Sunday, November 12, 2017 (Boondocking Site, Sedona, AZ)

Sunday morning we were on the road by 9:30...today we would be going north of Sedona for a little sightseeing through along highway 89A, Oak Creek Canyon. Unfortunately it was a bit cloudy for pictures. The red rock surrounding Sedona is absolutely stunning!

Steamboat Rock

Our first stop was at Midgley Bridge. Immediately after crossing it, there is a small parking area to the left. We managed to snag a parking spot there and took the path down for a closer look. This is also the trail-head for a couple of hiking trails.

Must be a beautiful sight when there's a waterfall cascading into the canyon...

Oak Creek below...

 Time to head back up and continue our drive...thanks for the picture, Ray!

Next was Slide Rock State Park...The U.S. Forest Service manages most of the land in Oak Creek Canyon. The Slide Rock area of Oak Creek Canyon is one of the most noted and popular tourist locations in the State. Pictures of the area are featured in all forms of media locally, nationally and internationally.

The Pendley orchard in the distance...

Frank Pendley homesteaded the land immediately south of Slide Rock in the early 1900’s and developed a large apple orchard along with vegetable crops. Tom Pendley, his son, continued to operate and manage the property, and in the 1980’s it was one of the largest parcels of land in Oak Creek Canyon in private ownership. In 1982, the family decided it was time to sell the property. When Governor Babbitt learned of this, he contacted the family to see about acquiring the property as a State Park. Tom Pendley told the Governor that he was reluctant to sell the land to a governmental entity because of the difficulties he had experienced in dealing with the Forest Service. 

Guest cottages...

Manure spreader and a water wheel...

 In 1983, Governor Babbitt created the Arizona Parklands Foundation and appointed members comprised of business, political and community leaders. In creating this Foundation, the Governor was implementing one of the recommendations that had come from the Governor’s Task Force on Parks and Recreation in Arizona, a special task force the Governor had appointed the year before. The Foundation was a non-profit corporation charged with acquiring property and receiving gifts for State Parks. All land the Foundation acquired would be donated to Arizona State Parks. Working with the Parks Board, a list of desirable properties for future State Parks was developed, including the Pendley property. After two years of negotiations, an agreement was reached with the Pendley family for sale of the property. This was the first property acquired by the Foundation.

For more on the history of how this property actually became a State Park, click here.

Pendley Homestead House built in 1927...

Apple Packing Shed built in 1932...

 Time to leave the farm area and walk down to see Slide Rock and Oak Creek...

Dianne crossing the bridge...

Note the Toadstool behind the restroom building...

 This brave fellow jumped into the water...a little chilly this time of year!

Slide Rock includes a 1/2 mile of Oak Creek that is open for swimming, wading and sliding. The world-famous slide that our park is named for is an 80 foot-long slippery chute that is worn into sandstone.

 Picture from Deb...

Ray getting that perfect shot...

We missed getting a picture, but the fellow with the red cap on went down on one knee and proposed to the girl on his right...

 When it was time to leave, Steve decided to climb up to an upper trail and meet us at the end...

Along the clifftop trail...

 I wasn't too crazy about getting close to the edge, so I'm holding onto Steve's shorts...

We continued driving north through the beautiful canyon and then we climbed up a very twisty, windy section to Oak Creek Vista...

There are vendors set up along the walkway...lots of beautiful Navajo jewellery and crafts...

Prickly Pear...

Highway 89A below...

It's quite the climb...

After checking out all of the vendors and taking in the beautiful views of the canyon, it was time to head back down into the canyon. We stopped at a picnic site where the creek flows over the road leading to Orchard Canyon on Oak Creek, which offer cozy cabins and a lodge.

Ray walked through the water to get a shot from the other side...

It was going on 2:00 by the time we returned to Sedona...time for a late lunch at the Oak Creek Brewery and Grill located in the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. Lunch...and beer...were excellent but the food took quite a while to come. A busy Sunday afternoon at the pub!

A wonderful way to end a wonderful tour of the area!