The Sedona Westerners Hiking Club raised a record-breaking $37,000 in 2024 for the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund (SRRTF). Fueled by a $10,000 incentive match from an anonymous donor, more than 60 members made donations totaling $35,110 during the February campaign. Adding the Westerners’ yearly Trail Keeper, the club brought in a grand total of $37,110 for Red Rock trail maintenance and enhancement. Dick Williams, SRRTF board member and chair of the philanthropy committee, revealed the results at the Westerners’ March 14^th meeting. This year’s collection was more than double that was raised in 2023 and triple the amount in 2022.

The Sedona Westerners Hiking Club was recognized by the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund for a record-breaking fundraising campaign in February. Pictured (L to R) are SRRTF Director Dick Williams, Westerners Trail Boss Ray LaPorte, SRRTF President Kevin Adams and Westerners VP Dave Vanderwater.

Recapping the campaign details, Williams reported that although most of the monies will be applied to fund the seasonal crews and conservation organizations doing routine trail maintenance, donors were allowed to designate their donations to special projects in the district. Cathedral Rock Trail renovation project received $4,400 of targeted giving, with lesser amounts earmarked for Turkey Creek trail enhancement project, Soldier Pass Trail and the SRRTF endowment.

Westerners Trail Boss (president) Ray LaPorte was ecstatic over the generosity shown by the club, saying “Our membership surpassed all expectations in this fundraising effort.” He added, “Westerners are quick to point out that Sedona area trails are very well maintained and provide an amazing recreation experience for a variety of users. We recognize that the expertise and manpower needed to properly design, construct and maintain the Red Rock trail system does not come cheaply. We dug deep this season – energized by the $10,000 match by one of our generous members. That was an inspirational moment for us – and our members responded!"

Kevin Adams, president of the SRRTF, expressed appreciation for the Westerner’s efforts. “The Westerners have been one of SRRTF’s long-term and consistent partners, each year showing their commitment to stewardship of the local trails for future users. Their showing of support is a model we hope can be replicated with other like-minded groups in the area.”

The first USFS trail renovation project of the year was successfully completed on January 13^th, aided by sunny skies and empowered by a skilled trail crew and many community collaborators. One of Sedona’s most popular trails, Soldiers Pass suffered from critical damage from overuse and erosion from weather.

Before the work commenced, USFS crew members received a week of specialized training by Flagline Trails, made possible through funding from the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund (SRRTF). This training program was initiated last year to great effect and appreciation by the crew members.

Kevin Kuhl, USFS trails/wilderness/OHV coordinator for the Red Rock Ranger District, explained that a key to completing this project quickly was “help from volunteers who helped scout the location and provide different perspectives. They contributed intimate knowledge of the user’s experience and the changing conditions of our dynamic ecosystem. This helped us bridge the gap between effective trail management and maintenance, and a creating a great experience for multiple types of recreational users”.

The 6-week renovation project involved installation and repair of new and existing rock structures, construction of drainage systems, rehabilitation of social trails, installation of new fencing, and restoring of areas adjacent to the system trail.

In addition to the USFS crew, American Conservation Experience (ACE) crews, Sedona Friends of the Forest and ad hoc community volunteers played important roles in the accomplishment. Funding for the project included approximately $51,000 from the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund, which collects donations from individual donors, business supporters and grantor to support the maintenance and enhancement of the non-motorized trails in the Sedona and Village of Oak Creek area.

Trail Fund Board Expands to TwelveMembers        In February the organization elected Tracy Randall to join its 12-member board. Tracy and her husband Jim are avid mountain bikers. They met on the trails and moved to Sedona full-time in 2020 to enjoy the incredible trail system. She spends much of her free time on the trails either riding her Shadowcat or helping the Red Rock trail crew with trail maintenance.

Tracy has spent most of her career with startups in the consumer Internet space and has utilized her background to assist the Verde Valley Cyclist Coalition in growing and strengthening its membership base and mission.

“We are grateful to have Tracy join our board as she brings valuable experience with the Red Rock Ranger District and the challenges of trail stewardship”, noted President Kevin Adams. “Her leadership success with other non-profits will be of tremendous value as we work to strengthen the trail fund to a level that can support the trails in perpetuity.”

In fiscal year 2023 (ended September 30, 2023), the SRRTF raised $656,000 towards the maintenance and enhancement of the Sedona Red Rock Trails. The SRRTF is a 501c3 non-profit organization and an official partner of the USFS Red Rock Ranger District. Learn more about the organization at RedRockTrailFund.org.

Photo caption: The wash at the top of West Soldiers Pass staircase, before and after. This 6-week project was accomplished by the USFS trail crew with support from ACE crew, Sedona Friends of the Forest, local volunteers and funding from the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund.

