Coconino National Forest

Coconino NF plans improvements, approves parking expansion to several popular Red Rock trails

January 8, 20221 Comment2 Mins Read

samaireformayor

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Sedona News – The Coconino National Forest plans to improve the Mescal Day Use Trailhead area by constructing a new trailhead, providing a new access point to four popular trails: Mescal, Chuckwagon, Long Canyon, Devil’s Bridge and to Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. This project will provide through-route parking for at least forty vehicles, including two oversize spots, an accessible parking spot and a shuttle stop. About half the existing parking area will remain open during construction, with minimal road closures on Long Canyon Road to accommodate visitor access. Construction will begin Jan. 10 with completion expected early summer.

Worsening congestion along Long Canyon Road and limited access to popular trails prompted this project.

“We are excited to start construction on this much needed recreation site located in the heart of one of the busiest visitor destinations on the entire District,” said Red Rock District Ranger Amy Tinderholt.

With cars regularly parking along the road and blocking traffic, the area poses an increased safety concern to visitors. This proposed parking site is currently vacant and easily accessed from Sedona along Dry Creek Road, making it the ideal location for additional parking. The Coconino NF is partnering with Colorado contractor Medved Global, Inc. to complete the project.

The new trailhead will be a part of the Red Rock Pass program and include picnic tables, a restroom, patrolling, trash facilities and an interpretive kiosk near the trailhead. A scenic vista point will also be developed to emphasize year-round scenic viewing on site. On site mature vegetation will be incorporated and maintained to the fullest extent within the development of this area. Trail access parking will focus on hiking and mountain biking with moderate equestrian use. Horse trailer parking is currently provided at nearby Girdner, Fay Canyon and Aerie trailheads.

The Mescal Day Use Trailhead is located about three miles from Sedona, along Long Canyon Road.

Scott mayor

samaireformayor

Sedona.biz Staff

1 Comment

carol hazelett on January 10, 2022 10:08 am

EXCELLENT IDEA FOR LONG CANYON NEW PARKING AREA! SOUNDS VERY WELL PLANNED OUT. THANK YOU. (FORMER N.F. TOUR OPERATOR)

THE MOMENT IS UPON US

Dear Sedona,

The moment is upon us. The time for a united effort to shift the focus back to our community is now.

The ability to thrive in our community, our environment, our workforce, and the tourist industry, is entirely possible because we have all the resources needed for success.

Still, we need a council that isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions, that makes decisions based on data and facts, and through discussion, rather than moving and voting in group unison as they so regularly do.

This is my home. I have been a part of the Sedona community for 28 years. I witnessed the road debacle, the lack of planning, the city circumventing the local businesses ability to thrive, while making choices to expand the local government and be in direct competition with private industry.

I am a unique candidate because unlike the incumbents, I don’t believe the government should expand in size, nor in operations, nor would I attempt to micromanage every aspect of our community.

City government should stay in its lane and allow the competitive market of local private industry to prosper. And it should defend our community from corporate takeover and infiltration of our town.

I do not agree that we should sign onto International Building Codes and regulations by signing Sedona up to the ICC. It is imperative that we remain a sweet, rural community.

Where are the arts? Where is this organic thriving element that we allege to be animated by. Where is our culture? Where is our community?

The discord between the decision making process and the desires of the community have never been more clear. It has been nearly a decade in the making.

It is time for a new era of energy to take charge. An energy that is reflective in the ability to succeed rather than be trapped in out of date consciousness.

It has been a great honor meeting with each of you. I hear your concerns over the insane and out of control spending and I echo them. A budget of $105,000,000 in a town of 9700 residents is completely unacceptable. A parking structure (that looks like a shoe box) originally slated to cost 11 million, now projected to cost 18 million, is incomprehensible. Especially, considering there is no intention of charging for parking.

For those who are concerned that I lack the political experience within our established system- that is precisely what Sedona needs… Not another politician, but instead a person who understands people, who listens to the voices within the community, and who will act in service on their behalf with accountability, for the highest good of Sedona. What I am not, will prove to be an asset as I navigate the entrenched bureaucracy with a fresh perspective. Business as usual, is over.

Creative solutions require new energy.

Every decision that is made by our local government, must contemplate Sedona first.

Does this decision benefit the residents?
Does this decision benefit the local businesses?
Does this decision actually help the environment?
Will this decision sustain benefit in the future, or will it bring more problems?

What we have now is a city government that expands to 165 employees for 9700 residents. Palm Desert has 53,000 residents and 119 city employees. Majority of our city department heads are not even in town. I find this problematic.

Efforts towards championing in and courting new solutions for our medical needs are imperative. We are losing our doctors. We must encourage competition with other facilities rather than be held hostage by NAH, who clearly have their own set of dysfunctions.

We must remember that so many move to Sedona for its beauty, hiking, and small town charm. Bigger, faster, and more concrete does not, in broad strokes, fit the ethos of Sedona.

The old world must remain strong here in balance, as that is what visitors want to experience. Too many have noted that Sedona has lost its edge and charm.

As Mayor I will preserve the rural charm of our community, and push back against the urbanization that is planned for Sedona.

As mayor I will make it a priority to create opportunities to support our youth. After school healthy, enriching programs should be created for our kids, and available to the Sedona workforce regardless of residency and regardless of school they belong to.

As Mayor, I will create an agenda to deliberately embody the consciousness of our collective needs here, allowing private industry to meet the needs of our community rather than bigger government.

I hope to have your vote on Aug 2nd. I am excited and have the energy to take on this leadership role with new eyes, community perspective, and the thoughtful consciousness that reflects all ages of the human spectrum.

Thank you deeply for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Samaire Armstrong

Heads or Tails
By Tommy Acosta
Let’s face it. I love conspiracy theories. The more far-out the better. Yup. I’m one of those. Looking at the Trump raid fiasco there can only be two theories that I see fit perfectly into the scenario that’s being weaved for public consumption. The first is that what is happening is actually being engineered by the forces that want Trump to return to the White House. Just like with the Russia-Russia thing, what is going to happen after all the hoopla,Trump will be found completely innocent just like before and he will be loved even more by his fans and followers. Those who tried to put him down will be chagrinned while those who supported him politically will be exalted. Republicans will be revived, and they will go out and vote in a new Congress and Trump will rule once again. Then there is the other side of the coin. Read more→