What a spring it has been! Besides great weather and beautiful flowers, we have hosted several out-of-town guests. Visitors always mean fun adventures! Mom got me up really early and said we needed to beat the crowds. We all loaded into the car and headed north on I-17. When my dad took the Cottonwood exit, I was pretty sure we were heading to Sedona as he likes to go the back way to avoid the roundabout backups in town. We continued on AZ-260 west to AZ 89A N/E 89A to the Boynton Canyon Trail Head.
There is a parking lot but it fills up fast, thus why the early departure. We got a spot and the humans used the restrooms. Be sure your family has the Red Rocks pass or they can get a ticket. They can purchase the pass for $5 right at the parking lot with their magic plastic cards that mom calls a VISA. Doggies are definitely allowed but on lease.
As we began hiking, dad shared how he and mom have hiked this trail before. Wait, what…without me? He must have seen my face because he added “BK” which stands for “Before Kuma.” Okay, I’ll allow it. Besides, we were hiking it today! We had cloud cover and perfect temperatures. Off we went!
This trail is easy to moderate but long. The hardest part is actually at the very end or 3.2 miles (out and back 
kind of trail). It starts off by passing the Enchanted Resort, a very high-end resort that mom and dad would love to visit someday. For today, we enjoyed looking at the grounds and continuing on past it into Boynton Canyon.
Boynton Canyon is quite popular due to easy access to the trail…meaning no four-wheeling required. Even though we started early, the trail was already full of other humans and dogs. We kept a good pace, so we passed a lot of folks and started to have the trail to ourselves. The first half has shade but be prepared for a hot section. If you go during the summer, your dog may not like it. There isn’t much water, and the hot sand can burn doggy paws. We timed it just right by going in early spring.
The last part of the trail climbs up, and it gets slow going. Big rocks and steps may not be suitable to older humans or small dogs. Some folks turn around before finishing the trail, and the big pay off is at the very end. Once you climb up to the top, you need to continue on a rocky ledge that can freak some out. It isn’t dangerous…just a little steep. When you get to the very edge of that ledge, you have views through the entire canyon. It is quite spectacular! We rested and ate our lunch here. No one else braved it, so we had it to ourselves. Sweet!
Mom and dad said the entire area was full of vortexes or energy sites. I’m not sure really what that means, but we all soaked in incredible scenery and got recharged for our hike back out. Going down all the rocks was slow, but once you pass that part, it is easy peasy back to the parking lot.
We saw several folks who did not have proper shoes or enough water. Don’t come unprepared because even though it isn’t the toughest hike out there, it can get long, with a total of 6 ½ miles (roughly). Remember, you will also be at higher elevation.
When we got back to the car, I must say I was ready for a nap. The humans headed to Tlaquepaque to walk the shops. I was totally okay hanging in the car since it wasn’t hot out. Before I knew it, they returned, and we headed home. Tlaquepaque is in the heart of Sedona and that means traffic. It took us a little longer to head home, but we had a great day. Until next time!
Hi! I am Kumaito (Kuma for short), a multi-tan Shiba Inu. My breed is one of the oldest and purest from Japan. I personally was born in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, moved to Friendswood, Texas, and now call Phoenix, Arizona home. I enjoy running or hiking almost every day with my mom, chasing rabbits out of my neighborhood, playing with toys, pestering my brother Edmond, eating, napping … well, I love just about everything and everyone!
My mom, Lorraine Bossé-Smith (Founder of the FIT Leader Formula™) is kind enough to help me share my Great Adventures, big and small. My mom is a motivational speaker, corporate trainer, business consultant, executive coach, behavioral-wellness expert, and author of eight published books. More importantly, she’s the best doggy mom ever!
Enjoy my blog at https://www.lorrainebosse-smith.com/category/kuma/ and be sure to follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kumathedog?ref=hl
Get outside! You never know what you’ll discover, and our paths just might cross. Happy tails!
