By:
Submission
There are camping restriction in this area. Be sure to heed all warnings and restrictions before venturing out to camp in the backcountry in these areas.
For more information, visit:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=54892&actid=34
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3806979.pdf
The Secret Canyon Trail is of moderate length, leading into the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness. The first two miles follows an old road bed, that is fairly flat and easy going. The rest of the way, the trail meanders in and out of the canyon bottom. Vegetation varies from chaparral to mixed conifer along this typically dry water course.
The signed trailhead is across the usually dry streambed of Dry Creek west of the parking area. The trail immediately enters Wilderness. The wide, nearly flat trail leads into the wide canyon mouth with nice views, but no shade from the desert scrub vegetation. At 2/3 mile, HS Canyon Trail branches off to the left. Continue ahead for Secret Canyon. At 2 miles, continue ahead (west) as the trail drops down to cross a drainage. It climbs gently for the next 3 miles beside the canyon drainage, frequently dipping down to cross it.
There is shade from oak and ponderosa and nice views of red rock formations. At 5 miles, the streambed turns sharply left a short distance to an interesting "chute". Return to the trail which continues ahead, climbs sharply, then levels out. At 5.5 miles, there is a deep ravine and a series of pools in the solid rock streambed. An unmaintained trail continues on. Return by the same route for an 11 mile hike. The entire length of this hike is enjoyable and rewarding, so hike as much or as little as you'd like for the day. The trail can be very hot in summer.
Second hike I've ever done and it was beautiful! Prepare to get wet.
Getting there is a challenge without 4x4.. with it you have to dodge the people going to devil's bridge.. but for a moderate hike with little to know people on it's wonderful
Secret canyon is a long hike if you dont have a high clearance truck to drive to the trailhead. The advantage is that if you do, you wont be hiking with annoying people or crowds. The way to the canyon is open to the sun in a lot of places, but the canyon itself is like 20 degrees below air temperature, and a great place to eat lunch on a hot day. It has a completely different ecosystem, with tall pines and leafy shrubs. Worth it.
I don't have a 4WD, so I parked at Long Canyon and did Chuckwagon, went up the dirt path, and entered Secret Canyon Trail that way. The trail isn't very clear and there's a lot of overgrown trees that ultimately required off-path bushwhacking which wasn't very pleasant. After the fork with David Miller trail, there's a lot of snow and if there weren't footprints ahead of me, I wouldn't have known where the trail goes. Even then, the trail disappears around 1 mile in after the fork, which is unfortunate. I'd recommend waiting a while before attempting this trail.
Incredible views, very serene. Went in June, bring lots of water. Trail is pretty easy to navigate, occasionally looking for cairns that show the way across the riverbeds (that were dry in June). Beautiful hike that feels like a stroll in the woods.
If you don't have a 4x4 vehicle you can either walk a few miles along the road, or park at chuckwagon trailhead, take chuck to Brinn's mesa TH and turn north on the road there. Then it's only a mile on the road to Secret Canyon TH.
