Jim Thompson Trail

This historic road provides great views as we hike around the base of Steamboat Rock, then the road ends where it comes down to Wilson Canyon. At this juncture, Wilson Canyon Trail, coming up from Midgley Bridge, continues on up the canyon, winding from one bank to the other bank of the dry stream bed, through beautiful Arizona cypress stands beneath towering red and buff sandstone cliffs.

Parts of these descriptions can be found in “The Hiker's Guide to Arizona” by Stewart Aitchison and Bruce Grubbs revised 1991 edition, and in “Sedona Hikes by Richard and Sherry Mangum revised 7^th edition. Information in the Sedona Hikes book tells that Jim Thompson was the first settler in Oak Creek, arriving at Indian Gardens in 1876 and later establishing a second homestead in Sedona. He built this road to link his two homes. Initially it ran along the creek banks, but it was washed away by floods, causing him to build this road, far from the creek, in 1887.

On November 5, 2016, twelve Skyliners arrived in Sedona and drove to the end Jordan Road. We made a left turn onto W. Park Ridge Drive which, after going past a subdivision, turns into an unpaved road. This road, in turn, ends in a parking area inside the gate of the old shooting range, which is also the location of the trailhead.

It was a beautiful day for hiking, quite warm for this late in the year, with snow-white clouds in the sky to contrast with the red rocks. After we had been on the trail a while, the sandstone promontory (right) just to left of Steamboat Rock, known as “the Fin”,.came into view.

Approaching the base of Steamboat Rock, we passed under a powerline and came to an open area where we had a 360-degree view of the rim of Oak Creek Canyon, Mingus Mountain, Woodchute Mountain and everything else in between.

We stopped for a snack and enjoyed the panorama (below left) and the various in-between elements, which also included a nearby pinyon pine tree and agave (below right), against a backdrop of the red rock base of Steamboat Rock.

Snack with a panoramic view                                Pinon pine, agave and       

                                                                                      bluff

Before resuming our hike, we gathered for a group photo and a passing hiker was kind enough to offer to take it for us.

Skyliners who came on this hike were (L to R): Dave Beach, Joyce Arregui, Jim Manning Dolly Yapp, Jim Gibson, Karl Sink, Frank Lombardo, Donna Goodman, Chris Jensen, Daisy Williams, Gary Jacobson, and Lila Wright.

Going around the base further along the trail, a majestic view of Steamboat Rock sitting upon the top of the huge sandstone base unfolded before us.

Along the route of the trail there are several dry drainages or washes with “dryfalls” or “pouroffs” (see example, left) right at the cliff edge where there would be waterfalls after a heavy rainstorm.

We saw irises (right) growing in the wash uphill of one dryfall. A steep embank-ment rose behind, and above it we could see the top of a cottonwood tree.

On the way back, some hikers climbed the embankment, thinking that there might be remains of the foundation for a pioneer home by the cottonwood tree. However, one of them reported that there was nothing of interest up there. It is possible, though, that this might be the location of the Steamboat Tank mentioned by the Mangums in their description of Jim Thompson Trail # 124.

Wilson Mountain as seen from Jim Thompson Trail.

At the end of Jim Thompson Trail, we continued on up into Wilson Canyon using an alternate branch of the Old Jim Thompson Road which comes down and intersects with Wilson Canyon Trail #49. At this juncture, we hiked up the canyon, following the bottom and crossing back and forth along the dry streambed (left).

Along the way I saw a manzanita (right) with its small, reddish brown, berrylike fruits, and further up, a dryfall with white sand below it (below left). There were many stands of Arizona Cypress (below right), whose cones resemble miniature soccer balls.

Dryfall with white sand below                   Stand of Arizona cypress

In another area, sandstone cliffs could be seen above the trees while pools of rain water glistened in little pockets in the bedrock of the canyon floor (below left). Next was another dryfall (below right) with a small tree growing in front of it, whose leaves were starting to turn yellow.

  Cliffs, trees and pools of water                  Tree with yellow leaves in dryfall      

Shortly after that I caught up to where everyone else was already eating lunch at the end of the trail.

Lunch at the end of the trail

Upon returning down Wilson Canyon to the Jim Thompson Trail, some of our more energetic hikers completed that leg and continued down to Midgley Bridge and back, adding another mile or so to their hike. They were able to catch up to the rest of us as we were climbing up out of Wilson Canyon.

Midgley Bridge as seen from Jim Thompson Trail

On the way back I took photos of a real nice large agave (below left), a sprawling prickly pear (below center), and a soaptree yucca (below right).

Agave                                     Prickly pear                          Soaptree yucca

By doing so, I got behind the others far enough that I became confused when I came to a road that I had not seen when we were starting out on the hike. Instead of getting out my whistle, I just yelled out that I needed help. Lila called out to me and soon I was back with the group. It pays to look behind you every so often so that you can recognize the landmarks when you are returning in the opposite direction. I need to keep that in mind and recommend the same for any hiker.

Back at the parking area, I took a photo of the red rock formation that was visible in several places along the trail. This formation resembles a mitten (left) with thumbs on both sides.

We got into the vehicles and set off for Cottonwood.

This report was written by Daisy Williams, assembled by Dolly Yapp and reformatted for use online by Ellis Price

Shown in red on the attached map (below), this hike was 8.0 miles; the highest elevation was 4921 feet and the total ascent was 1059 feet.