Boondocking above Sedona REVIEW

Everywhere in Sedona is off limits for boondocking. You can't even park without a Parking Pass. When we stopped and asked the Forest services where we could boondock, they sent us back to where we just came from :) We decided there must be a new place to try. Since 89A is off limits to vehicles over 50' we couldn't take the trailer too far out of town. So we headed back to the I-17 North to exit 320 and went in search of a camping area in Munds Mountain Wilderness Area which is still in the Coconino National Forest.

We were searching for a spot that would hold our trailer, found one, dumped the trailer and continued down the road. We passed a spot with a view and I made Ian stop, let me out so me and the girls could hold the spot while he went back to get the trailer. Such a good sport! (Thanks babe!) In the summer this would have been an amazing spot with a wonderful view and only a minute away from Schnebly Hill Vista

An AMAZING view! The space we found was actually almost the last available spot to camp before you hit the Vista where no more camping is allowed.

This road through Munds Wilderness area is a dirt road and comes with the bumps and dust you'd expect on a dirt road but it wasn't too bad. Schnebly Hill Rd which starts at the Vista and heads for 5 miles to Sedona is extremely BAD! There is no way you would want to take a trailer or even a camper on it. It's full of wash out and uneven surfaces but has many amazing views along it if you can stand the bumpy ride :)

Value 5/5
FREE

Site Quality 3/5
These are all rough sites which we don't mind but it limits who can travel here. If you do travel here, bring levelers as some areas are really rocky. There were many sites to choose from and quite a few of them were suitable for larger RV's (and were level). However most of these larger ones were further in on the dirt road. There were some grassy field spots, as well as fully treed spots. Each site would be different but ours was fairly even (where we parked but the "driveway" area was very rocky).

Facility Fun 3/5
You are about 1 minute away from the amazing scenic overlook pictured above, and then 5 miles until the town of Sedona but you need a proper vechile to travel down into Sedona from here. I hate to rate it a 3 but there weren't any trails that we could see to hike, just the overlook (which was amazing) and it was soooOOoo cold! In the summer I am sure sitting around a campfire, and staring at your view would be amazing but it was so cold we barely had a campfire.

Natural Surroundings 5/5
The view is worth a 5! The ride down and up Schnebly Hill Rd is incredible!!! There isn't much else up here as far as trails etc, but the view...oh how I love the red cliffs!

Bathrooms N/A

Staff N/A

Location 3.5/5
The area is remote and not easily asscessable. That being said it is FREE camping, with a view, and less then 20 minutes from Sedona.

Overall 4/5
We love to 4X4 so the road didn't bother us. We LOVED the view so driving up and down Schnebly Hill Road 4 times was worth it. We would have preferred some warmer weather to enjoy the view a bit more at the campsite but in reality we weren't at the site much this time. We were soaking up all we could in Sedona.

View from the "driveway" area of our site



zoomed in on our view



zoomed in even further



Small parking area or tent area in fron of the fire



We parker higher up as there was a patch of flat area unlike the rocky
driveway area pictured here




Trailer parked on the semi flat area




As we are pulling out



The driveway area has the best view



View from the campfire...not too bad :)



Hills in the background



Palatki Ruins and Slide Rock State Park

This morning we got up and headed to the Palatki Ruins.

On the way we got to see more fabulous red mountains.

The girls being told by a park ranger that if the kept their parents
on the trails and didn't let them touch anything they would get a little surprise.

Look a lizard!

At the ruins we had to check in. Apparently you are supposed to reserve a space and we just showed up. I read somewhere that reservations to secure parking were a must but the tourist info we asked said no reservations are necessary...just show up. FYI they let us in but reservations are REQUIRED! So if you are planning on going, give them a call first.

At the Ruins there were pictographs

the fire pit!

 Then we took a walk towards the ruins

I HEART Sedona

The ruins themselves were small and off in a distance. Apparently you used to be able to get closer however last July due to weather changes, the cliff above them had a crack that opened up and the area is closed until they study how the crack will react as a massive cliff landing on people is something they would like to avoid...imagine that...still I think they could have let us a bit closer, or cut down the trees in front of  the cliff...all for the name of a better photo :)

Receiving their treat for keeping their parenst in line

Proud of their colouring book...to Share! Ha!
Aayla gets to pick the next treat!

After the ruins we headed to Slide Rock State Park.

Although it is part of the National Forest it is a State Park and does cost $10.00 to enter and is not covered by our America the Beautiful Pass beacuse it is a State Park and not a National Park. We coughed up the $10 and spent a chilly afternoon on the rocks. The sun here shines and is warm, but with the wind it can be chilly and there was a lot of cloud cover today as well.

No this isn't the real Slide Rock area :)

Yes Aayla does ALWAYS have a dirty face! But it's still CUTE

Clouds and wind didn't hold Sierra and Aayla back.

Another HEART rock

Sierra found "Woolly" Her new best friend...a pet wood bug

Stellar Jay

The slide rock area was a little too big for the girls but we found some pools at the top which we called "the kids slide" and they splashed around for a bit whenever the sun came out from behind the clouds. Aalya loved the water and didn't care that it was only about 52 degrees.

There were a few crazy kids going down it and having a great time. Brrrrrr!!!! That water was cold!

After spending a couple hours here despite the cold, the sky cleared for what looked like it might be for at least 10 minutes of warmth and I could bare it bo longer! Afterall searching the internet, Slide Rock is how I heard about Sedona... I HAD to go! SoooOOooo I did!

It was cold...so cold that after you were in you didn't even feel the cold anymore. Sierra decided she wanted to try it with me...but chickened out. She did however want to sit on my lap to go down the "Kids slide".

After going down and her bum barely getting wet on my lap she was soooo excited to have gone down and wanted to go again.

Aayla...she preferred to splash around.

From here we headed to Red Rock Crossing as I had heard there was a nice photo opt near the river of Catherdral Rock. However it was a $9.00 entrance fee so we didn't bother. Instead we headed to an overlook and got a few shots from there.

Everytime I ask Ian to smile I get this, so...



When I get mad at him for no smiles... I get this!!!



The girls enjoyed exploring and tree climbing.

We hit Safeway for a few groceries and saw this green McDonalds??? Is that normal in the States? Or a city bylaw here? Weird to see green "golden arches".

Back up Schnebly Hill Rd to our campsite...Bye Bye Sedona...Hello Grand Canyon :)