Hiking Hotspot: Peaceful Creeks & Red Rock Views along Sedona’s Huckaby Trail
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Sedona is home to dozens and dozens of wonderful trails, some extremely difficult uphill climbs only for advanced hikers like the A.B. Young Trail, and others short, flat treks like Fay & Wilson Canyon, which are perfect for beginners. Then, there are trails of moderate intensity which are perfect for regular gym goers seeking a challenge, yet not something exhausting enough to put a dent on their vacation energy. One of these fantastic medium intensity trails is the Huckaby, a lovely 2.8 mile out-and-back trail journey through amazing red rock landscapes with the added bonus of beautiful, relaxing creek scenery along the course.
This is one of my favorite peaceful trails as it does not receive much tourist traffic. As a local of neighboring Flagstaff, I regularly made my way out to this trail to enjoy the peace and quiet. This one features some big wide open views, although it is not very shady so not a great summer pick.
Big open views & plenty of green plant life
This hike starts pretty easy with an enjoyable walk through open desert, complete with many panoramas of various red rock formations. Every direction features fantastic scenery and there really are not many trees to block anything. As you venture along, you will come across many interesting desert plants, including a variety of cacti, and even some summer wildflowers if you are lucky.
The one downside of this trail is that there is not enough signage. Although, you will see a number of cairns (stacked up rocks serving as trail markers) in the beginning, they seem to slowly fade away as you move forward. At several points along the trail, it can be confusing to know where to go as the trail splits in all different directions. I recommend marking the route so it is easier to find your way back.
Check out some of these great views along the course. The variety of desert plant life is exciting and the red rock views are quite stunning.
One of the few hikes with a secret swimming hole
The trail continues on a slightly downhill slope with a few inclines until you reach a beautiful section of Oak Creek where you will be challenged to 2 fun creek crossings. You will need to use the logs and rocks to make it across, or you can have some fun & cool off during the hot summer months by just walking across (the water will be just up to your knees or so). Be careful it is quite slippery and do not attempt to cross when the water runs too high! One time I was so hot (I seriously should not have hiked in mid summer) that I basically jumped into the water to cool down. It really helped and I was able to comfortably finish the hike.
Because of the 90-100 degree summer temperatures, you will find some tourists simply wading in the water attempting to cool off. Huckaby is one of Oak Creek’s secret swimming holes – with the prime advantage of being much less crowded and cheaper compared to spending the day at crowded Slide Rock.
There is no official ending point of the trail. You will basically want to turn back after the second creek crossing where you will be treated to a nice view of Midgley Bridge. The parking area for this bridge is usually super congested, so it’s nice to see another viewpoint from this quiet trail.
The hilly & very scenic return route
At this point, I recommend relaxing for a bit, fill up on some water and eat some salty snacks to replace lost electrolytes. You will need to recover a bit and refuel before embarking on the uphill trek back to your car! Although not overly taxing, there are many inclines on the way back that will definitely give your body quite a workout.
Keep in mind that it will feel much, much harder if you are completing the hike in the heat of the summer. Stay hydrated and take it easy on the way back. I recommend saving this one for the cooler fall or winter months (here are some hikes I recommend during the hot months). Enjoy the gorgeous scenery surrounding you at every angle. As you will se below, the scenery is particularly lush and green on this trail. So pretty! This is probably the greenest trail I’ve hiked in the area which is a treat after living in the desert for years.
Best time to hike
Hiking in the harsh summer conditions is not ideal. It can be very dry, hot, and sunny all at the same time. This particular trail is a much better spring and fall (and even winter) hike due to the long distance, frequent ups and downs, and lack of shade for the majority of the trail. Set out very early in the morning to beat the heat if summer is your only option.
I hiked this trail for the first time on a very hot summer day and to be honest, it was not the best experience. I could not wait to get to the creek and I had to jump right in just to cool down – honestly, I didn’t think I would make it! Beautiful hike – but, best suited for the cooler months. Here are a few alternative hikes I recommend during the hot part of the year.
Where to park
The trail is quiet with barely any crowds as most hikers start out at the Midgley Bridge trailhead, due to the quick access to Oak Creek. Because most tourists are here more to wade around in the creek, they do not complete the entire trail. Thus, the entire first 2 miles or so is pretty empty and relaxing. Another advantage of parking at Schnebly Hill Road (aside from ease of finding parking) is that the entire trail will be just a bit shorter and you can bypass one big hill (the trailhead starting from Midgley includes a decent sized hill at the start which you will have to walk back up).
Hiking Details
- Location: Schnebly Hill Road.
- Parking: A daily red rock pass ($5) or National Park pass is required
- Difficulty: Moderate (more difficult in the summer heat)
- Distance: 5.6 miles round trip
- Approximate Time: 2.5-3.5 hours
More info on the trail via the Forest Service website.
Overall, the Huckaby is a very peaceful hike featuring great views of the red rocks, along with some nice views of the creek. It’s one of the better hikes in the area if you are up for a long journey. For my overall guide to the most scenic trails, you can check out my Sedona trail guide.
