Broken Arrow Trail - Sedona

March 1st we left Florence, AZ which has been our base of operations for the past three months.  Now we are in Camp Verde in northern AZ at Zane Grey RV Park.  Yesterday we enjoyed a day in the local hills on forest service roads.  This is much different territory, mostly in that there are chaparral, water and mesas.  And the giant sagauros aren't found this far north.

In the distance is the snow-covered peak of Mount Humphreys, the highest point in AZ at 12,633 feet.

This USFS land is peppered with stock tanks and dams. 

The red rocks in the distance are the RED rocks of Sedona fame.

Two or three steps to your left, Paula.  Oops, I meant my left, not yours....

We first discovered Sedona back in 1987. We landed at the airport where we met a lovely local couple. They took us under their wings, gave us a bedroom, great in-depth tours and even a daytrip to the Grand Canyon.

Several years ago we were back in the vicinity and an invitation was extended by them to park our RV in front of their home.  We were promptly introduced to a neighbor as their "trailer trash friends".

Jay and Donna reciprocated by visiting us in 1990 and the friendship goes on and on.  We can't wait to see them again.

Today we started out for a trail north of Sedona at over 7,000 ft elevation. On our arrival we found the trail closed and gated due to snow. We are hoping that it will reopen before we leave at the end of the month. It will depend on weather. The snow will need to melt, then the trail must dry substantially.

So, we went back down to Sedona and ran the Broken Arrow Trail. Our first stop was at the US Forest Service office for the Coconino National Forest.  The American and USFS flags fly with Bell Rock in the backround.

 Note the white layer in the red rocks.

Here Vic climbs the first step of Broken Arrow.

and step #2.

This is the Devil's Dining Room, a sinkhole

approximately 90 ft deep and 28x30 ft at the rim.

This is the parking area for Submarine Rock.

Submarine Rock is in the middle ground.

From Submarine Rock Vic spots this pink Jeep across the way.

Looking down the length of Submarine Rock from the conning tower.

Merry-Go-Round Rock

Vic going to circle Merry Go Round Rock

Pink Jeep Tours permeate the area with their colorful Jeeps taking tourists to see the  back country sights.  This one joins Vic on the Merry Go Round.

This is a wonderful, steep slickrock hill.  A Pink Jeep with a group of women ran this hill with the ladies screaming and laughing.  What a good time they had and how they made us smile!

Vic drove it three or four times so I could get photos from different directions.

The area is popular with mountain bikers too. 

The final obstacle on this trail is these steep steps.   Vic wants to come back one day and run the steps uphill.

The trail out

Following a week in San Diego in 1987, we returned to Sedona with another couple.  With a rental car we made a trip to see The Chapel of the Holy Cross.  It was deserted and beautiful.  Now it's a tourist attraction with crowds of people.  Oh, for the good old days....

Based on these first two days, this is bound to be a great month that will go by far too quickly.