Sycamore Canyon Wilderness

Sycamore Canyon was set aside as one of Arizona's earliest wilderness areas, protected precisely so that it would stay roadless and undeveloped. Managed by the national forest, it forms a rugged corridor of red rock and desert stretching far into the backcountry, one of the largest such canyon wildernesses in the state. That designation is the reason the canyon feels so different from the developed country nearby.

The trade-off is that Sycamore asks something of its visitors. There are no facilities, no reliable water in dry stretches, and no vehicle access to speak of, so a visit means planning, effort, and self-reliance. But that effort is exactly what keeps the canyon pristine and quiet, and for many hikers the solitude of a wild red-rock canyon is worth every step it takes to reach it.

Sycamore Creek and its ancestors cut this canyon down through layer after layer of rock at the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau. Near the top, the walls show pale limestone laid down under ancient seas, while lower down the canyon exposes the brilliant reds of old sandstone, the same formations that give Sedona its color. Over vast stretches of time, water and weather have carved the whole gorge and left cliffs, spires, and side canyons throughout.

The creek that did much of this work runs strongly with snowmelt and rain in the wetter months and shrinks to scattered pools or dry bed in the heat of summer. Where the water lingers, it supports pockets of lush green, and where it has cut deepest, it opens grand views of banded rock. The canyon is a textbook of the plateau's geology, written in stone and best read on foot.

For all its rugged dryness, Sycamore Canyon is a ribbon of life. The big Arizona sycamores, along with cottonwoods, willows, and ash, shade the creek bottom and blaze gold in autumn, and the year-round and seasonal water draws a surprising abundance of wildlife into this desert setting. The contrast of green riparian growth against red canyon walls is one of the canyon's signature sights.

Deer, javelina, and coyotes move through the canyon, black bear and mountain lion range the wilder reaches, and the streamside trees ring with birdsong in the cool of the day. Raptors nest on the cliffs, and the creek's pools shelter fish, frogs, and other water life. It is the kind of place where patience and quiet are rewarded, since much of the canyon's wildlife keeps to the margins of the day.

Spring and fall are the best seasons in Sycamore Canyon. Spring brings running water, blooming desert plants, and comfortable temperatures for the exposed lower canyon, while fall lights the sycamores and cottonwoods gold and offers crisp, clear hiking weather. These shoulder seasons are when the canyon shows its best.

Summer is hot and largely waterless in the lower canyon, which makes long hikes there risky, though the higher, forested reaches near the rim stay cooler. Winter is cold, especially up on the plateau, and can bring snow to the higher country, but mild winter days in the lower canyon can be pleasant for a hike into the red rock in near-total solitude.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.