Escapees January-February 2024

Left: Sedona is full of arts and whimsy. A group of large xylophones invites passersby to play a few notes! Right: The West Fork Trail goes under a canopy of trees and passes some beautiful rocks re fl ected in pools of water below. Bottom right: Shopping is a favorite pastime for tourists, and one of the best spots is the hacienda at Tlaquepaque.

soared into view before us, looking as regal and ethereal as any manmade cathedral ever built. Airport Mesa Loop trail starts close to downtown Sedona and follows the edges of enormous red rock cliffs, offering panoramic views across valleys and canyons that change colors throughout the day as the light shifts in the sky. We found the views were most stunning towards the end of the day as the hues of the red rocks deepened to burnt orange and shadows crept across thevalley fl oor. The West Fork Trail offers an entirely different experience and is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Whereas most of the Sedona area is all about vast open, sun-drenched red rock views, West Fork is a shady stroll under leafy branches along side a cool stream. Walking under a thick canopy of lush green vegetation, we soon found ourselves next to a series of huge rock overhangs that jutted out over wide, shallow pools, creating perfectly mirrored re fl ections in the water. Here and there, red rock cliffs peeked through the luxuriant greenery, forming a vivid backdrop. Another

mile or so down the trail, the thick forest backed away from the stream for 20 yards or so, revealing an inviting wading pool surrounded by broad fl at rocks ideal for sunbathing. Several people were enjoying a refreshing dip in the water. Celebrity Retreat Near the entrance of the West Fork trail, the remains of the charming Mayhew Lodge serve as a sobering reminder of the threat ofwild fi res during the dry season. Over a century ago, a tiny cabin, built by legendary grizzly bear hunter Bear Howard, stood at this site. Later owners expanded the building and planted apple orchards around it. Popular western novelist Zane Grey loved this place so much, he set his novel Call of theCanyon here, and when photographer Carl Mayhew came to the site to make a movie of Grey’s novel, he bought the prop erty and opened it to guests in 1926. Mayhew’s lodge soon became a favorite retreat for A-list celebrities including Clark Gable, Jimmie Stewart and President Herbert Hoover. The Mayhew family

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January/February 2024 ESCAPEES Magazine