North Wilson Mountain Trail & Oak Creek Canyon Waterfall - Sedona, AZ
I've seen the pictures and wanted to find this waterfall for a while now. It only runs after a storm, so timing is tricky. But the conditions finally came together and we decided to check it out. I knew when we went that it’s a contradiction; for the waterfall to be flowing, there has to be a lot of rain. However, to get to the waterfall, you have to get across Oak Creek…..Which can easily get out of hand if water levels are high. So we made a plan B to hike North Wilson Mountain Trail in the event we couldn’t get to the waterfall.
That was a wise choice.
Yes, Oak Creek Canyon Waterfall was flowing. And really impressive. Oak Creek was swollen, but not out of hand. However, there was a light rain when we got there. It was steep and slick getting into and out of Oak Creek. On the opposite side, there looked to be a good bit of exposure on what was currently wet slickrock. The hike up to the falls was a lot steeper and longer than I thought. Oh, and although the flow wasn’t out of hand, to get across Oak Creek we would have to swim. Did I mention it was February?
That hike might be fun in warmer weather, with different gear.
So we reevaluated and did North Wilson Mountain instead. The good thing is, the North Wilson Mountain Trail travels up on the canyon side opposite the falls. So you get a good view of the falls as you hike. So off we went.
North Wilson Mountain Trail starts in an area that was fire damaged several years ago, but it was still pretty. It offered good views of Oak Creek Canyon Waterfall. Turns out it’s actually a double waterfall, but you can’t tell that until you get high enough on the opposite side of the canyon. Very cool.
Eventually, the trail got through the worst of the fire damage and into a pine filled valley. At this point, it started some switchbacks and quickly gained elevation. The views here we incredible. Not the red rocks associated with Sedona, but the white/grey ones you see as you explore deeper into the wilderness.
Then came the snow. The switchbacks relented and we were on a relatively flat plateau. Quickly we were surrounded by clouds and snow. And walking in a boggy, frozen mess. This is not how I thought this day would go.
But soon enough we were through, up another set of switchbacks and back in the pines. The snow got deeper, the clouds got thicker and the entire hike just became more and more surreal.
And then it just ended.
We reached the overlook and, well, I don’t know what it overlooked. The clouds were too thick. Still, with all of the changes in scenery and conditions, it was worth it. It all combined to make the hike feel very epic; we were having so much fun we didn’t even really notice the distance or elevation.
So what can I say? First, North Wilson Mountain Trail is a great hike. We will be back. We may even spot a car shuttle and the south end and hike the entire mountain. We’ll see.
As far as Oak Creek Canyon Waterfall goes, first, know that this is not an identified trail. Rock climbers actually climb the rock walls in the grotto where the falls are. The conditions required for the fall to flow combined with the Oak Creek crossing could potentially be treacherous….or fatal. And from what I could tell, the climb up to the falls was more of a cross country scramble than a hike. Again, this is ‘hiked’ by rock climbers. If I attempted this, I would put some serious research into how to get across the creek and where the trail picks up on the other side (looked sheer and slick to me). I would bring my canyoneering gear more than day hike gear.
So please, if you want to get to Oak Creek Canyon Waterfall, do your homework, know your limitations and be careful.