Beautiful creek and mountain views along Sedona's gorgeous West Fork hiking trail

Gorgeous views of Sedona’s stunning red rocks, 13 fun and challenging streams to cross, and a diverse variety of trees (many of which turn a brilliant gold and red hue during the fall season), make the West Fork trail the most popular hiking choice within the Coconino County National Forest. While Sedona is home to dozens of fabulous trails, the West Fork, located along the heavily treed Oak Creek Canyon, is most popular come fall due to the many deciduous trees.  The hike has a very New England-ish feel due to the abundant water and dense trees, making it a great choice for anyone homesick or missing the traditional fall vibe back east.

Gorgeous trees lining Sedona's beautiful West Fork hiking trail
Colorful yellow foliage along Sedona's West Fork hiking trail
walking amongst fall leaves on the Sedona's West Fork trail

Although not as spectacular as the fall foliage hikes found around Flagstaff (Inner Basin, Aspen Nature Loop, and Veit Springs to name a few), West Fork is definitely worthy of a visit. This trail is most crowded in the summer, spring, and fall, particularly during the peak foliage season. If you plan your visit in the fall months, you will get to see a bit of color though nothing as dramatic as the bright yellow aspens found in the higher elevations of neighboring Flagstaff. Parking is often a hassle, although the leafy surroundings and traditional fall ambiance make it worth any extra effort.

“New England in Arizona”

The West Fork hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona
A variety of beautiful fall colors along the scenic West Fork hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona
Pretty fall colors on Sedona's scenic West Fork hiking trail
The pretty colors of fall along Sedona's scenic West Fork hiking trail
Pretty orange foliage along the West Fork hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona
A bit of yellow foliage along the scenic West Fork hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona
Pretty yellow foliage during the fall season along the West Fork hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona
The yellow foliage of fall along the West Fork hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona
Pretty yellow foliage along the West Fork hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona

Even if your visit falls outside of the peak season, the leaves scattered amongst the trails give this hike a true fall vibe!

Pretty yellow foliage and leaves covering the West Fork hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona
Fall leaves covering the West Fork hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona
Colorful leaves covering the West Fork hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona

The hike

The marked trail is about 3.3 miles each way, making your total mileage approximately 6.6. You can go on further if you wish (another several miles will lead you into the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness), although the hike becomes more strenuous and involves trekking through water. If you do choose to continue on, be sure you set out early enough to give yourself time to get back.

Although a totally flat 6 mile hike seems easy, those 13 stream crossing really are time consuming (and tend to get backed up on busy weekend afternoons). On a Sunday afternoon, this 6.6 mile hike took us over 3 hours! Despite the distance, the lower elevation came in as a welcome treat after hiking many high altitude, strenuous Flagstaff trails. Additionally, it was nice to see some leafy trees as opposed to just aspens and pines.

Creek Crossings

The creek crossings are really fun: slightly challenging, yet nothing too dramatic. There are logs and rocks strategically placed to help you make it across. A stick also comes in handy for extra balance. The maintained trail ends at stream 13, so you can easily keep track of your distance by counting each of the crossings (although I do recommend a GPS sports watch, especially the Garmin Forerunner!).

Crossing one of 13 creeks on Sedona's beautiful West Fork hiking trail
Views from one of the creek crossings on the West Fork hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona
Pretty creek and red rock views along Sedona's gorgeous West Fork hiking trail
Gorgeous creek views along the Sedona West Fork hiking trail
A beautiful view of the creek along the West Fork hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona

Best season to hike West Fork

Anytime of the year is a perfect time to check out this stunning trail. In the summer, you will get to watch all different types of birds and maybe even spot some wildlife (bobcats, deer, black bear, snakes, and spiders have all been reported). During the fall season, the trail comes alive with bright yellow, orange, and red foliage giving it a great autumn atmosphere. And, during the winter season, you will enjoy fewer crowds and views of the mountains covered with icicles and snow. During our early November hike, we were able to see a bit of snow on the higher mountains and a few remaining snow patches (from the huge storm a few days prior).

Snow on the mountains as seen from Sedona's West Fork hiking trail

We saw no wildlife despite the many bear warning signs at the start. I would assume this trail is way too busy during the fall to ever see any wildlife! We did however spot a tarantula right on the trail!

tarantula along West Fork hiking trail in Sedona, Arizona

This hike is loaded with endless beautiful views of the red rocks, creeks, and diverse plant life. The beautiful mix of pines and deciduous trees easily make it one of Sedona’s most interesting hikes. Even though the hike could take several hours, time seems to fly by. With such gorgeous scenery, it’s not hard to see why.

Gorgeous views of Sedona's red rocks along the West Fork hiking trail
Amazing views of Sedona's red rocks along the scenic West Fork hiking trail

Unfortunately, our trip was a bit late for peak foliage. While we timed it right, an early winter storm knocked out most of the foliage a few days earlier. Regardless, we enjoyed the peaceful, easy trek through nature. As one of the only hikes in the area with leafy trees and water views, the West Fork definitely earns a place amongst the top hikes in the region.

Tips for a fantastic hike

*Plan your time accordingly. This is a long hike time-wise (plan at least 2.5-3hours). Don’t set out too late in the day, especially during the fall/winter months. Bring water and hydrate yourself frequently. Also bring a few light snacks (trail mix, pretzels, etc.).

*Take it easy/drink extra water. While the altitude is not as high as Flagstaff, at 5000+ft, it can still feel quite tough for those visiting from a lower elevation.

*Wear waterproof hiking shoes or boots as you will be crossing many streams. At a few points, your feet may get a bit wet if you happen to miss a rock or lose your balance.

*Plan your hike for a weekday morning for the fewest crowds, or during the off-season if possible.

*Bring with a hiking stick – it comes in handy for extra balance when crossing the streams.

*Don’t forget your camera – there are dozens of fantastic photo opportunities!

*Although a great fall hiking option, there are many more spectacular hikes in Flagstaff. West Fork is much too crowded in the fall and the colors just do not compare to Snowbowl or Inner Basin. Instead, plan your West Fork hike in spring or summer for fantastic views minus the insane crowds!

*Wear capri workout pants or shorts. Long pants may cause you to trip over the stepping stones when crossing the streams and will likely get wet if they drag at all on the ground. I had to roll my pants up each time we got to a creek, which was pretty inconvenient and time consuming.

*Know that it can get chilly during the fall and winter season, so be sure to check the forecast and wear layers! In mid-late October, daytime highs usually range from the mid 60’s-mid 70’s. However, daily lows can drop as low as the 40’s.

*Fall colors typically arrive a little later than Flagstaff, usually mid to late October. Check the Coconino County National Forest website for detailed updates throughout the month of October.

Dining pre-hike

*Consider stopping for a light meal before your hike. This will give you some extra energy for the 3 hour journey. I recommend Indian Gardens, conveniently located right on the route. Not only is the breakfast great, but the coffee is top notch and the patio is awesome.

Directions & Parking

To get to the West Fork Trail, you will drive south about 17 miles from Flagstaff or north about 9 miles from Sedona to halfway between milepost 385 and 384. Right to the side of the road, you will see the parking lot for the trail. Most of the times you will see many cars lined up by the admission gate, so the odds of passing right by are very slim!

There is a $12 per vehicle fee to park. Walk in fees are just $3 if you can find parking along the road (almost impossible during the busy fall months).

Additional info on the West Fork trail

Have you ever hiked the West Fork Trail? Which season did you visit? What other hikes would you recommend in Sedona?