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Sycamore Falls: Hike to a Hidden Arizona Waterfall!
May 24, 2021
If you’re visiting the Grand Canyon, Sycamore Falls is an amazing side trip option to a remote location that you might just have all to yourself. The falls are part of the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness, Arizona’s first wilderness area, and stretches between the Prescott, Kaibab, and Coconino National Forests. A popular rock-climbing destination, Sycamore Falls is a lesser-visited hidden gem… for now… that is well worth the time it takes to get here.
Can You Drive to Sycamore Falls?
Yes, you can absolutely drive to Sycamore Falls!
To access the trailhead that allows for the least amount of hiking, you’ll end up on FR109, which is a slow-going dirt road. While the road is a bit bumpy, it’s nothing too crazy. If you’re in a standard passenger car, and it’s relatively dry, you should be fine. With that said, cell service may be spotty or nonexistent, so it’s important to know your route ahead of time or download an offline map.
How Long is the Hike to Sycamore Falls Arizona?
There are several options for hiking to Sycamore Falls. If you want the shortest option, look for the Sycamore Falls trailhead, not the Sycamore Rim Trail, which is MUCH longer. The hike to the falls should take you less than 1 hour.
Sycamore Falls Trail - 0.5 miles | 104 ft gain/loss | Loop
Sycamore Rim Trail Overview
If you’re looking for a longer hike, Sycamore Canyon Trail is a low-use trail with absolutely stunning scenery and geological features. The trail loops through an area called Paradise Forks where hikers can see clear water pools, basalt cliffs, and hoodoos along the way.
Sycamore Rim Trail - 12.1 miles | 1,223 ft gain/loss | Loop
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our favorite travel tech
Nomad Goods makes smart, rugged tech for travel and everyday life, including their Base Station Pro. This brilliant charging station allows you to power up to three devices at once. Check out more of our favorites below. Photos courtesy of Nomad Goods.
MagSafe Mount
Air Tag Loop Rustic Brown
Steel Band Graphite
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Image Credits:
Sycamore Falls Hike Images (all three from top) - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Sycamore Canyon - jon manjeot - stock.adobe.com; Nomad Good products - Images Courtesy of Nomad Goods; Trail Ridge Road - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; for Pinterest Pin image credits, please click on the Pin image