Story and photos by Cheryl Hartz
Part of the Coconino National Forest near Sedona, Bell Trail No. 13 runs parallel to Wet Beaver Creek, so opportunities abound to find a swimming hole and cool off. You might have to share with a great blue heron or a muskrat, but beavers aren’t so likely.
My family liked to name the swimming holes we visited often at our favorite creeks. Since our kids grew up, married and moved away, we haven’t frequented those cool respite spots very often, but hope to show them to our grandson someday.
He’s only two, but he will love Boulder Pool, Barney Pool (named after Barney the diving dog), Jungle Book Pool, Panther Pool (where my hubby scared up two mountain lions resting under a bush) and Bugsy Pool (named for a little hunting dog we rescued on that backpacking trip). So many fun memories and good stories chock full of cuddly canines.
A very popular swimming hole along Bell Trail is called The Crack, where the intrepid leap from cliffs into a deep pool far below. I did that once. It’s a seven-mile round trip and crowded with people crazy enough to plunge into the cold, cold water.
But back to hiking. Situated in Wet Beaver Creek Canyon, Bell Trail is named for Charles Bell, who built it in 1932 to move cattle up and down the Mogollon Rim. Now, many more people than cattle enjoy this trail on the Colorado Plateau’s southern rim in Red Rock country. (FYI, you’ll need a Red Rock pass or an America the Beautiful pass to park.)
Rated moderate by the U.S. Forest Service for the first four of its 7.4 miles, Bell Trail is basically flat and smooth through red dust and rock. Two side trails—White Mesa and Apache Maid—join Bell at 1.7 and 2.2 miles, respectively.
Four miles in, Bell crosses Wet Beaver Creek at Bell Crossing and begins a 1,200-foot elevation gain up to the Mogollon Rim, where Sedona and the San Francisco Peaks are visible.
Prickly pear cactus prevails in the mostly full sun along the trail. Temperatures can reach well over 100 into September, so rangers advise taking plenty of sunscreen, water and snacks.
Below the trail, ancient cottonwoods and sycamores shade the creek. Wildlife pausing for a cool drink in this fragile riparian area could include mountain lions, coyotes, javelina, deer and an occasional elk, along with dozens of bird species.
The Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness starts 2.7 miles from the Bell trailhead. Trailhead elevation is 3,872 feet and overall elevation gain is 1,502 feet over the entire 7.4 miles of Bell Trail. That’s one way. And no, I have not hiked the entire thing. Yet.
Happy Red Rock hiking!
