Best Sedona Day Hike?

[fcoulter]

Sorry that this post isn't about the Arizona Trail proper, but it's close...

My sister has invited my family to join hers at a timeshare in Sedona for most of Thanksgiving week. Obviously most of that time I'm spending with family. However, I want to spend at least one day hiking.

As a Florida hiker, hiking big elevations would be a bit challenging for me. Doable, but not if they involve technical mountain climbing. I will probably (but not neccessarily) hike with my mother, who is 75 years old. She still hikes, so don't think of her as a walker bound senior. (She's in Connecticut, so she may do a bit better than I do on elevation changes.) I doubt that anyone else will join us, although the possibility of my wife, kids (20 & 17), and neice and nephew (15) also hiking is there.

So here's the question: if you could hike only one trail for no more than one day in the Sedona area, and given the physical limitations I just listed, which trail would you recommend? A link to more information about the trail would also be appreciated.

Thanks,

[grizzlyadam]

I really enjoyed this hike last year:

http://www.greatsedonahikes.com/longcanyon/longcanyon.html

[yaduck9]

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/ohv/recarea/?recid=55432&actid=50


Very scenic trail ( bring a camera ).

You do need to be aware that over Thanksgiving day and the day after, the traffic is very dense in Sedona and through Oak Creek Canyon.

[grateful 2]

Bell rock in the morning, and either/both doe mesa and cathedral rock in the afternoon.226692267022671

[Dogwood]

http://store.azgs.az.gov/product/books/sedona-hikes-130-day-hikes-and-5-vortex-sites-around-sedona-arizona

http://www.trails.com/catalog_product.aspx?productfamilyid=10342

http://www.greatsedonahikes.com/

Three sources I've used. The first two are books. Both have maps, trail descriptions, driving directions, where to park, water info, scenic highlights, etc The last is a very good website with descriptions of hikes based on difficulty rating, etc. Sometimes it's faster to go to a more focused source and then ask about specific hikes.

[Ironbelly]

grab a trail map at the time share, they have all the tails listed with either easy, moderate, or hard, along with elevation gain, length etc. A large number of the trailheads you can get to in 20 minutes or less. I couldn't even begin to pick just one trail, there are so so many and all with awesome views and scenery.

I was just out there in late may, and went hiking every morning from like 0530-1000. Came back to the timeshare in time for breakfast as the family was all getting up and moving.

[indytechnerd]

Bell Rock might be ok with Mom, at least the lower portions. I've done that solo and with my wife (who's out of shape) and kids (11 and 8 at the time). In 2012, on my way up to the Canyon, a friend and I headed out to Devil's Bridge. Really nice trip, but pretty rugged if you have to hike from the main road (meaning you don't have off-road capabilities in your vehicle)