Westfork's Colors
by Tom Kelly
Title
Westfork's Colors
Artist
Tom Kelly
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
In fall, Oak Creek Canyon, a 12 mile breathtaking drive on highway 89A just north of Sedona Arizona in beautiful red rock country,goes thru an incredible change. The canyon, which is located in the Coconino National Forest, is full of streams, and sometimes waterfalls especially after a heavy rain. The canyon meanders along oak creek , which has numerous twists and craggy landscapes, as the creek crosses both sides of 89A. Sedona is second only to the Grand Canyon in number of vistors in the state of Arizona. The depth of the canyon ranges from 800 to 2000 feet. Oak Creek, a tributary of the Verde River, flows along the bottom of the canyon, and is always flowing. Here in the high desert region of northern Arizona, Oak Creek is mostly responsible for carving the modern oak creek canyon although movement along the Oak Creek Fault is believed to have a role as well.
Geologic evidence suggests the formation of the Oak Creek Fault about 8 to 10 million years ago.As temperatures get colder, colors change and the canyon gets stunning. Crowded in fall, but well worth the trip is the canyon's gem " Westfork" The Westfork of OakCreek is nature at it's best. The trail is dynamic and heavily used throughout the year, with winter the slowest time.The trail can be found about 11 miles north of Sedona on 89A. Parking can be a problem, so better to come early. Temps are at least 10 degrees cooler in the canyon than start of the trailhead. The trail is deep with plenty of vegation, quite narrow in spots, with many crevices that have eroded over time due to wind, water, and other elements. Westfork is a must see on any vistors agenda in Sedona. Red is the main color in the canyon, most of the rocks come from Coconino Sandstone, with some Kaibab limestone higher up in the canyon. The trail " Call of the Canyon" takes you into this area just past the remains of the Mayhew lodge a deserted dwelling from the early part of the last century. The Westfork confluence of Oak Creek meanders in the canyon, which is full of old logs, many fallen trees, and a variety of wildlife. At times, you might have to scoot around a old tree which can block your path. The path crosses the creek many times and the rocks can be very slippery so walking sticks and good shoes can be very helpful. Birds, bees, bugs, snakes, and trout can be seen throughout your adventure. The hiking is pleasant and the photography is grand. If you forgot something , there are several hiking outdoor shops as well as a camera store in the Sedona area. If you are taking photos, remember your polarizer, and ND filters, and tripod as lighting can be tricky because of the high arching walls. In fall, the colors change dramatically and the traffic can be very heavy, so come early! Calming, soothing, adventurous, and enchanting are a few experiences to be gained at Westfork..
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January 9th, 2013
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