gentle trail through a spectacular canyon
This hike starts just outside the Enchantment Resort. The trail winds around the perimeter of the resort (wave to the rich people) then quickly leaves civilization behind as it heads up the canyon. This hike is mostly level, making it a good choice for bringing your cousins from Chicago on their very first Arizona hike without killing them.
The start of the hike follows dry hills with little shade, but quickly changes into forest hiking through evergreens and pines. Further into the canyon, the walls begin to surround you, rising 800 ft above the trail on both sides. Eventually, all hikes come to an end, and this one does as well. There is a sign instructing hikers not to continue to save the fragile environment. In this area, there is also a 'Vortex' site (near the beginning of the trail, forking off to the right). What is a 'Vortex' site you ask. New Age people believe that it is a 'concentration of electromagnetic energy'. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a nice place to have lunch.