One wonderful way for Sedona tourists to take in the local sites, besides hiking, is a rugged off-road jeep adventure offered by our local jeep tour companies; red, pink or otherwise.  Some of these companies have been around for almost 50 years and are permitted to ride the trails in the Coconino National Forest by the U.S. Forest Service.

Each company has its own specially designated and exclusive routes such as Broken Arrow, Soldier Pass Trail, and Diamondback Gulch.  This helps ensure that no one trail becomes overrun by jeeps, and keeps the majority of the trails in Sedona available solely for hiking.  A two hour ride can cost an adult anywhere from $50-$72.  That money provides tax revenue to the City that helps support many of the town's social, beautification, and modernization projects among other things.

Not only do these rides offer great site seeing but a fun filled roller coaster ride as well, with jeeps bouncing and bumping along the rocky designated trails.

One company offers "The Road of No Return" where the jeep pitches on the side of a red rock at a near 90 degree angle.  Of course, all the tourists scream with joy.

The jeep companies also offer tours of ancient ruins, horseback riding, and hiking.

Unfortunately, there's a black side to this fun.  I'm talking about jeep tire tracks.  When we allow jeeps to ride the hot, sun beaten red rocks one after another, day after day, the tire rubber melts over the rocks making them look like a parking lot.

One such place is Chicken Point on Broken Arrow Trail.  A 1.5 mile moderate trek from the trail head to Chicken Point, the trail begins at the end of Morgan Road in Sedona's backyard.  Further on, the trail connects with the Chapel Trail that leads to the well known Chapel of the Holy Cross.  It is one of Sedona's more popular hiking trails.

On the day my wife and I hiked to Chicken Point to take pictures for this article, it wasn't only the jeep tour companies that were riding the rocks.  There were regular jeeps too.  Anyone who can drive over a large, man made obstacle at the trail head is allowed in.

As I snapped pictures, a middle aged couple came hiking through as jeeps whizzed around them and us.  He turned to me and said, "I'm from Texas, and this is [bull]!  I'm never coming here again."  In my opinion, he's right.

The jeeps have crossed the line.  How can the Forest Service tolerate black tire rubber melting on our beautiful red rocks?  How can we tolerate jeeps whizzing around the rocky summits with hikers?

Should these jeeps be allowed on the rocks?  I say "no."  I'm not advocating that we eliminate the jeep companies.  They serve an important function in our town.  Hikers need to accept this.  But, I say, let the jeeps park at the base of the rocks and let the visitors out.  They can walk along the rocks, take pictures, and enjoy the views.

Sedona isn't an amusement park.  It's a beautiful, unique environment, and an asset that we must protect.

Let's not destroy that.

Pink Jeep at Chicken Point

Jeep tracks at Chicken Point

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Disclosure:  The editor and his wife live on Morgan Road in Sedona.

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