Oak Creek Canyon

After visiting the rims of Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater, Canyon De Chelly and the Grand Canyon, we finally visited a canyon that we could drive through and look up. Oak Creek Canyon is relatively small, about 15 miles long and 1 mile at it's widest point. The road through the canyon is tight and full of twists and turns. Eat a hearty breakfast before starting and take a double dose of dramamine if you suffer from motion sickness.

There are several overlooks on highway US 89-A that takes you from Flagstaff to Sedona. Our main stop was at the visitors' center where we embarked on about a 90 minute hike. We crossed several small creeks which were probably feeding into Oak Creek. They were easy to cross by way of rocks in the creek bed. The park and the trail are pet friendly, and many dogs of various sizes were on leashes and enjoying the outdoors. Children barely out of diapers were hiking along with their parents.

When we jumped back into the van and set out for Sedona we saw dozens of small homes, chalets, and larger homes along the creek. Surprisingly many had no vacancy signs posted. It appears that there has been quite a building boom in the past decade as Sedona has become a tourist destination. There are probably several ski slopes nearby although it's questionable as to how the roads are traveled in winter.

The drive from Flagstaff to Sedona is about 30 miles long and a short journey if you're not inclined to stop along the way. Although Sedona is promoted as an artists' colony, there is something for everybody. The main street is terraced with shops on several levels and every building looks new or recently remodeled. There are shops selling art of all persuasions, cowboy duds and boots, tourist trap items, etc. One can get a jeep tour or a bus tour of the area, but we did our touring on foot. The main street is only about ten blocks long, so it's easy to get around. Many shops open into additional shops on side streets. An additional nice feature of Sedona is the free bus service that takes you from on end of town to the other.