Red Rock State Park’s moonlight hike illuminates in more ways than one

A diverse and eager bunch of hikers descended upon Red Rock State Park for the final moonlight hike of the year on Thursday, Oct. 17.

As the setting sun began to cast a blazing orange glow against Sedona’s rust-colored rock formations, park staff divided hikers into three groups of approximately 20 persons each. The groups were guided by volunteer naturalists and rangers, with a leader to describe flora and fauna and a “tailgater” to keep an eye out for any safety issues.

The most ambitious group was led by volunteer naturalist Jan Taylor, a seasoned hiker and “wrangler” [secretary] of the Sedona Westerners Hiking Club. Taylor has been leading various hikes at Red Rock State Park for 14 years and said the moonlight hikes are very popular and are often fully booked.

“The daytime hikes, geology, archaeology, ethnobotany, birding and nature, you never know who’s going to come,” said Taylor. “I’ve had as few as one person and up to 15 to 20.”

Taylor said that she’d like to see more Sedona residents experience the hikes.

“I don’t think most people in Sedona have even visited Red Rock State Park,” Taylor said. “That’s just my guess. I don’t know for sure, but it’s very close, it’s a protected area, so it’s pristine; they can hike on their own or go on any of the guided nature tours, which are free.”

The moonlight hikes are the only hikes in the park that are not free, as they cost $15 per person in addition to the $7 park entry fee, but they offer an alternative to the warmth of the daylight hours as well as a unique view of Sedona at night.

“When it’s hot, I only hike in the early morning,” Taylor said. “The only nighttime hikes I do are at Red Rock State Park.”

Taylor said that her first moonlight hiking experience took place at Grand Canyon National Park about 12 years ago, an experience that inspired her to take on her current role.

“It was so bright we didn’t even need lights,” she recalled, and said that the images of silvery moonlight reflecting on the Colorado River have stayed with her ever since.

Eagle’s Nest

While the views in Sedona differ from those of the Grand Canyon, they are nonetheless abundant from Eagle’s Nest, the highest point in Red Rock State Park at 4,102 feet.

Over the course of two hours, the guides led the hikers through a tapestry of Sedona’s three ecological life zones, pinyon-juniper, riparian and aquatic, with Taylor stopping every so often to describe plants, landmarks and historical sites.

Taylor’s knowledge of geology was also on display as she explained how Sedona’s red sandstone formations are “literally rusting” due to the presence of iron in the rocks that was left over after the ancient sea receded, exposing the minerals as the rocks dried out and became Thunder Mountain, Wilson Mountain, Cathedral Rock and all of the other landmarks we see today.

Sisters Julie Amick of Sedona and Shannon Syth of Seattle took the hike as part of a yearly tradition of getting together and hiking two trails per day.

“It’s just beautiful,” Syth said. “It makes you whole again.”

Another hiker, Kimberlie Cerdá of Cottonwood, described how the guided hikes help “deepen our appreciation for what’s around us.”

“Everything around us is alive too,” Cerda said. “It’s different than us, but it has a life, and most of this is supporting us; we often don’t think about that.”

Once at the top, there were several cheers of “Woohoo!” as hikers caught their breath after the last climb, and the full moon began to rise over the remarkable landscape.

On the way back, headlamps and flashlights in full use, hikers could be overheard discussing the experience, which, if only for a moment, appeared to transcend anything else.

“I love it, it’s been great … to be able to interact with all the tourists who come to this area,” seasonal ranger Emerson Deslaurier said, describing his experiences working in the park since June. “It’s been nice to be able to kind of get the lay of the land from locals as well as people that travel here. Being a part of the state parks, you get to learn a lot more about the natural environment.”

Red Rock State Park is one of two parks in Arizona, the other being Oracle State Park, that are not only nature preserves but education centers as well.

With its many miles of trails, some of which are Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible, learning center, theatre, plant and animal life and programs, Red Rock State Park allows visitors to learn about Sedona’s landscape, history and more in one afternoon.

Although the moonlight hikes are over for the year and will resume again in April, Taylor will still be around, guiding her share of the park’s nature and geology hikes.

“I talk about geology, the history, the archaeology, plants and animals, how the creek works,” she said. While noting that she covers “just about everything” at the park, she said she is always learning. “I’m no bird expert, that’s a whole other area!”

The park also offers bird walks regularly throughout the year, which are led by a variety of “veteran birding enthusiasts,” according to the park.

For more information about Red Rock State Park’s many offerings, visit azstateparks.com.