Huckaby Trail Preview

Should you hike Huckaby Trail to Oak Creek? What the film settles

A trail that goes down to the water, so the climb comes on the way back.

It starts with a drop and a climb. From the trailhead, open mesa gives way at 9:30 to a rocky descent into Bear Wallow Canyon on loose, blocky rock. The wash crossing at the bottom comes at 14:00, and the climb back out to the bench starts at 18:30.

The middle is a traverse with views. From 23:00 the trail crosses open slickrock and sandy tread on the bench above the creek, with Wilson Mountain across the canyon by 32:00.

The long descent is the climb you come back up. Switchbacks and rocky steps take the trail down toward Oak Creek from 36:30, to creek level at 41:00 and along the bank to the water at 54:10. The film ends at the creek and does not show the return, so watch that last stretch as the uphill it will be on the way back. On a hot afternoon it is the hard part of the day.

Plan the parking. Check Sedona trailhead parking before you drive to Schnebly Hill Road.

Not the hike for an easy finish: the effort is on the way back, not on the way down.

What the full film shows, chapter by chapter

Timestamps read from the full 54:37 film. Owners can jump straight to any chapter.

1. 0:00 Huckaby trailhead, Schnebly Hill Road The kiosk and the open start; about 4,455 ft.
2. 5:00 Open mesa Flat walking with the red rocks ahead (0.3 mi).
3. 9:30 Rocky descent into Bear Wallow Canyon The first drop on loose, blocky rock (0.5 mi).
4. 14:00 The canyon bottom Rocky wash crossing at the low point (0.7 mi, about 4,365 ft).
5. 18:30 Climbing out of the wash Steady grade back up to the bench (0.9 mi).
6. 23:00 The bench above Oak Creek Open slickrock and sandy tread (1.2 mi).
7. 27:30 Scrub oak traverse The high point of the walk, about 4,475 ft at 1.4 mi.
8. 32:00 Views to Wilson Mountain The canyon and the big mountain across it (1.6 mi).
9. 36:30 The long descent toward Oak Creek Switchbacks and rocky steps downhill (1.8 mi).
10. 41:00 Down at creek level The trail levels out near the water (2.1 mi, about 4,305 ft).
11. 45:30 Along Oak Creek Cobbles, greenery and a bouldery bank (2.4 mi).
12. 50:00 The shaded creekside trail The last easy stretch under the trees (2.7 mi).
13. 54:10 Oak Creek The boulder-strewn bank at 3.0 mi and about 4,290 ft. The film ends at the water; the climb back is not shown.

Not in the film: anything past the creek bank, and the climb back to the trailhead.

Planning the real hike? Check Sedona trailhead parking and the trail guides before you go.