The Beaver Creek area might be one of the area’s best-kept secrets when it comes to finding a good place to go for a hike or swim.
One of those hikes is Bell Trail, located just off Interstate 17 and the exit for Sedona, featuring a handful of hikes and one popular swimming hole.
“We just did the Grand Canyon in May, and I think parts of this are harder,” said Shelli Maloy, from Phoenix.
An informational sign soon after setting foot onto Bell Trail tells of the trail’s origins, detailing that Charles Bell built it in 1932.
It was used to move cattle up and down the Mogollon Rim. There are 6 miles to cover to reach the Rim’s edge, with 1,200 feet of elevation gain across the final 2 miles. The entire Bell Trail hike follows along the bottom of Long Canyon.
The hike gives its visitors a handful of opportunities to get close to Wet Beaver Creek to cool off during the hot summer months. Within the first mile, there are a couple of trails that stretch down to the water’s edge.
The first of those off-shoots is found a little more than half a mile onto the trail, also known as Trail 13, at about the same time that the rushing water is audible. Along the way, there are plenty of places to hang out.
Shade covers the entire area, which provides enough flat space to leave belongings within viewing distance from the water. The water did not appear to be very deep, but had a decently strong current and was cold to touch.
Adjacent to this area is another path that runs alongside the water, allowing visitors to continue upstream without getting too far from the creek.
This path is exposed to the sun, but a short distance ahead is more space to hang out that is completely guarded with shade.
When the parallel trail turns into a fork, head right, and almost right away there will be a point where the stream splits off into two directions as well.
Using rocks and boulders planted in the water to cross onto the piece of land between the two streams, visitors can get to a couple of other flat rocks. These places, located a short distance ahead after crossing, have obvious signs of visitation from other hikers.
The water in front of them forms small pools to relax in, which are also in the sun in the middle of the day.
Rather than heading down to this second shaded area, hikers can use this lower trail to loop back onto the main trail without having to double back.
Once back to Bell Trail itself, which is completely uncovered by trees or any sun protection from start to finish, hikers can find more to explore. About 2 miles in is the beginning of the White Mesa Trail. Before White Mesa, Bell Trail meets Bruce Brockett Trail, as well.
White Mesa Trail brings hikers to the top of a bluff to the north, with a lot of elevation gain. The main attraction, though, is the swimming hole known as the Crack. It is about three-and-a-half miles of hiking in each direction to reach the Crack.
“It’s just awesome, places to jump off of into the deep water,” said Angela Strobel, a visitor from Kansas. “When we were down there it was pretty clear.”
In essence, the Bell Trail hike and Wet Beaver Creek provide plenty of places to explore, allowing visitors to stay and play all day.
Getting There
Exit Interstate 17 at the sign for Sedona and State Route 179. Coming from the south, turn right — from the north, turn left. The street turns into Forest Road 618.
Follow FR 618 past Blue Grade Road and Montezuma Road, and past Soda Springs Road.
The parking lots for Bruce Brockett trailhead and Bell Trail overflow and trailer parking will be on the left, and the main Bell trailhead parking lot soon after those.
A little further down the road is the Beaver Creek Picnic and Day Use Area, as well. There is no parking fee at the Bell trailhead parking lot.
