Brins Mesa Ruins - Sedona, AZ

The Brins Mesa Ruins I had been wanting to locate for a while. Finally, I figured out the location. I followed the Brins Mesa Trail most of the way, then left the main trail, and scrambled up a drainage. There they were! My entire hike was 6.7 miles and took 4 hours. Afterwards, I climbed up the cliffs when I found a break in the sandstone, and then got above the ruins. From there I followed a social trail, and created a loop back to Dry Creek Road.

From Long Creek Road the ruins are 3.2 miles, and took me 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Boynton Canyon - Sedona, AZ

This morning at 7:30am I hiked up Boynton Canyon to search for the Dream Speaker Ruins. I was off trail and following a suggested route that others had taken. However, as I tried to climb out of the rocky side canyon, the drainage became dense with thorny shrubs, manzanita, and cacti. I got all scratched up searching for a break in the shrubs and cliffs. A football sized rock fell on my leg too. Eventually I became exhausted and gave up. I'll have to return another day and try a different route. I covered 7.2 miles in 3.5 hours.

Kachina Tree Cave - Sedona, AZ

I hiked up to the Kachina Tree Cave in Boynton Canyon. It is reached by an obscure trail off the main trail. Lots of bushwhacking and climbing. Then after the Kachina Tree, I climbed up to the sandstone ridge. It was 4.5 miles round trip, and took me 3 hours and 52 minutes. The Kachina Cave is about 1.8 miles from the parking lot, and takes about 54 minutes.

Mingus Mountain Campground - Arizona

I camped at Mingus Mountain Campground at 7,500 feet elevation to escape the heat of the Verde Valley. Only 18 miles from Cottonwood but 4,000 feet higher.

Lost Canyon & Soldier Heights Loop Trail - Sedona, AZ

This loop circumnavigates the “Soldier Heights” formation, affording views of the Dry Creek drainage features to the west and the Brins Mesa area to the east. The route travels through the Lost Canyon/Devil's Bridge/Soldiers Pass areas with spectacular vistas and ruins.

To reach the Brins Mesa Trailhead from Long Canyon Road is 1.75 miles and took me 35 minutes. The loop is about 6.1 miles, and took me about 4 hours and 40 minutes. My entire hike was 10 miles which included visiting the ruins. It took me 6 hours.