April 8-13, 2026
I checked into Rancho Sedona RV Park, set up and took the short walk in to the town of Sedona. This was my first look.
The next day I met my next door neighbor growing up, who I hadn’t seen in 40 years, in the town of Jerome. Now Jerome is a mountain town about 40 miles south of Sedona. We were to meet at the “Haunted Hamburger” and as I passed the joint I realized I should have parked about 1/2 mile before it and that I could not turn around. I was forced to continue on the Arizona highway several miles before I reached a scenic overlook where I could turn around. Here was the view from the Scenic overlook.
I went back to Jerome and successfully parked. We enjoyed a 2 hour lunch but I have no pictures. On the way back to Sedona I checked out two spots. First, the Red Rocks State Park, I committed to returning for a full day of exploring. Second, the Sedona airport. A friend had suggested taking a “doors off” helicopter tour and I wanted to see if that was possible. Due to insurance reasons they no longer do doors off tours but I did get a nice picture from the airport overlook.
Back in town I booked a “Pink Jeep” tour for the next day.
The Pink Jeep Tour
They offer a variety of tours, maybe 10-12 different ones. Their signature tour is the “Broken Arrow”. From their website “Once on the trail, you’ll wind through remote areas of Coconino National Forest. Some of Hollywood’s most beloved westerns were filmed here, including Jimmy Stewart’s aptly named “Broken Arrow” (1950).”
When I booked it at the office they said it was the most extreme as far as terrain goes. There were seven passengers. A group of four 20 something year old young women, a 12 year old boy and his grandmother, and myself. The girls and the boy screamed and hooted over every hill we went; I regret not getting an audio clip.
It was about a two hour ride with two stops along the way.
The black on the rocks in the picture below is rubber from the tires of the jeeps that have gone over this path for 40+ years.
Amazing how plants can grow out of the rock.
Red Rock State Park
This is the park I stopped at on my way back to Sedona from Jerome. I wanted to spend a few hours hiking here and I had seen photographs of “Cathedral Rock” reflected in water while walking around town – I was told the pictures were take from this state park. It turns out that those photos were not taken from within the park but I still hiked several miles of trials within the park. And the park ranger did point me to the parks where those photos with reflections on water were taken.
First trail was the “House of Apache Fires” trail that include an overlook of Cathedral Rock. Here was the view of Cathedral Rock.
The literal House of Apache Fires –
The sign at the house said –
“Early in 1941, newlyweds Helen and Jack Frye were looking for a place to “get away” from the pressure’s of Jack’s career as president of Trans World Airlines (TWA). They acquired 5 small homesteads that became the 700 acre Smoke Trail Ranch.”
“Construction of the home began in 1947. Designed by Helen, the house was meant to resemble a Hopi Indian pueblo.”
The sign mentioned that Helen was a Vanderbuilt and that the two got divorced before construction was complete. The property became Helen’s after the divorce. Despite the house not being complete she did live there for a short time then built a new home she called “Wings of the Wind” located on the other side of the creek. She lived there until her death in 1979.
Later I get a better picture of the house from a different trail.
On another trail I got a picture of “Gray Fox” rock.
Crescent Moon Ranch
The Red Rock ranger directed me to Crescent Moon Ranch for the Photograph of Cathedral Rock reflected in the water. I can imagine that at the right time of day and right time of year I could replicated closely the pictures I had seen in town but this what I got. I still like it.
Oak Creek
Oak Creek Canyon is formed by Oak Creek which runs through Sedona (and is the creek on which Cathedral Rock is reflected above). My campground was right on Oak Creek.
The next day I moved on.