Douglas Sherman
Staff
Oak Creek Canyon is Sedona's playground. It is a great place to hike and to get into the water. Images await you all along Oak Creek but there are a few places of special interest to photographers: Slide Rock, West Fork, Harding Springs Trail, Pump House Wash, and Cave Springs. Fall color season is from mid-October until early November depending on the weather and it can be spectacular. Wildflowers bloom from late May to early June along Oak Creek and in West Fork.
Slide Rock State Park is a famous swimming area or maybe a better description would be a water slide area. During the summer months it is literally crawling with tourists. But in the off months there can be some great photographic opportunities for waterfall images and snow images.
Guy Schmickle
Guy Schmickle
Just across the road is a great place to take images of a placid Oak Creek.
Bob Shuman
West Fork is also a destination for many tourists, especially during the fall color season, but it can be rewarding most of the year. (RRP) Bring your water shoes because going up the canyon requires quite a few water crossings. Hiking poles are good to have as well.
Doug Sherman
Bob Shuman
Doug Sherman
Doug Sherman
Guy Schmickle
Unfortunately, the image below is no longer extant. The silt from the Slide Rock Fire has filled this area of West Fork thus, eliminating the reflection. But it is such a beautiful image I thought I should share it with you.
Guy Schmickle
Doug Sherman
Just up the canyon from West Fork is Cave Springs and Harding Springs Trail. There is a sign for Cave Springs, which is on the left side of the road when heading north. Harding Springs Trail is on the opposite side of the road. Fall color here can match anything New England can brag about. Big Tooth maples can absolutely glow some years with colors varying from yellow, to red, to pink which can contrast nicely with Ponderosa Pine trunks.
Cave Springs area.
Doug Sherman
Doug Sherman
Just across the road from Cave Springs is Harding Springs Trail. Old Ponderosa Pine trunks contrast beautifully with Big Tooth Maples here.
Doug Sherman
Doug Sherman
Pump House Wash is another place to get great fall color. This is the ephemeral stream on the right side of the road just as you start the ascent to the top of the Mogollon Rim. There is a sign designating it on the right side of the road. This is a difficult wash to navigate because of the numerous boulders some of which are quite large.
![Stock-1859[3008].jpg](https://focalworld.com/attachments/stock-1859-3008-jpg.7031/)
Guy Schmickle
![Stock-1860[3009].jpg](https://focalworld.com/attachments/stock-1860-3009-jpg.7032/)
Guy Schmickle
Here a few more images along Oak Creek. You just have to scout images like these out as you drive up and down Oak Creek Canyon.
Guy Schmickle
Guy Schmickle
Bob Shuman
Butterfly Weed
Doug Sherman
Slide Rock State Park is a famous swimming area or maybe a better description would be a water slide area. During the summer months it is literally crawling with tourists. But in the off months there can be some great photographic opportunities for waterfall images and snow images.
Guy Schmickle
Guy Schmickle
Just across the road is a great place to take images of a placid Oak Creek.
Bob Shuman
West Fork is also a destination for many tourists, especially during the fall color season, but it can be rewarding most of the year. (RRP) Bring your water shoes because going up the canyon requires quite a few water crossings. Hiking poles are good to have as well.
Doug Sherman
Bob Shuman
Doug Sherman
Doug Sherman
Guy Schmickle
Unfortunately, the image below is no longer extant. The silt from the Slide Rock Fire has filled this area of West Fork thus, eliminating the reflection. But it is such a beautiful image I thought I should share it with you.
Guy Schmickle
Doug Sherman
Just up the canyon from West Fork is Cave Springs and Harding Springs Trail. There is a sign for Cave Springs, which is on the left side of the road when heading north. Harding Springs Trail is on the opposite side of the road. Fall color here can match anything New England can brag about. Big Tooth maples can absolutely glow some years with colors varying from yellow, to red, to pink which can contrast nicely with Ponderosa Pine trunks.
Cave Springs area.
Doug Sherman
Doug Sherman
Just across the road from Cave Springs is Harding Springs Trail. Old Ponderosa Pine trunks contrast beautifully with Big Tooth Maples here.
Doug Sherman
Doug Sherman
Pump House Wash is another place to get great fall color. This is the ephemeral stream on the right side of the road just as you start the ascent to the top of the Mogollon Rim. There is a sign designating it on the right side of the road. This is a difficult wash to navigate because of the numerous boulders some of which are quite large.
Guy Schmickle
Guy Schmickle
Here a few more images along Oak Creek. You just have to scout images like these out as you drive up and down Oak Creek Canyon.
Guy Schmickle
Guy Schmickle
Bob Shuman
Butterfly Weed
Doug Sherman
Last edited:
