Sedona/Prescott/Jerome?

splitshot · Feb 20, 2016

The wife and I have an anniversary coming up and we (so far) have penciled in this area as our destination. Neither one of us have been there since we were kids. More than likely we will be in the 4runner so any heavy wheeling is out (though not opposed to some scenic dirt).
Any must see's, do's, eat's? Also would like to do some hiking in the area, any recommends on trails would be greatly appreciated.

OverlandDream · Feb 20, 2016

Sedona would be the best place for hikes second is Jerome. Any hike you pick will be amazing. There are websites that you can look up and see most hikes in the area just check the difficulty, some can be challenging. There are two dirt roads that lead from Jerome to Prescott. I have only driven on one and its an easy drive. drove thru it in a Ram 3500 dually, the other I'm not so sure because I haven't had the time. There are other dirt roads in the valley but i haven't been on them. Sedona IMO is only good for the out-doors the town has become a tourist trap so everything is expensive. I live in Jerome though I'm out of town for a couple of months and the town is worth seeing and stopping at least for a day. There are also places in the Verde Valle that are also worth seeing, both state and national parks. If you want more info you can PM me and I will give you specifics on the area.

jahawk · Feb 20, 2016

OverlandDream said:
Sedona would be the best place for hikes second is Jerome. Any hike you pick will be amazing. There are websites that you can look up and see most hikes in the area just check the difficulty, some can be challenging. There are two dirt roads that lead from Jerome to Prescott. I have only driven on one and its an easy drive. drove thru it in a Ram 3500 dually, the other I'm not so sure because I haven't had the time. There are other dirt roads in the valley but i haven't been on them. Sedona IMO is only good for the out-doors the town has become a tourist trap so everything is expensive. I live in Jerome though I'm out of town for a couple of months and the town is worth seeing and stopping at least for a day. There are also places in the Verde Valle that are also worth seeing, both state and national parks. If you want more info you can PM me and I will give you specifics on the area.

Look at Old Town Cottonwood also.

Pitch · Feb 20, 2016

Drive up the rugged, yet 4runner-able Schnebly Hill Rd to the cow pies, and hike the Hangover Trail loop. It is epic!

The Verde Valley wine trail is OK, but you could just skip it and hit the tasting rooms in Old Town Cottonwood. It has seen a renaissance in the last 5 yrs and is definitely worth your time. Walk down to the Verde River from behind the old jail, linger there, and relax.

If you are reasonably fit, another great drive and hike is to drive to the Secret Canyon Trail head on FR 152c. Drive past all the other tourons who left their rental cars near the pavement en route to the Devil's Bridge. You have better things ahead on the Secret Canyon-David Miller Extension-Bear Sign Canyon-Dry Creek Trail loop. Few other people, rugged roads to test the 4runner, and possibly the best, and least-crowded loop hike in Sedonuts.

splitshot · Feb 21, 2016

Thank You.
Great ideas so far, please keep them coming. Historical places to check out? Lodging? Eats?

OverlandDream · Feb 21, 2016

Don't really know places in Sedona to eat or lodge except for The Coffee Pot for Breakfast. I'm sure there is a bunch of camp grounds and hotels not sure how much you would like to spend but its not cheap there. Cottonwood has a camp ground/state park Dead Horse Ranch and there is the normal hotel places like motel 6. Near Cottonwood in Camp Verde is Montezuma's castle and Montezuma's well both are cool and worth seeing. There is also Tuzigoot in Clarkdale which is a national monument. Old Town is the place to go for food Nic's or The Tavern are my Fave places there's also a great BBQ place right before you get to Old Town Hog Wild BBQ. In Jerome there is The Mine Cafe or The Flatiron for breakfast and brunch, Bordello of Jerome for burgers, Hill Top Deli for sandwiches and The Spirit Room for drinks and music people may tell you to got to The Haunted Hamburger but I don't recommend it. Also The Grand Hotel for both food and lodging there is also a B&B. Jerome in general is a historic landmark. Jerome's state park is cool and explains a lot about the town and make sure you stop at the Audrey Head Frame when your in town its right next to the state park. There is also a little hidden museum in a shop across from the spirit room The Mine Museum. In Prescott the place to go is Whiskey Row any place there is good also they have a large number of hotels campgrounds and restaurants.

LX Avalanche · Feb 21, 2016

If you're coming from Phoenix I recommend taking 89 from Wickenburg to Prescott and 89A from Prescott to Jerome. It's an awesome drive and very scenic. It's longer but worth it when you've driven I17 14,000,000 times.

splitshot · Feb 22, 2016

Oracle, but get the I-17 thing, our usual route is the beeline through Payson to the Lake Mary road to get to Flagstaff. Figure to take the 260 (which I have never traveled) to Camp Verde and on up.

Sold! Many thanks for the replies!

oilbrnr · Feb 23, 2016

If your on the 260 and passing through the Camp Verde/I-17 transition at lunch or dinner, just west of the 17 a couple of miles on the north side, is La Fonda Mexican food. Not fancy, old N AZ family that has run it and the one in Flag for over 50 years (also related to the family that runs Kachina in downtown Flag, FWIW). Again, don't expect table cloths and fancy decor. Recommend a green pork burro, enchilada style or tomatadas. Sopapllias are good too. Pretty sure the carpet in there is the same as it was when my dad and I used to stop in there for lunch when we would go down there to hunt for quail, in 1983!

Horseshoe Bend Rd., IIRC.

I practically grew up in Sedona as my Grandparents moved there in the early 50's from Flag and had an producing apple orchard right where L'auberge De Sedona is today on the Creek in old town. Went back for the first time last year since 2003. I won't go back again. The whole Sedona scene really disgusted me. Many of the trails we used to go offroad and picnic on in the '70's are closed.

