REDROCK SPRING 2014 VOLUNTEER TRAIL WORK
The Red Rock Ranger District will be hosting volunteer trail work days starting in February. Work days are open to anyone interested in light to heavy trail work on trails located between Broken Arrow and Little Horse trails. See the schedule below for dates/times. Volunteers should come prepared with a helmet if available, eye protection, work gloves, drinking water, sun screen, a hat, long sleeved shirt, long pants, and wear boots with ankle support. All tools provided by USFS.
The work will include key reroutes and tread work on three new official trails. Several eroded “social” trails will be restored to a natural condition and minor trailhead work will be done. The new trails include Hog Heaven, Hog Wash and High on the Hog. In 2013, the Forest Service made the decision to renovate this trail system. A grant from PeopleForBikes was secured to assist with the work. In addition local clubs and businesses are sponsoring the work through volunteerism, snacks, tools, and signs. Sponsors include: Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Over the Edge Sports, Absolute Bikes, Bike and Bean, Pink Jeep Tours, and Sedona Real Inn. The area will serve as a pilot project for “share-the-trail” signage to encourage shared use of hikers and bikers in a very popular and scenic part of the forest.
Works days will be 8:30 a.m. to noon (except on Saturday and Sunday 2/22 and 2/23 and 3/1 and 3/2 when work may go into the afternoon if participants wish to stay). Meet at the Broken Arrow Trailhead parking area at the end of Morgan Road. For more information please call Francisca Adrian at 928-203-7531 or email at fcadrian@fs.fed.us
Work Days
Feb 22, 23
March 1, 2, 22
April 19
May 17
UPPER CATHEDRAL ROCK TRAIL CLOSED – daily January 27 – 31st
The upper segments of Cathedral Rock Trail will be closed to public use periodically while heavy trail maintenance is conducted the week of January 27th. Closures can be expected between 8AM and 5PM Monday - Friday January 27 through 31st. A work crew will be moving large rocks which may pose a danger to trail users. The work crew is conducting heavy trail maintenance in the steepest upper portions of the Cathedral Trail above the junction with Templeton Trail. Visitors can call the Red Rock Visitor Center at 203-2900 for an update on the closure segments each day. Work is being done by members of the Coconino Rural Environment Corps who will be learning advanced trail building skills while they improve the condition of this heavily used trail.
The Cathedral Rock Trailhead and lower segment of Cathedral Rock Trail will remain open. However, there are no alternative routes to Cathedral Saddle. Visitors are encouraged to use the Templeton Trail or other area trails during the closure.
For more information call Francisca Adrian at 203-7531
NEW SEDONA VIEW TRAIL OPENS ON AIRPORT MESA
A 0.6 mile trail called Sedona View was recently completed and connects the upper Airport Vista with the Lower Airport Saddle. The trail offers a way for hikers to get between these two popular sites more safely without walking on the busy Airport Road, and views from the trail include Sedona and the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness to the north.
Surveyed by the Forest Service over 8 years ago, the trail construction was finally made possible through an agreement with Friends of the Forest and through funds from Sky Ranch Lodge, located on the Mesa. Rick Hamilton, Sky Ranch Lodge general manager, said that helping with the trail is a way to “give back to the community” in a key public location.
Airport Manager Rod Propst, provided help to cut through the airport fence and install the pedestrian gate to keep deer and other wildlife off the airport runway. Forest Service, with crews from the Coconino Rural Environmental Corps, constructed the trail on the steep side slope between the Airport Road and the airport boundary.
FRIENDS OF THE FOREST WORKS MIDGLEY BRIDGE STEPS
Friends of the Forest Trail Crew has been fixing some badly eroded large stone steps at the Midgley Bridge Vista on the Huckaby Trail. This work will continue for several Fridays. The trail will not be closed during the work.
NEW BONES TRAIL COMPLETE, NORTH OF DEADHORSE RANCH STATE PARK; WORK BEGINNING ON “UPPER BONES” TRAIL
The new 3.6 mile Bones Trail is completed and links Raptor Trail with Rust Bucket Trail. These trails are typically accessed from the Raptor Trailhead at Deadhorse Ranch State Park, but are located on Forest land. The trail is open to hikers, horse and bikers and provides excellent views of the Verde Valley. The 1 mile “upper” Bones Trail is under construction. Anyone wishing to assist, please contact Adrian at 203-7531.
