Take a walk on the red side! Sedona is a wonder known around the world and traffic around its tiny center reflects that fame almost any day of the week. However, the quiet and peaceful nature is only minutes away and many trails await the hiker with an hour or a day to spare in exchange for some of the best views in the American Southwest.
Primarily a mountain bike trail, the Hangover Trail is a recent addition to Sedona's great collection of trails. Last weekend I've spent half a day exploring this wonderful trail.
The trail follows mostly the contour of a butte and is designed for experienced bikers (check out the dozens of jaw-dropping YouTube videos), but hiking it is not a real challenge, letting the hiker enjoy the surroundings on a different level.
Water from recent rains still trickles down the otherwise dry stream beds.
The red buttes contrast with the green of the valleys
The elements at work: a sculpted arch at the top of a red butte
The western side of Sedona is visible from the trail
One of the lesser known features of the trail is a sandstone arch sculpted by elements at the very top of a nearby butte. Getting to the arch requires a bit of scrambling over the red rocks, but the payoff is a grand view of the trail and the other buttes in the area.
