Arizona Hiking Gallery: Bell Trail Hike to Bell Crossing on Wet Beaver Creek - Wet Beaver Wilderness, Coconino National Forest, AZ

Arizona Hiking Gallery

Bell Trail Hike to Bell Crossing on Wet Beaver Creek
Wet Beaver Wilderness, Coconino National Forest, AZ
September 21, 2008

Gallery contains 27 photos

Gallery last updated: 11/23/2008

This out-and-back hike follows the Bell Trail above Wet Beaver Creek into the Wet Beaver Wilderness Area to Bell Crossing about 3.5 miles in where pools in the creek invite swimming and wading beneath red sandstone walls.

A brief history of the Bell Trail.	From the trailhead the Bell Trail starts out along an old red-dirt road through cactus and low desert shrubs.	Trailing Four O'Clock (Allionia incarnata).
As you hike into the canyon red sandstone cliffs topped with volcanic rock tower above you on your left on the north side of the canyon.	And on your right Wet Beaver Creek flows across red sandstone rock shaded by cottonwoods, sycamores, ash and other riparian greenery.	A large volcanic boulder overlooks the lush riparian zone of Wet Beaver Creek.
Near one of the largest ant hills I have seen ants have cleared a multi-lane highway.	A view of red sandstone formation on the cliffs of the south side of the canyon.	A weathered tree trunk stands among prickly pear cactus in front of a red sandstone cliff along the Bell Trail.
Pinyon Pine, Prickly Pear, and Juniper dot the sunny sandstone hillside.	A ribbon of Wet Beaver Creek emerges from the trees in this view to the west looking back down the canyon.	Strange formations formed on the ceiling of this sandstone alcove.
Strange formations formed on the ceiling of this sandstone alcove.	Strange formations formed on the ceiling of this sandstone alcove.	Strange formations formed on the ceiling of this sandstone alcove.
A boulder and the trunk and limbs of a tree frame the yellow-leaved branches of an Ocotillo along the Bell Trail.	Wet Beaver Creek flows and pools among red sandstone cliffs at Bell Crossing about 3.5 miles from the trailhead.	A shady creek flowing beneath sandstone cliffs at Bell Crossing.
A spot of sun brightens a Scarlet Monkey Flower (Mimulus cardinalis) growing in the cool shadows along Wet Beaver Creek.	Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), also known as Scarlet Lobelia, hiding in deep shadows along Wet Beaver Creek.	I finally found Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) in the sun along Wet Beaver Creek at Bell Crossing.
A nice swimming hole among the red sandstone near Bell Crossing.	In this view looking back up the canyon toward Bell Crossing on the hike back out, you can see the Bell Trail as it leaves the creek and switchbacks up out of the canyon just to the left of center.	At the left an Ocotillo in bloom (in September!) clings to cliff in this view down the canyon from the Bell Trail.
The late blooming Broom Snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) adds a vibrant splash of bright yellow along the dusty trail.	A batch of Common Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) were found where the Bell Trail crosses Casner Canyon.	A batch of Common Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) were found where the Bell Trail crosses Casner Canyon.