Oak Creek Homestead

5/5 (4 reviews)
Cottonwood, Arizona (Coconino County)
Last Updated: 05/07/2019

Trail Information

Highlights

The Oak Creek Trail takes you from Highway 89A (about halfway between Sedona and Cottonwood) almost all the way (you have to hike the last half a mile) to Oak Creek where you'll find the ruins of an old rock-walled house, and a cool stream to soak your feet in.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

5/5 (4)
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 03/01/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

Apparently the heavy rains last year didn't do this trail any favors. There were several spots where the dirt had washed away, leaving very rocky step-like areas that required some good tire placement. A couple of times I hopped out to be a guide. We have a lifted Jeep, and even in 4W low there was a spot or two where we did a little skidding on those rocks. They get a thin coat of gravel on them and whoopsie! So I was a little bit nervous on a couple of spots near the end, but the hike to the creek was great, and there was literally not a single person on the trail once we got past all the campsites at the beginning. My husband loved this road, and he was driving. He says I'm a nervous old lady, and that's true! As we left, the Verde Search and Rescue was heading up the trail in about 5 vehicles. BTW, across 89A there is a cool place to visit - the Sedona Wetlands Preserve. I'm having trouble getting photos to upload, so I could only share 3, but it's beautiful country!
Official Crew
14200
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 11/09/2019

This trail was surprisingly fun and decently challenging. The rocky hill climb at waypoint 13 was probably the most difficult but a fun section of trail that required you to climb some small steps while going up the steep hill. It was also nice to get out and take the short hike down the the creek halfway though the drive.
Official Crew
1800
Open
Visited: 07/23/2016

The road leading up to Oak Creek Homestead area was a little damp from recent rain, and had some mild erosion along the trail. Still it wasn't any more difficult then before. The biggest change to this trail is the gate that was recently installed just a few months ago to prevent people from driving all the way to Oak Creek. Now you have to hike the last half mile or so. From what I understand this is due to the river being a watershed, and people driving through it was a big concern that had been around for a few years. The forest maps have also shown this gate as the end of the trail for a few years as well.
Official Crew
1800
Open
Visited: 01/18/2016

I took a quick trip through the Verde Valley this day, starting along [General Cook National Recreation Trail](http://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/1659-general-cook-national-recreation-trail), then up the 260 from Camp Verde to Cottonwood. As I headed towards Sedona, I took a quick trip to Oak Creek Homestead to get some video of the trail before heading on to [Broken Arrow](http://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/4-broken-arrow). It was a nice day with some left over moisture on the trail from rain and snow the previous week. This also made the creek more active, and some spots a bit slippery along the trail. Parts of the trail appeared to have been recently maintained and were very smooth, but the further in I got the usual rocky road with small steps were still there. Heading back out towards Red Rock Loop Road the trail looked about the same as usually with plenty of small obstacles.

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