Thunder Mountain Loop: Chimney Rock

I decided to hit one more trail before we called it quits. We drove to the Dry Creek Basin west of Sedona and hit up Thunder Mountain Loop. This was about a 2.2 mile loop with a side hike up to Chimney Rock. We did the side hike and I think the views were the best of the trip from this lookout. The climb to get there is about 300 feet but nothing too difficult. We logged about 9 miles of hiking on day three. I would recommend this hike for the views alone.

Jim Thompson Trail: Geocache Spot

Day 3 started off with another expedition out to the back country. I drove up to Sedona in hopes to find a few Geocaches. The Jim Thompson Trail is 2.8 miles one way through some great landscape. It also offers great views of Sedona. I found two Cache spots along the route, they were relatively easy to find. I tried to get a few the day before but I didn't realize the ones I uploaded required the use of a rope to get too, I didn't find that out until I got home and looked up the descriptions online. Anyway this trail takes you down to a little stream and also the Secret Mountain Wilderness Area of Sedona. Very nice hike but wasn't my favorite of the trip.

Bell Rock Trail to Courhouse Butte Loop:

I decided to hike on day 1 of the trip. We chose the Bell Rock Trail to the Courthouse Butte Loop trail which was a 7 mile day hike. The trails were all very well marked with cairns and heavily used. There was hardly any elevation gain the whole time and hiking was relatively easy. The Courthouse Butte Loop took us the whole way around the butte with stunning views the entire length. The route ended up at Bell Rock where we scrambled up 300 feet to some vistas high above Sedona and Oak Creek. I recommend this to any first timer to the area, you get yourself oriented with the terrain and get to see Sedona from a different angle. If getting up close and personal to the buttes of Sedona are what you are looking for this is the hike for you.

Camelback Mountain: The Climb

My vacation started off on Saturday morning and the need to walk off about 10 beers. I decided to climb a local favorite in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, Camelback Mountain. The trail head was easy to locate from Scottsdale because I could see the mountain from the hotel. I got to the parking lot and had to wait about 15 minutes to get a parking spot. There were lines and lines of people walking up and down this mountain. I must admit that my initial impression of the Phoenix area was a hot muggy place with old people living in it. Ya it was hot and muggy, but the people in that area seemed to live a very active lifestyle. Anyway, the trail was about 1.2 miles one way and climbed 1,500 vertical feet in that mile. I didn't realize what this meant until I started to climb. The first section was a steady uphill climb, once you climbed about 200 feet the views already started to impress me. The next section was fenced off and so steep they needed to put in railings to help you to the top. After this section boulder scrambling was the name of the game. Very steep and rocky the rest of the way up. I had to stop a few times to catch my breathe. The other thing that spooked me was how snaky this place looked! There were so many people around I am sure that at some point snakes show their faces up this route. After about 45 minutes of climbing I finally reached the top. The views of the Scottsdale/Phoenix area were spectacular at 4,500 feet. You could see in every direction and the distant mountain ranges showed their elevation all around. This hike isn't for everyone but if you want to challenge yourself for a rewarding view take a stab at Camelback in the Scottsdale area.