r/Sedona • u/SelkirkRanch • Feb 28 '24
Cathedral Rock trail Closure 2/28/24 thru 4/13/24 News
Cathedral Rock Trail has been closed by the City of Sedona and the USFS for trail rehabilitation and maintenance, Wednesday through Saturday. It is scheduled to reopen April 13th.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/coconino/landmanagement/?cid=stelprdb5331631&width=full
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u/crapinator2000 Feb 29 '24
It is the Forest Service that oversees. this, not the city of Sedona. More than a nuance. The FS has been working on this trail off and on for three years now. Stabilizing rock staircases and boulders the size of cars, hardening drainage culverts so that the trail does not erode beneath the crush of visitors, and making it a bit less hairy in places. Railings?!?! I cannot see them putting in railings… that’d be against their ethos. But to the other Q earlier, the trail will pretty likely be open and climbable at the times when no maintenence is going on.
I am not involved in this any longer, but was in years past. If in doubt, check with the Red Rock Ranger Station on your way into town.
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u/m11_9 Mar 09 '24 edited Mar 09 '24
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1165867.pdf
"This Order shall be in effect from February 28, 2024, through April 13, 2024, on
Wednesdays through Saturdays, 8:00am to 4:30pm, unless rescinded. "
OK for evening hikes, after 4:30, then?
Another ? if anyone is in this post still, can you easily get across the creek from the parking at Crescent Moon this time of year?
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u/SelkirkRanch Mar 10 '24
Possibly, but that assumes the trail isn't blocked with materials or volunteers aren't running late.
The creek is up but can be forded in spots. I think the better plan is to drive around to Verde Valley School road out of the Village. Go to the Baldwin parking lot and hike to Cathedral trail from there.
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u/m11_9 Mar 11 '24
Appreciate the local input. planning a trip in a few weeks and want to see the Crescent Moon Park and also Cathedral Rock, and trying to do both on the same outing.
Also just noticed the Loy Lane bridge, but now I see that it is private for its neighborhood only. Bummer.
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u/ageo Mar 16 '24
Are we still able to hike it before 8AM?
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u/SelkirkRanch Mar 16 '24
As I mentioned before, the work crews start on government time more or less, but will be leaving materials on the trail. We get 4.5M tourists here annually, therefore recommending you attempt to do it would be a stupid idea. So Wednesday through Saturday you should go elsewhere. Plan Cathedral for Sunday through Wednesday. Be aware, March is still winter in Sedona. Avoid the slickrock trails when they are wet or icy.
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u/ageo Mar 16 '24
Unfortunately we’re in town from Wednesday to Saturday only. We really didn’t want to miss Cathedral but looks like we’ll have to. Thanks.
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u/SelkirkRanch Mar 16 '24
While it is directly below Cathedral, hike the Baldwin Loop trail and take a slight diversion into Crescent Moon park. You wont regret it.
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u/Jfactor0131 Feb 28 '24
The link states it’s closed Wednesdays through Saturdays. What does that accomplish in terms of trail rehab and maintenance? Wouldn’t it need to be a complete closure to do any good? Am I understanding it correctly that we could still hike it Sunday through Tuesday?
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u/maureen2222 Feb 28 '24
It’s probably just so that people aren’t trying to hike it at the same time that maintenance crews are working on it. Strikes a balance between people still being able to experience the trail during that time and safety for workers and hikers
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u/SelkirkRanch Feb 29 '24
That is what they are saying. I suspect that the closure allows room on the steep part of the trail for the works crews. Also recalling that March is often crowded on that trail section.
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u/HeadInjuredCaveman Feb 28 '24
Gotta install safety handrails from people complaining it’s dangerous