Tag: Wet Beaver Creek

Trail Running–December 2025

It has been warm and dry this month and this has allowed us to continue doing trail runs in Flagstaff and Sedona. Here are a few photographs from these runs.

Long Canyon

A side trip while running Long Canyon in Sedona provides a great view of the red rocks.
A side trip while running Long Canyon in Sedona provides a great view of the red rocks.
This tinaja (pool) hidden away in Long Canyon makes a good destination.
This tinaja (pool) hidden away in Long Canyon makes a good destination.
End of the trail in Long Canyon--the sign says so.
End of the trail in Long Canyon–the sign says so.

Fort Tuthill

It was interesting that the snow had melted everywhere except the trail.

Snow on Soldiers Trail, Fort Tuthill.
Snow on Soldiers Trail, Fort Tuthill.
Footprints in the snow, Soldiers Trail at Fort Tuthill.
Footprints in the snow, Soldiers Trail at Fort Tuthill.

Wet Beaver Creek

This trail a favorite of our running group. The turnaround is at this deep pool.

A deep pool marks the turnaround point for our run along Wet Beaver Creek.
A deep pool marks the turnaround point for our run along Wet Beaver Creek.
A sandstone bench makes for an interesting section on the Bell Trail along Wet Beaver Creek.
A sandstone bench makes for an interesting section on the Bell Trail along Wet Beaver Creek.

Templeton Trail–Easy Breezy Trail

An early morning start was chilly but it warmed up quickly on this run.

Cathedral Rock looms in the distance along this section of Templeton Trail.
Cathedral Rock looms in the distance along this section of Templeton Trail.
Cathedral Rock and the intersection of Templeton -- Easy Breezy -- and Hardline Trails.
Cathedral Rock and the intersection of Templeton — Easy Breezy — and Hardline Trails.
The return on this loop was on Easy Breezy Trail.
The return on this loop was on Easy Breezy Trail.

Teacup Trail

We don’t do this often because parking is difficult much of the year. But we got lucky on this day.

Teacup Trail with Coffee Pot Rock in the background.
Teacup Trail with Coffee Pot Rock in the background.

Oldham–Down Under

We did this earlier this fall and wanted to do it again. Mud, snow and ice made it tricky.

Down Under Trail (formally known as Red Onion) where it crosses Elden Lookout Road.
Down Under Trail (formally known as Red Onion) where it crosses Elden Lookout Road.
Too much mud and snow here--so we turned around.
Too much mud and snow here–so we turned around.

Huckaby Trail

Another trail run with a cold start but a warm finish.

Two runners make the climb from the canyon floor to the ridge above on the Huckaby Trail.
Two runners make the climb from the canyon floor to the ridge above on the Huckaby Trail.
A view from the high point on Huckaby Trail looking back at Midgley Bridge--the turnaround point for this run.
A view from the high point on Huckaby Trail looking back at Midgley Bridge–the turnaround point for this run.

Schultz Creek Trail

The first two miles were fine with just a few muddy spots. After that we encountered patches of ice and snow — so we did the return on Schultz Pass Road.

Patches of ice on Schultz Creek Trail. Not a problem running up--but not something we wanted to do running down.
Patches of ice on Schultz Creek Trail. Not a problem running up–but not something we wanted to do running down.

A Quick Visit to Wet Beaver Creek

A few weeks ago we decided to visit Wet Beaver Creek to enjoy a warm day beside the running waters. Rather than hike a few miles up the canyon to the deeper pools we opted to visit the creek near the Beaver Creek Day Use area. It was a weekday and there were only a couple of other visitors. We were able to secure a spot with no one else around (at least until we decided it was time to leave and have lunch). Sitting in the warm sun and then wading into the cool water was refreshing. It won’t be long before autumn weather makes it too cool for this kind of relaxation–but for now it is still an enjoyable way to spend an hour or two. Here are some photos from that morning.

Wet Beaver Creek on a warm September day.
Wet Beaver Creek on a warm September day.
Plenty of shady spots to sit while listening to the flowing water of Wet Beaver Creek.
Plenty of shady spots to sit while listening to the flowing water of Wet Beaver Creek.
Shallow pools of slow-moving water lie on either side of a fast-moving current in Wet Beaver Creek.
Shallow pools of slow-moving water lie on either side of a fast-moving current in Wet Beaver Creek.

Photos shot with a Sony RX100V.

