West Fork Trail is one of the most unique hiking trails in all of Sedona — and for good reason. The trail brings you through a lush, green, and lively canyon that requires several river crossings. And, if you go deep enough into the canyon, the trail actually forces you to hike through the water. However, in my opinion, the best way to do it is to just hike through the river the whole way. In total, the hike is about 7 miles with very little elevation. So, 3.5 miles one way. A few things to remember: [ 1 ] YOUR SHOES WILL GET WET — I just wore my regular hiking boots and allowed them to fully submerge, but many people bring water shoes. [ 2 ] BRING THE PUP — This trail is perfect for dogs, especially in the summer. The temperature in the canyon is usually about 15 to 20 degrees cooler than the rest of Sedona. [ 3 ] START EARLY — I’m not kidding when I say the parking lot is usually full by 7AM. Everyone wants to go on this hike, so make sure you start with the sunrise to ensure you’re able to start at all. Have you hiked West Fork before? 🌱 LEAVE NO TRACE: When recreating on sacred land please remember to leave no trace: no carving into rocks, no littering, and packing out what you pack in (yes, even apple cores and orange peels).