As Pitch mentioned above, Schnebly Hill Rd. is always an interesting drive. Not sure when the FS opens the rest of the road on the top of the rim anymore to drive on out to I-17, but there are some cool side logging roads that hug the rim line to the south with great views of the Sedona/Verde area.

Cottonwood and Jerome are still worth the visit. Hope you two have a great trip!

Living in the Past · Feb 23, 2016

oilbrnr said:
If your on the 260 and passing through the Camp Verde/I-17 transition at lunch or dinner, just west of the 17 a couple of miles on the north side, is La Fonda Mexican food. Not fancy, old N AZ family that has run it and the one in Flag for over 50 years (also related to the family that runs Kachina in downtown Flag, FWIW). Again, don't expect table cloths and fancy decor. Recommend a green pork burro, enchilada style or tomatadas. Sopapllias are good too. Pretty sure the carpet in there is the same as it was when my dad and I used to stop in there for lunch when we would go down there to hunt for quail, in 1983! Horseshoe Bend Rd., IIRC.

I practically grew up in Sedona as my Grandparents moved there in the early 50's from Flag and had an producing apple orchard right where L'auberge De Sedona is today on the Creek in old town. Went back for the first time last year since 2003. I won't go back again. The whole Sedona scene really disgusted me. Many of the trails we used to go offroad and picnic on in the '70's are closed.

As Pitch mentioned above, Schnebly Hill Rd. is always an interesting drive. Not sure when the FS opens the rest of the road on the top of the rim anymore to drive on out to I-17, but there are some cool side logging roads that hug the rim line to the south with great views of the Sedona/Verde area.

Cottonwood and Jerome are still worth the visit. Hope you two have a great trip!

I worked at the paper mill in Flagstaff in the early seventies. For ever four hours overtime worked besides the time and half you got a meal ticket worth $2.25. La Fonda in east Flagstaff was one of the restaurants that took those meal tickets and about the only one I used them at. As mentioned nothing fancy but good food. Been a while since I've eaten at either the east Flagstaff or Camp Verde La Fonda but if your were looking for spicy this wouldn't be the best option.

I made a run up to Village of Oak Creek a few weeks ago early Sunday morning. I was thinking this was really a nice place until I left to come back and traffic was already building on 179. Them I remember how bad that stretch of road can be. I would head to Sedona on 89A off 260 out of Cottonwood or head across the Cornville Rd. There is also a nice restaurant along the creek in Page Springs north of Cornville.

Depends on when you go but with the few number of storms up north in the last month a good the Schnebly Hill Rd will be open all the way thru to I-17. That information should be on Coconino National Forest Service website. The travel map is available there as well. Being that Schnebly Hill Rd is so popular I would be sure not to travel on any closed roads along the rim. For the most part the FS has not marked any closed roads which may not be the case along Schnebly Hill Rd since it so well traveled but I won't count on it.

oilbrnr · Feb 23, 2016

Good point, avoid the 179 UNLESS there is really something you want to go to. And I'd forgot about the Page Springs place. Used to be good eats. That Cornville route would be less tourist traffic and a quicker way in/out of West Sedona.

The FS just bars the entrance to the main Schnelby Hill Rd. on the top of the rim during whatever months of winter now that they deem us unworthy to be on OUR land. Just like most all major FS feeder roads in winter.

Living in the Past · Feb 23, 2016

oilbrnr said:
The FS just bars the entrance to the main Schnelby Hill Rd. on the top of the rim during whatever months of winter now that they deem us unworthy to be on OUR land. Just like most all major FS feeder roads in winter.

If that route is open should be on the FS website. The smaller road off Schnebly Hill Rd may possibly be closed year round. Been at least five years there has been a travel map for off road use. Many of the roads on the old forest service maps are now closed. The FS has made very little effort to do anything to close these road other then not list them on the travel map. It's up to the public to get and use the TM. Haven't been in that area for years so don't know what is open and what is now closed. Or if the FS has done any signage. Because of how popular the area is might be more likely to come across a ranger then some of the more remote areas. I do remember the the road on top ran thru a camp that included a swimming pool. Have in the past hunted turkey in that area but think the areas I went to are closed now.

splitshot · Feb 23, 2016

Note to self; Add a Coconino FS map.

Stepmurr · Feb 23, 2016

splitshot said:
Note to self; Add a Coconino FS map.

Go here:

Coconino National Forest - Projects

2015 Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) 2015 updates to the Motor Vehicle Use Map(PDF, 125 kB) include corrections to the map based on public input.

Obtain a free hard copy MVUM at any Coconino National Forest office, or by calling (928) 527-3600. Free hard copy MVUMs are also available at local outdoor stores, and offices of other nearby National Forests.

Top of page

[paste:font size="4"]2015 Supplemental Travel Map: Helpful Companion to the MVUM Top of page

[paste:font size="3"]Download Free GPS-Enabled Travel Maps for Your Device
The digital 2015 Travel Map is free, and can be used on your Android or Apple iOS smartphone or tablet, or your Garmin GPS.

Living in the Past · Feb 24, 2016

I haven't been in the Prescott National Forest for years and not sure if they have a off road travel plan yet. If they do probably need that map as well.

splitshot · Apr 17, 2016

Some pics...
25th wedding anniversary, only 4 days to spend in the area but overall some well needed time to get away for just the two of us. Got to do the touristy stuff, spent time on the back roads away from the crowds, and feasted like royalty.

For instance, how often does one get to levitate over a 1900 foot hole in the ground?