Hiking To The Crack, Bell Trail, Sedona

I found a unique hiking trail, with delightfully cool water as a bonus on a warm day and a path that will take you to the edge and back. I want you to close your eyes and say the word, Sedona. What comes to mind when you whisper it? Maybe it is a place that brings happiness, a place that offers a scenic view of the creek, where you can play, relax, bring your thoughts to a restful place.

Sedona is a unique place to visit: tourist traps, new age ideas, rustic red rock that is pleasing to the eye and of course the jeep tours. This tucked away town in northern Arizona offers many beautiful hiking trails that will be a delight to walk on. The Bell Trail in Sedona, Arizona will enhance your senses as you see the picturesque red rocks, smell nature in the air, and feel the heart pumping as you ascend on the hike.

The trail starts out easy with soft, red soil underneath your shoes. Drink in the mountains that are in front of the path. Grasslands permeate this area. The grasslands turn into simple trees and low scrubs. Wet Beaver Creek flows along the trail. As you are walking along the trail, you will have opportunities to view this amazing creek - just take a little detour on some of the offshoot paths you see.

The Bell Trail has ample room to walk with two people side by side. It meanders around mountains, flowing up and down hills. There isn't much shade since the trees are small. When we wanted to cool off, we went off the path towards the creek, Wet Beaver Creek. Here, you will find a lush riparian culture. Water teeming with life. We sat down and had our snacks as we looked at the sparkling water. One thing I like to look for is what kind of creatures are in the water and watch what they are going to do next.

Since this is a creek, the water level is low. We may see a tadpole, mosquitoes (yikes!), a small fish or other insects that I really do not know the names. Once we cooled off, it was time to go.

We planned on seeing the "crack" of Wet Beaver Creek. This is a famous swimming hole in the summer time. We were not planning on swimming, but it did sound refreshing at the moment. I took many photos along the way as I love the colors of Sedona. It is such a photogenic town. But one thing that we all need to watch for are rattlesnakes.

Arizona is known for rattlesnakes. They are usually more afraid of us humans, but it is good to stay away from them. In the summer, they are usually underground, but come out at night. Even though they may not be out during the day, it is important to exercise caution when you are exploring.

As we were hiking, I had wondered when this "crack" will come up? I even thought maybe we passed it. Since this was my first time, I wasn't too sure where it was. There were few people on the trail, since it was pretty hot out. Not only were we looking for the "crack," but I was keeping my eyes on clouds that seemed to build up close to us quickly.

We have "monsoon" season each summer. Clouds build up throughout the day, then we can get a spectacular show of rain, lightening and thunder in the early evenings. Dust storms may precede the thunderstorms. The rain is welcomed in our state as the summer sun can be downright hot and dry.

As we arrived at the "crack," I took many photos at different angles. I am a photo enthusiast.  While I am composing a photo, I like to use something called "rule of thirds" in my photographs. This means that I pick an object, like a tree, and when I am ready to take a photo, that tree will be either on the left or right side of the photo. This really enhances a photo. It may tell a story, or direct your eyes to focus on something in the photo.

When I was taking photos, I saw some people jumping in the water. I was really tempted, but I ended up not doing it. Walking back on the trail with wet shoes and red muck wasn't enticing me. After we viewed this area, it was time to go back on the trail and to the parking lot.

This trail is not a loop trail. They call these type of trails, out and back, as you go "out" on the trail, and come "back" on the same trail. I would rather hike loop trails as I can see something different on the whole trail. Sedona is just so beautiful to look at that I didn't mind that this wasn't a loop trail.

The clouds were coming much closer. We did pick up our pace a bit. Unfortunately, I developed a blister on a toe, so it was hard for me to walk as fast I wanted to. By the time we got back to the parking lot, the clouds covered most of the trail. We didn't want to get caught in a monsoon storm as they could be potentially dangerous.

With my shoes off, riding in a vehicle (I didn't have to drive-nice!) towards home, I could relax and let my blister have some breathing room until I can fix it later. The Bell Trail in Sedona, Arizona is off the beaten path, meaning, you don't have to drive in the actual town. Those of us that live in Arizona know how crowded Sedona does get! Here is a link for more information about the Bell Trail and how to get to it.