Hike Apache Maid Trail No. 15, Sedona, Arizona

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The 9.5-mile (15.3 km) Apache Maid Trail branches off of the Bell Trail after 2.5 miles and ascends the northern canyon wall of the Wet Beaver Wilderness through a series of switchbacks. The rest of the trail then levels out across one of the plateaus of the Mogollon Rim. Hikers will find picturesque views of Wet Beaver Creek Canyon and hillsides of prickly pear cacti. Once atop the basalt plateau, the Apache Maid Trail winds along primitive jeep tracks across the grassy, juniper flats. From the trail, the canyon appears off to your right as an eroded rift in the ancient lava flow. Some choose to hike just a part of this trail, enjoying overlooks of the canyon and a panorama that includes Casner Butte and the San Francisco Peaks. Others arrange a car-shuttle and continue all the way to trail's end near the lookout tower on Apache Maid Mountain. Wilderness areas are rare, wild places set aside by Congress where the land is allowed to retain its natural state, serving as a natural haven for humans to escape modern civilization and for nature to be itself. To help minimize human impacts in wilderness and maintain its character, several laws and regulations have been put in place and we ask that visitors practice "Leave No Trace ethics." In order to protect this fragile desert riparian area, campfires and camping are prohibited along much of the Wet Beaver Creek to help minimize damage to soil and vegetation, reduce disturbances to wildlife, and prevent pollution of the creek. Wet Beaver Creek flows into the Verde River, a critical water source for many cities and communities in Arizona.

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