{Sedona} Enchantment, Boynton Canyon Vortex & Devil’s Bridge

After the walk up Doe Mountain, we were planning on hiking up Boynton Canyon. Rumor has it that it is quite lovely. There is a public trailhead out on the road, and another at the Enchantment Resort. The second trailhead cuts off 2.4 miles of trail. Normally, I think the more trail, the better, but we wanted to see a lot of different places. Plus, that extra trail just goes along the Enchantment fence line.

Enchantment

On the shuttle ride from the airport, I met a man who recommended the prickly pear margarita at Enchantment. We figured we could sneak through the back gate and grab a margarita on the way out. Well, we talked our way into the resort and even found the gate to the trailhead. It involved phone calls, a golf cart ride and walk through the swanky spa. That’s when we realized we need a room key to get in and out the gate. So, we headed to the bar.

The justly famous prickly pear margarita.

Jen opted for the Arizona Sky.

Delish

Boynton Canyon Vortex

With our heads buzzing with drinks and our bellies full of a giant nacho plate, it was time to hit the trail again. This time it was Boynton Canyon Vortex. It’s a short one-mile hike to a saddle between two beautiful formations.

At the start of the trail we ran into a man that was handing out sandstone hearts “from Mother Earth.” It was so cool to feel the love so soon into the hike. We walked through juniper and pinon pine to the top. Unfortunately, we didn’t really feel the vortex energy, but it was so pretty and tranquil, that we didn’t care.

The Kachina on the left and the knob on the right. The vortex is between them.

Jen climbs up toward the Kachina.

That’s me on the top of the knob.

Jen and I by a twisted juniper. It’s said that the junipers around vortexes are twisted because of the energy.

These sandstone hearts were placed in tress all along the trail.

Devil’s Bridge

There was one more trail to walk before the day ended. Or, as it turned out, as the day ended. The sun was setting as we started down the Devil’s Bridge Trail. The light on the rocks was amazing. We arrived at the arch with little light, and maybe that’s how the Devil’s Bridge is meant to be seen.

Sunset on the red rock.

Balanced Rock

Devil’s Bridge

We hiked out in the dark, watching the stars start to pop in the sky. None of the hikes were very long, but in all we covered about 10 miles in one day. We saw ruins and ancient art, walked along a slick rock mesa, drank fancy cocktails, sat in a vortex, witnessed an arch and hiked under the stars. Thanks, Sedona.