Trail Running in Northern Arizona

Running—especially trail running—is a big part of our lives and we try to run in interesting places. That could be running up mountains, alongside streams, through forests, and in canyons. And I try to take a camera with me when we run. As a minimum, the camera will be a phone but I prefer to take along my Sony RX100 V, a small camera with a 24-70mm  zoom lens. The camera is actually smaller than my phone (smaller length x width, but thicker) so it fits well in my water bottle waist pack.

Here is a collection of photographs taken on the trails we have run this spring in northern Arizona.

The rising sun illuminates the red rocks of Sedona as we prepare to start the run.
The rising sun illuminates the red rocks of Sedona as we prepare to start the run.
Sometimes Dry Creek has water.
Sometimes Dry Creek has water.
A great swimming hole at the turn around point on Wet Beaver Creek.
A great swimming hole at the turn around point on Wet Beaver Creek.
Group run through Carroll Canyon.
Group run through Carroll Canyon.
Spring blossoms along the Elden Springs Trail.
Spring blossoms along the Elden Springs Trail.
Overhanging rock on Hardline Trail.
Overhanging rock on Hardline Trail.
Blooming agave plant on Hangover Trail.
Blooming agave plant on Hangover Trail.
Spring-fed ponds along the Sycamore Canyon Rim Trail.
Spring-fed ponds along the Sycamore Canyon Rim Trail.
Sycamore Canyon Rim Trail overlook.
Sycamore Canyon Rim Trail overlook.
Cluster of oak trees on Apollo Trail in the Mount Elden Dry Lakes (MEDL) trail system.
Cluster of oak trees on Apollo Trail in the Mount Elden Dry Lakes (MEDL) trail system.
View of the San Francisco Peaks on the high point of Space Walk Trail, a part of the MEDL system.
View of the San Francisco Peaks on the high point of Space Walk Trail, a part of the MEDL system.
Tree with carved bench at the top of Space Walk Trail.
Tree with carved bench at the top of Space Walk Trail.
Rock art along a trail in the Red Rock—Secret Mountain Wilderness.
Rock art along a trail in the Red Rock—Secret Mountain Wilderness.
Rocky Mountain Iris along the Arizona Trail.
Rocky Mountain Iris along the Arizona Trail.
Picturesque stand of aspen along the Arizona Trail.
Picturesque stand of aspen along the Arizona Trail.
Running on the Oldham Trail at the base of Mount Elden.
Running on the Oldham Trail at the base of Mount Elden.

It’s not just about the running—it’s also about the beautiful places running can take us.

Edit: fixed typo in title.

 

Trail Running in Sedona-II

As noted in the previous post we had a lot of snow in Flagstaff during the first half of March. That meant if we wanted to do any trail running it had to be elsewhere. And, of course, that means Sedona.

On 22 March the group run was Hangover Trail loop (Munds Wagon Trail, Hangover Trail, Cow Pies Trail).

A brief respite from the near-continuous climbing on the Hangover Trail in Sedona, Arizona.
A brief respite from the near-continuous climbing on the Hangover Trail in Sedona, Arizona.
An expansive view of the Red Rocks of Sedona near the intersection of the Cow Pies and Hangover Trails.
An expansive view of the Red Rocks of Sedona near the intersection of the Cow Pies and Hangover Trails.

The run up Wet Beaver Creek on 29 March was the final Sedona run of the season; we return to running in Flagstaff now that the snow is gone (well, it could return).

This is the turnaround spot on the Wet Beaver Creek Trail. Weather permitting, a few runners make the plunge into the deep pool.
This is the turnaround spot on the Wet Beaver Creek Trail. Weather permitting, a few runners make the plunge into the deep pool.
A narrow ledge on a steep sandstone cliff along the Wet Beaver Creek trail.
A narrow ledge on a steep sandstone cliff along the Wet Beaver Creek trail.

So long, Sedona trail runs!

Edit: Fixed typo.

The Heron and the Moon

/ 2 Comments
The Heron and the Moon.
The Heron and the Moon.

Sometimes a wonderful photographic opportunity just falls into place with no effort on my part.

I watched a hawk dive down towards the water of Wet Beaver Creek and then heard the squawking of another bird—this heron—as it took flight. It landed in this tree top a moment later. And then I saw that the Moon was right there. I only had to take a step or two for this positioning of Moon and heron. And, then, a moment later, it took flight again and was gone.