The Absurdly Beautiful Hike In Arizona That Will Make You Feel At One With Nature
By Monica Spencer|Published July 27, 2017
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
Arizona never fails to surprise visitors with her beauty, especially through hiking. It seems that every turn on a new trail will lead you to a stunning display of color, texture, and life. If you’re on the lookout for a new landscape to explore, then you’re going to love this easy trail that sees few visitors every year.
Red Mountain Trail is located 25 miles northwest of Flagstaff and will lead you into a fractured cinder volcano, its interior exposed for all to see.
Red Mountain dates back 740,000 years during a time when the San Francisco Volcanic Field was incredibly active. It’s likely that the volcano obtained its unique U-shape from lava flow that "rafted away" a large portion of its side. This led to the volcano’s interior structure becoming exposed and slowly weathering in the elements over the centuries.
From afar, it looks more like a mound than a typical volcano since it grew in a flatter, slightly U-shaped formation instead of in a cone. Don’t let that deter you!
The trail starts here, just off Fort Valley Road. At the edge of a small, dirt parking lot is a description of the area, a gate, and the 3-mile dirt trail ahead. Plan to spend up to two hours on this journey.
The lightly traveled trail is easy to follow and is partially shaded by juniper and pine trees. The trail has a steady incline to the volcano and you'll notice the landscape around you slowly change.
You might encounter some small obstacles, like rocks on the path and a small wash that is typically dry, but the biggest one will be this ladder over a small dam. Some children and dogs not used to climbing may experience difficulty getting over this, so be prepared to lift them over if necessary.
Take your time checking out the spires, the hoodoos, and all the little crystals scattered around, the remnants of the volcano that towered here. Just remember to leave what you find so future visitors can enjoy the views here as well.
Once you’ve finished sightseeing and taking photos, head back to the parking lot on the same path. You’ll be headed downhill, so this may be a slightly easier journey!
Well, that looked fun, didn’t it? There are few opportunities to say you’ve been inside a volcano and exploring this unusual landscape can be quite a learning experience. You can find details about accessing and hiking Red Mountain Trail #159 from the U.S. Forest Service or Hike Arizona. The trailhead can be found on this map and remember to always check the weather before embarking on a trip into nature.
