The Arizona desert is damn hot in the summer so knowing where to find a big pool of water to jump into is a huge asset. Not far outside of Sedona, there’s such a place deep inside a red-rock canyon that is well worth the hike to get there.
This swimming hole is known colloquially as “The Crack” and it’s located on the Bell Trail in the Wet Beaver Wilderness.
The trailhead parking lot is a couple miles East of where Interstate 17 and Highway 179 from Sedona intersect. There is a dirt parking lot on the left with plenty of parking space.
The trail extends into the Wet Beaver Wilderness and measures 10.5 miles round trip. The five-plus miles up into the canyon are a gradual incline, with the path starting out flat and wide before becoming narrower and rockier as the canyon narrows closer to the swimming hole.
Near the beginning a sign reads:
HISTORIC BELL TRAIL
In 1932, Charles Bell constructed this trail through the rugged canyon of Wet Beaver Creek. It was, and still is, used to move cattle up and down the Mogollon Rim. Bell Trail is six miles to the edge of the Rim and climbs a rocky 1200 feet in the last two miles. Recreationists use the trail to access the crystal clear creek and view the picturesque canyon walls. A trip along this trail reveals why it is one of the most popular trails in the Verde Valley.
The Crack isn’t the only place where you can swim in the Sedona area, but if you’re into swimming holes where you can jump into deep pools from high rocks, then this place is for you.
There are several spots where you can leap into the water from 10-25 feet above. The water was at least 10 feet deep in the landing spots.
Around the edges of the large pool are flat rocks with enough space to lie down or have a picnic. There’s also plenty of trees in case the shade is needed for protection from the sun.
While the trail isn’t very difficult, that Arizona heat I mentioned can be taxing during the summer. Which makes jumping from the high rocks into the cool water a fun AND refreshing reward for the long walk.
Another nice aspect of the Bell Trail experience was that because it is a little further outside the immediate Sedona area, the crowds are minimal compared to the immediate Sedona area.
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