6
UPFRONT
PHX » CITY » LOCAL » PRIDE » DO » SEE FAY CANYON TRAIL
CHASE THOSE ENDORPHINS
Northern hikes are the way to go this summer Jordan Houston >> The Entertainer!
B
etween coronavirus anxieties, self-isolation, gym closures and working from home, it’s normal to want to curl up on the couch and bingewatch Netflix for days on end—but that doesn’t mean regular exercise should take a backseat. With Gov. Doug Ducey’s stay-athome order exempting outdoor exercise, exploring one of Arizona’s many natural FAY CANYON TRAIL
playgrounds is the perfect remedy to ease stress, break a sweat and soak up some sun. Not to mention June 20 is National Hike with a Geek Day, which serves as a reminder for STEM professionals to step away from their computers and labs and head outside. So, grab your best geek friend and check out our mustsee list of hikes to conquer during this isolation. As a disclaimer, many Arizona State Parks and Trails are following precautions outlined by the Arizona
Department of Health Services and the Center for Disease Control to promote responsible hiking. The agency is encouraging visitors to avoid group gatherings, maintain social distances of 6 feet apart, use hand sanitizer and pack out all trash. Now go chase those endorphins!
DOE MOUNTAIN Our first hike is a 1.5-mile trail tucked inside the Coconino National Forest. Doe Mountain, rated as a moderate trail, climbs a sheltered ravine to a 400-foot plateau top. Painted by dancing wildflowers, the picturesque ascent follows winding switchbacks up the north side of the low flat, top mesa. With no competing peaks nearby, the destination boasts panoramic views of some of Sedona Red Rock Country’s most prominent landmarks. The east rim looks out over the wide, bushy valley of Dry Creek, toward Capitol Butte and Downtown Sedona, while the north edge has views toward Bear Mountain, and many cliffs, ravines and pinnacles in the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. The dog-friendly trailhead takes about an hour round trip and sits along
Boynton Pass Road, 5.7 miles from Sedona’s State Route 89A via Dry Creek Road. Parking is available at the base of the trailhead.
FAY CANYON TRAIL Fay Canyon, stemming from a large parking area along Boynton Pass Road, offers an easy introduction to Sedona hiking. Following a short and scenic ravine, the 1-mile hike is a good choice for hikers seeking minimal elevation with camera-friendly red sandstone cliffs and towering pinnacles. The partly shaded path crosses into the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness, entering the wooded surroundings of the canyon floor. Staying near the seasonal stream, the trail showcases a selection of cacti, like yucca and opuntia, wildflowers and shrubs, while enclosing red-and-black stained rocks display impressive arrays of forms and texture. Many have eroded into buttes and pinnacles, especially along the east side of the canyon. One of the route’s top attractions, though, is the Fay Canyon Arch. Viewed by a short and steep side trail, the dramatic 130-foot-span feature offers long distance southern views across
