13 Creek Crossings Along Sedona’s Magnificent West Fork Trail

Gorgeous views of ancient 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. Tourists run here all year round (and as a local of neighboring Flagstaff, I’ve seen the crowds here all summer and fall season). Despite the hefty traffic, this is still one of my favorite trails. It’s just so different scenery wise than most other hikes in the area.

While Sedona is home to so many 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. As I moved here from the East coast, I appreciate hiking through a more dense forest every once in a while. I love the red rock trails but sometimes I long for something more familiar. While Flagstaff is also a leaf peeping hotspot, you will get to see a wider range of colors here thanks to the oaks and maples as opposed to just aspens.

6+ miles of gorgeous red rock & creek scenery

The marked trail is about 3.3 miles each way, making your total mileage just over 6 and a half. 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. On my first hike here, 6 miles was definitely long enough and this hike seemed to go on forever. I usually prefer shorter harder hikes, but this one is scenic enough to want to continue on.

Although a totally flat 6 mile hike seems easy, crossing 13 streams is time consuming. Also you may be waiting a while on busy summer afternoons. We first hiked this trail on a Sunday afternoon it took us over 3 hours. Despite the distance, hiking at lower altitude came in as a welcome treat after hiking many strenuous, high altitude trails in Flagstaff (a few of my favorites and yes it’s worth the drive!). Most of all, it was nice to see some leafy trees as opposed to just aspens and pines.

Take a look at some of the gorgeous red rock and creek scenery you will enjoy along the route. It’s views like these which bring me to Sedona nearly every weekend! I was so lucky to live just a half hour away; the drive down beautiful Oak Creek Canyon makes the experience even more amazing.

The creek crossings

Crossing over the streams is really fun: slightly challenging, yet nothing too dramatic. There are logs and rocks strategically placed to help you make it across but some are harder than others. A hiking stick also comes in handy for extra balance. Some tourists were using tree branches – I recommend a hiking stick which you can find pretty cheap online or in any mountain goods store.

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). It was time consuming and challenging at times, but also a lot of fun. As you can see on my first trek, I wore the wrong pants for this hike! Definitely watch how long your pants are or you will be getting wet. On future visits, I usually wore compression socks over tight fit workout pants or shorts in the warmer months.

“New England in Arizona”

Although not as spectacular as the fall foliage hikes I’ve enjoyed around Flagstaff (Inner Basin, Aspen Nature Loop, and Veit Springs to name a few), this trail is very pretty in autumn. This trail is most crowded in the summer, spring, and fall, particularly during the peak foliage season. You will get to see a bit of color though nothing as dramatic as the bright yellow aspens found in the higher elevations. Parking is often a hassle, although I would say the leafy surroundings and traditional fall ambiance make it worth any extra effort.

Even if your visit falls outside of the peak season, the leaves scattered amongst the trails give this hike a true autumn vibe. I really felt like I was hiking back in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to time your hike right at peak. We only attempted this trail in the fall once due to the crowding. While we timed our hike right at peak, an early winter storm knocked out most of the foliage a few days earlier so we missed out. 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 my top hikes in the region. We got to see a little red, yellow, and orange foliage.

A four season hiking oasis

Really, 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. According to the Coconino website, 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 “fall is here” atmosphere. And, during the winter season, you will enjoy fewer crowds and views of the mountains covered with icicles and snow. I can say that seeing the red rocks dusted with snow was both a rare and exciting experience (we lived through a major 3 day 3 foot blizzard which was pretty cool).

I wouldn’t even rule out a winter visit, even though portions of the trail might be inaccessible. One of my favorite memories is walking this trail right after a rare winter storm. It was such an amazing experience to see the red rocks and creek surrounded with snow. It was so strange to see no other tourists around when I am used to seeing the road jam packed with people walking to this trailhead.

Will you see any wildlife?

We never saw any evidence of bear activity despite the many warning signs at the start. Personally, I would like to keep it that way as I would not know what to do if I did see one. Despite ranger advice, I feel like I would be frozen seeing such a large animal on the trails. I would assume this trail is way too busy to see wildlife most of the time. Personally, I have never even seen a deer on this trail. We did however spot a tarantula one time right on the trail!

You will get to enjoy views of red rocks, creeks, and diverse plant life. The mix of pines and deciduous trees easily make it one of the most interesting hikes, scenery wise in the region. Even though the hike could take several hours, it’s worth the effort.

Tips for a fantastic hike

• Plan your time accordingly. This is a long hike time-wise (plan at least 2.5-3 hours). Don’t set out too late in the day, especially during the fall/winter months.
• 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. Bring a few snacks and replenish electrolytes.
• Wear waterproof hiking shoes or boots as you will be crossing many streams. I wore regular hiking shoes and got soaked. 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.
• Although this is a great fall hiking option, there are many more spectacular hikes in Flagstaff. This trail is very crowded this time of year so definitely get here early.
• 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.

Dining pre-hike

Consider stopping for a full breakfast before your hike. This will give you some extra energy for the 3 hour journey. My personal favorite is definitely Indian Gardens, conveniently located right on the route on Oak Creek drive. Not only is the breakfast great, but the coffee is top notch and the patio is awesome. One of my favorite breakfast entrees of all time is their Grains and Greens bowl which is loaded with fresh avocado, potatoes, eggs, and sauteed kale.

Directions & parking

To get to this 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! You will also see tons of tourists parking further away and walking along the road which is quite dangerous.

There is a $15 per vehicle fee to park. Walk in fees are just $4 if you can find parking along the road (almost impossible during the busy fall months). Pricing current as of 2025.

Leashed dogs are ok.

Tip: There is a great semi-secret spring water station along the scenic drive (you’ll see the cars lined up). We fill up big 5 gallons here several times of year. Thank you to our wonderful neighbor in Kachina Village for giving away the secret!