We were offered free tickets for a four hour train
excursion along the Verde Valley River Canyon if we’d to attend a 90 minute
presentation to learn about the Sedona Pines Resort. Why not we decide as there
is no obligation to purchase property. Little do we know what was in store for
us in that regard however. After booking the free train ride for later on, JR
and I drove the Jeep up Oak Creek
Canyon for starts the rest of that morning. Breathtaking in its red rock beauty, the Canyon is a
spectacular 16-mile gorge with streams and waterfalls between sheer rock walls.
Zane Grey wrote about this canyon in his book, "Call of the
Canyon”.
Despite notes suggesting that driving through the canyon
is dangerous, we found this to be no difficulty at all in terms of the
switchbacks and elevation. There are guardrails all along the way, so danger of
driving over the side is minimal. It is a beautiful drive along SR 89A from
Sedona toward Flagstaff to the top of the canyon. There are a few hairpin turns
but nothing scary. In addition to spectacular scenery en route, the viewing
area at the top of the canyon has good signage interpreting the various
geological layers. There are fields of yellow flowers at Oak Creek Vista
lookout.
Driving south on I-17 we took a turn off on to Schnebly Rd
which brought quite an adventure. It was an unpaved dirt road for four wheel
driving. Having been tipped off at the tourist office that Sedona Jeep Tours
uses this cut through road for their adventure excursions we opted to give it a
try on our own. The first part of the drive took us through forest land
blanketed with fields of yellow flowers. The dirt gravel road was smooth the
first 4 miles. The last 8 miles the dirt road adventure had lots and lots of
bumps over rocks and potholes along the steep switchbacks of the canyon. JR down shifted the gears and set our Jeep
into four wheel drive as needed. Naturally he was in his extreme element as a
thrill seeker. I was white knuckling it as he cautiously maneuvered us up and
down slowly over outcrop rocks along the narrow bumpy dirt road. Viewing the
red rock cliffs of Sedona up close and personal off the beaten path while descending
along canyon walls is a pretty amazing experience.
And by the way, that free Valley Verde Canyon Railway
Excursion? The following day
seated in a first class train car was a bit more relaxing along that scenic
route. It is not the destination that is important, rather the journey… so the
saying goes.
