Mike in the Wild

It's a spooky name for a heavenly hike.  But I suppose whenever you walk across a sandstone bridge that's open on all sides, weathered, trodden and cracked, soaring many feet over a canyon, there's a sense you're letting the devil - or at least a madman - take the wheel. Devil's Bridge Trail (Trail 120 in Sedona) is actually a relatively easy hike with a modest elevation change.  It's only steep in a few, short sections as you climb to both the bridge and several amazing overlooks.  Natural but seemingly carved or stacked steps make it a steady and manageable ascent.  The biggest obstacle (or maybe it's a blessing) is the almost impassable forest road that lead to the trailhead.   It's FR 152, off of Dry Creek Road, and it's steep, rocky and rutted.   Like many hikers, I finally gave up the idea of driving to the trailhead and parked my not-quite-high-clearance-enough 4Runner to hoof it instead.  In this case, it almost doubled the hike's dista...

Arizona is known as the Grand Canyon State.  That spectacular and iconic National Park, a symbol of the American Southwest, deserves endless attention.  But Arizona has an equally spectacular attraction much closer to Phoenix, Arizona's capital city and population center.  It's Sedona, a crowded town known for its arts and retirees, but also a natural preserve renowned for its stunning red sandstone canyons and buttes. I like to look past the town and its crowded tourist shops, and focus on the greater beauty of the red rock country that surrounds the development.   It straddles the borders of both Yavapai and Coconino counties, mostly protected by state parks, national forest and wilderness areas.   While early settlement has allowed roads to access many of the formations, hiking trails allow more sublime ways to appreciate the surrounding majesty.  In addition Oak Creek flows through the heart of the country, creating a natural waterway through the dram...