Hiking The West Fork Oak Creek Trail In Sedona AZ (2024)
Planning to hike the West Fork Oak Creek Trail in Sedona? You’ve come to the right article.
Nestled at the base of Oak Creek Canyon, this is one of the best hikes for summer, or anyone who loves being near water. With thirteen separate river crossings, you’ll be cooled off by the waters of Oak Creek as you walk near the canyon walls.
I recently hiked this trail, and was surprised with how far off in nature it felt I was.
Here’s everything you need to know about West Fork Oak Creek Trail, including where to park, entry fees, and what to expect out of the hike.
How To Get To The West Fork Oak Creek Trail
The West Fork Oak Creek Trail is located at the base of Oak Creek Canyon, around 10 minutes north of Uptown Sedona. You’ll park at the Call O’ The Canyon day-use area, which is right by the trailhead for the hike.
As you arrive (if driving from Sedona), there’s a small turn off to the left for this parking lot. Parking is $12/day per vehicle, and you’ll pass through an entrance station where they take cards or cash.
I found parking here on a Tuesday afternoon, but it’ll likely be full if you visit in the morning since it’s such a popular hike. If you can’t find parking here, you can park off the side of 89A, around a half mile north of the trailhead. Then, you only have to pay a $3 entry fee.
At the main parking lot, there’s pit toilets, and the trailhead is right to the left of the restrooms.
Hiking The West Fork Oak Creek Trail
- Length: 6.5 miles round trip
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 2-3 hours
Named the “Call of the Canyon”, the first few miles of this trail is well-paved and marked as you venture further into the canyon. Most of the trail is shaded by trees, and it’s an excellent place to see the leaves start to change color during autumn.
The path is very sandy and can be muddy if it rains, so make sure to wear shoes you’re okay with dirtying.
I hiked for around 2 miles before turning back, and crossed the river 5 times. The first few river crossings are shallow, and have rocks you can step on so you don’t necessarily need to get your feet wet.
However, the rocks move when you step on them, and I almost fell several times trying not get my shoes wet!
This is why I highly recommend wearing water shoes/sandals so you can walk across the river.
Another helpful thing to bring on the hike are trekking poles, to avoid slipping as you cross the river.
Throughout the trail, you’ll have beautiful views of the edges of the canyon, and Oak creek river streaming over the red rocks.
If you hike the entire trail, it’s around 6.5 miles round trip. Most of the trail looks the same, and you can count the river crossings to gauge how far you’ve hiked.
At a little over 3 miles into the hike, you’ll need water shoes to cross over the river, since it’s much deeper than the first river crossings.
Since it’s at the base of Oak Creek Canyon, it’s around 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than Sedona, so the river water is pretty cold.
At the end of the trail, the river is most accessible, so you can take a dip if the water’s deep enough!
Overall, it’s an easy, mostly flat trail with several river crossings that add to the adventure of the hike. I hiked this trail on a rainy day in October, and the air was chilly, but it smelled like pine trees and rain so it was very enjoyable.
If you love being surrounded by pine trees and relaxing in the calmness of nature, this is the hike for you.
West Fork Trail Map
West Fork Oak Creek Trail FAQs
Where do you park for the West Fork Oak Creek Trail?
Right by the trailhead, you’ll park at the Call O’ The Canyon day-use area for $12/day. This is a small parking lot that’s open from 7am (Apr 1 – Oct 31), or 8am (Nov 1-March 31) to dusk.
If it’s full, you can find free street parking around a half mile north of this parking lot, off of 89A. Then, you’ll only need to pay a $3 entry fee for the hike.
Is the West Fork Oak Creek Trail dog-friendly?
Yes, dogs are allowed on this hike as long as they’re leashed. And it’s an excellent dog-friendly hike since they’ll get to play in the water!
What should you wear for the hike?
I recommend wearing water shoes or hiking sandals, as the trail requires crossing over the river.
For the beginning of the trail, most of the river crossings will be shallow. There’s rocks in between the river that you can step on to avoid getting your feet wet, but they move, so it’s very easy to slip and end up stepping in the water.
At around 3.5 miles into the hike, the river crossing will require you to get your feet wet.
So if you plan on completing the full hike, it’s good to wear shorts, waterproof clothes, and bring trekking poles.
Additionally, make sure to wear shoes that you’re okay with getting dirty since the trail is very sandy and muddy.
When’s the best time to hike the West Fork Oak Creek trail?
This is one of the best trails to hike during spring/summer to cool off by stepping in the cool streams of Oak Creek. With the entire hike being shaded, it’s a great alternative to the popular Sedona hikes that are exposed to the sun.
It’s also an amazing place to see the leaves change color in fall, and part of the trail may be covered in snow if you hike it in the winter.
The trail is open from 7 or 8am to dusk. For the best chances of finding parking, arrive right when it opens, or later in the afternoon.
How long does the hike take?
For the full hike (6.5 miles roundtrip), it can take 2-3 hours depending on your speed.
The end of the hike is where the river is the deepest, and you may be able to take a dip in the water if it’s rained recently. However, most people only hike a portion of the trail.
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