Return to Sedona - Part 2

Return to Sedona - Part 2

Day 3 of 4

Brins Mesa Trail to Soldiers Pass to Jorden Trail to Cibola Pass: 

We had wanted to do Soldiers Pass the previous day
but couldn't get parking at the trail head - very limited with  only 12 spots.  We wanted to do that trail to see the Seven Scared Pools & Devils Kitchen.   While hiking on Little Horse Trail on Day 2, I struck up a conversation with a volunteer Ranger.  We discussed several trails and I told him about  wanting to see the Seven Scared Pools and he told me about Brins Mesa Trail.  There are 4 trails that hook together to create a loop that will take you pass the Seven Scared Pools.  Doing all 4 trails will be about 6.5 - 7 miles round trip.  It has an 800 ft elevation climb to get you up to the Mesa, then you follow Soldiers Pass Trail which will take you past the Pools, then on to Devils Kitchen (amazing!!) After Devils Kitchen,  hook up with the Jordon Trail and then on to Cibola Trail & back to parking.  This was the most strenuous of our hikes, but it was my favorite of this  trip!

Cathy & the Blue Agave

Brins Mesa 

Brins Mesa

Devils Kitchen

Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole caused by the collapse of caves. It first occurred in the 1880’s then 1989 and as recently as 1995. In the picture below,  that's me sitting on the ledge - Cathy took the picture from the other side of the sinkhole.

I just love these red rock formations.  They are all so interesting & alien looking.  

Devils Kitchen 

7 Sacred Pools Yes, I know you only see three, but trust me, there are 7

The Seven Sacred Pools are naturally carved out of ocher colored sandstone and feb by a seasonal stream. The pools are a very important source of water for the wildlife in the area. 

on the trail 

Day 4

Red Rock State Park - House of Apache Fires - This was our departure day so we wanted to do a shorter, easy hike before we had to drive back to Phoenix.  Red Rock State Park was fairly close to our hotel, and we read an intriguing story about the House of Apache Fires so off we went!  The park is very well maintained and I woulds say a great place for families.  Good facilities, easy hikes.  A bit expensive though - $7 per person, compared to the $5 parking pass you pay for at most trail heads.  The trails are very easy, there is no challenging hikes here - it is more like taking a nice stroll, beautiful scenery as you stroll though.

Very Red Trail 

Oak Creek

The trails her are super well maintained and marked.  I would say this is really more of an easy walking trail than a strenuous hike.  But beautiful & enjoyable.  Oak Creek cuts through the park.






There is a neat looking trail that crosses the river, but it was closed due to the rains washing out the bridge crossing.

We were hoping to be able to hike along the rivers edge, but due to all the recent rain, we couldn't get close as all trails were blocked off.

House of Apache Fires (photo from blog, state park archives)

Here is the story of the House of Apache Fires:  This house is in the middle of Red Rock State Park - how did it get there?  In 1947 Helen & Jack Frye decide to build a house in the Sedona area on land that they had purchased,  They bought the land in 1941 and it was originally the Smoke Trail Ranch and Oak Creek ran along much of the property.  The house was named for the smoke from the campfires of the Yavapai Apache employed in the construction.  The Yavapai camped out on the property and built fires at night, which you could see from quite a distance.  Jack Frye was the President of Trans World Airline (TWA) and he and his wife Helen  (formerly Mrs Cornelius Vanderbilt!) would come to Sedona to vacation from the East Coast.

Photo by Cathy - what a view they had!

Photo by Cathy - can you imagine having Cathedral rock in your back yard?

Helen liked the Hopi Indian pueblo style - which is thin flat red rocks stacked to create the exterior walls.  The house is two stories and approximately 3,000 sq ft.   Sadly the Frye's divorced before the house was completed.  Helen did live there for a period of time after the divorce.  It's a shame that this historic building has fallen in to disrepair and is fenced off.  It is an interesting structure and we would have loved to be able to tour it.  Maybe someday it will be restored and opened for people to get a close look at.  I was fascinated  by the story of Jack & Helen Frye & this unique house.  You can find out the whole story by googling House of Apache Fires or Sedona Helen Frye.

Title to this 286 acre property was acquired by the state in the 1980's and the Red Rock State Park opened in 1991.

As we made our way back towards the parking area we passed the Willow House, which was also part of the Frye land.  They lived in the Willow House while the House of Apache Fires was being build.  As we approached we saw a couple of Mule deer.  We slowed our pace and very quietly walked towards them.  As we got closer, we saw more deer - ended up it was a group of 11 all told!  They didn't seem to mind us clicking away taking pictures.

After departing the park we headed to our hotel, check out and began our trip back to Phoenix.  Along the way we made a stop in Cornville to check out an item in a store that Cathy was considering purchasing, then on to Page Springs Cellars, where we enjoyed a light lunch ad a 5 flight wine tasting.

tasted 5 wines for $11 - excellent deal!

looks good eh? 

Last time we were in Sedona, Cathy had mentioned that there was this amazing place for pie on the way back to Phoenix.  We did not have time to stop on that trip, so we had to stop this go around. The name of the place is Rock Springs Cafe in Black Canyon City (which is really just a wide spot in the road)  This place has been around for 100 years and indeed they do have delicious pie!  (service leaves a bit to be desired but pie was wonderful)

After pie, we made the trek in to Phoenix.  Tried but satisfied with our trip.

We will be heading out on an 8 day hiking adventure in April to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon in Utah.  I hope you'll come back and read about our adventures in Utah!






Until next time - safe travels!
Susan