4 Wheel Drive Trip On Schnebly Hill Road - Sedona Arizona

(Sedona, AZ)  62 degrees, perfect

Schnebly Hill Road is one of the premier drives in Arizona.  It's a steep, twisty, unpaved and wonderfully scenic route that rises more than 2,000 feet from Sedona into a lovely wooded mesa.  Currently the road is open up to  Schnebly Road Vista due to snow and ice. Otherwise, it goes all the way up to I-17 outside of Flagstaff.  Our jeep handled it nicely and John said it was very happy today.

On the way up

We stopped often to take pictures and to take in the beautiful mountains.  There are some nice trails along the way.  A Red Rock Pass ($5) is necessary if you plan to park. Senior/Access passes can also be used and we were told by the Forest Service to leave the car on the dashboard with the signature side up. 

We saw some cars traveling on the road, but a four wheel drive is probably a very good idea.   You have to take your time as you weave around the rocks but it's worth the effort.

The vista parking lots is right at the base of the mountain below.  We parked and climbed up to the mesa at the left.  The views were eye popping.  

 

John climbed up much farther than I did and got this great photo. 



This road was a former cow trail and became the main route from Sedona to Flagstaff before being replaced by the Oak Creek Canyon Road (US-89A) in 1914. The road is named after pioneer, Carl Schnebly, who settled near Oak Creek in 1900, building a home and general store. He became the area's first postmaster naming the postal station, Sedona, after his wife. This name was of course then used for the town.

Jimmy had a great time too.  He'd follow John anywhere. 

 

This is also a popular route for the Pink Jeep Tours.  There are also lots of companies that will rent you a jeep for a day. 

We have a few more days here to explore. So much to see...so little time.  We've had several questions about the Elks Lodge and how to join.  I'll show more pictures of our site in tomorrow's post. 

There Are Not Enough Adjectives To Describe Sedona

(Sedona, AZ) 64 degrees, clear blue skies

Cathedral Rock (Red Rock Crossing National Forest)

Breathtaking, beautiful, magnificent, spectacular, awe-inspiring...these are just a few words that come to mind as you drive into Sedona and see the red rock mountains.  They suddenly rise out of a rather bleak desert and are so amazing to behold. 

Coffee Pot (near sunset)

We have been here before but exciting to have an opportunity to stop again in our RV.  Before we were full timers we had visited  here on vacation.   We have done many of the touristy things such as the Pink Jeep Tours, Verde Canyon Railroad, and even a spectacular hot air balloon ride.  Now we are more budget minded and actually enjoy hiking the many trails in the area most of all. 

 

We are staying at the Elks Lodge and it is very convenient and reasonable.  ($20/night with water and electric).  There are seven sites that are on a first come, first served basis.  Right now we are boondocking as we wait for someone to pull out. 

View from the back of our coach

We arrived in the late afternoon and quickly drove up to the top of Airport Road to see the sunset.  It is a great place to watch the red rocks light up. There is a big parking lot and you cross the street to see the "show". Be sure to go early.  It's crowded and you need to stack out a place for your tripod.

Jimmy and John relaxed and enjoyed all the action.  Jimmy had his picture taken a bunch of times.  He tried to steel the show. 

Someone told me to wait until 1/2 hour after sunset to get some pictures of the city and the lights below. It turned out pretty good but it sure get chilly fast. 

City lights

View from the road approaching Red Rock Crossing.

 

The next day we went out to Red Rock Crossing (Crescent Moon Ranch Picnic Area). It is a National Forest Park with pretty trails and the best views of the Cathedral Rock.  It costs $9/car with no discount to enter but its worth the price.  Cathedral Rock is the most photographed place in Arizona. 

We walked along a trail we had missed in prior visits.  It was an easy trail that traveled along the creek. 

Huge wash

 

This is an area where a vortex is located.  There are 15 in Sedona and  many people think a vortex can bring about healing and offers positive energy.   Some folks say they can feel a special energy in these areas. We've been out to a few of them and did not feel anything but a little positive energy never hurts.   Here are a few examples of prayer rocks left behind by others. 

Prayer Rock

 

 

At the other side of the park there is another path that leads back to the creek and spectacular views of Cathedral Rock.  This is another great place to watch the sunset.  We stayed here most of the afternoon and took way too many pictures trying to get the perfect photograph.  We had fun talking to the serious photographers that were here trying to do the same thing.   

 

I like the reflection in this one

 

 

 

We will be here for a few more days and are looking forward to hiking and returning to some of favorite places.