly level, with the option to scramble as high up Bell Rock as your nerve allows.3.6 mi round trip200 ft gainCoconino National Forest
Eagle’s Nest LoopModerateClimbs to the highest point in the state park for a wide view over Oak Creek and Cathedral Rock. Rarely busy.1.9 mi loop300 ft gainRed Rock State ParkSeason by season
March – May
Ideal temperatures, and the creek is running high.
June – August
Hot on the rock, cool in the canyon.
September – November
The best light and the best color of the year.
December – February
Snow on red rock, and hardly anyone there.
Expanded facts