Just as our Red Rock trails come in all shapes and sizes, so does funding for the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund. We rely on three revenue streams to fund the essential trail work and development: individual donors and supporters, businesses and grants. In the timespan of 2019-2023, 17% of revenue contributions came from grants, and in fiscal year 2023 (ended Sept 30) grant awards totaled $98,800.

Grants – A varied and intricate process   The first step is finding grant opportunities. Some are word of mouth, some are offshoots of other grants we have pursued, and some just come to us. We recently started using a program that scours the grant universe for opportunities that match our mission of “supporting the Red Rock Ranger District in the development and maintenance of local non-motorized trails”. Very few fit this narrow window, so we identify those that are close and tailor our applications accordingly.

Grant applications can be as short as a paragraph or as long as 72 pages with another 471 pages of supporting documentation (not a misprint). Most fill a handful of pages, and they all request the same basic points: What is the project, Why does it matter, How does it support the grantor’s (not our) mission, Who does it serve, and How much does it cost?

Sophia Sweeny, chairman of the SRRTF grants committee, and committee members Amanda Maxwell, Dick Williams and Kevin Adams research, write and track the grants. When we score an award, the funds may come up front or as a reimbursement. Many have specific time frames and performance reporting requirements, so the work isn’t over!

Private, public, local and national grantors support the trails   The trails are a favorite of several local family foundations. Both the Fruhmann and Langston Family Foundations have given for many years, most recently to advance the seasonal work crew training.

The Arizona Community Foundations of both Yavapai County and the Sedona/Verde Valley have supported the trails through their annual grant programs. These are chosen by panels of local citizens that review the merits of many applications. Additionally, REI of Flagstaff supported numerous years of general trail work and Kahtoola, also of Flagstaff, awarded the SRRTF one of their first environmentally focused grants for renovation work on Cathedral Rock Trail.

The State of Arizona operates several different grant programs, mostly administered through their State Parks and partially funded by federal gas tax money. We have used those to access funds for general trail work, signage and environmental education, and most recently their support has enabled us to hire a full-time program director. Nationally, the National Forest Foundation has supported work on several past projects.

Private company foundations can sometimes be a little tricky, but the Athletic Brewing Company recently gave us a nice award to help with the training effort.

The focus and timing of awards vary from year to year, as the grantors change their giving philosophies and budgets. No matter what the grant is, after we hit the “Send” button, we await the decision on pins and needles —a process that can take several months. We are always confident that our project or request is worthy of support, but the volume of worthy applicants has raised grant competition to a keen level. We take nothing for granted.

Each time we get a “Congratulations” letter or award check we whoop for joy!

As you can appreciate, grants take a lot of expertise and effort from our dedicated grants team, but we feel our trails are worth it.

An old adage says it takes a village to raise a child. In the case of Sedona’s Red Rock trails, it takes more than a village. And the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund does many things to inspire and involve different groups to get involved.

According to a recently completed census report, our trails are enjoyed annually by over 2.2 million hikers, bikers and equestrians. As well as more than 111,000 dogs! The base of financial supporters that deliver the essential funding is also diverse – including individuals, businesses, family foundations, the City of Sedona and the state of Arizona. This shared commitment to our system is a real testament to the important role it plays in our enjoined lives. Inspiring scenery, healthy outdoor activity, connection to nature and more.

Two recent events illustrate how the Trail Fund brings folks together to connect with the trails and each other. The first was a joint volunteer work day with the Arizona Trailblazers, a Phoenix-based hiking club. The Trailblazers rose early on a Saturday morning and ventured north to join forces with some of our local groups to do maintenance work on the Doe and Bear Mountain Trails. Under the leadership of Seth Bennet from the Red Rock Ranger District, participants shouldered hoes and lopping shears and hauled up Doe Mountain, clearing drains and pruning overgrowth. Next, up Bear Mountain to clear more drains.

Li Li, the Trailblazers vice president, expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to give back to the Red Rock trails. The Trailblazers have done work days elsewhere, but Li said this was one of the best experiences to date, providing a first-hand experience of the work that goes into repairing and maintaining trails. Sandi Heysinger, vice president of SRRTF and organizer of the event, offered that the newfound relationship with the Trailblazers will be a model for joint activities with other outdoor recreation groups in the future.

Veterans Get Involved    On November 11^th – Veterans Day – the Trail Fund hosted another work day that drew over 50 participants to the Soldiers Pass trailhead. A great showing of local veterans came to participate along with other local volunteers. After the rocks were moved and bushes pruned, the party moved to Posse Grounds for a picnic lunch that included a tribute cake for the vets and music from the local group, Slide Rock. The Thunder Mountain Grillers provided hamburgers and hotdogs, Trail Lovers: MTB Guides of Sedona provided drinks, and the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition provided pizza to round out the celebration.

Richard Zahner, retired Lt. General US Army, gave inspirational remarks to the group and joined in the work and celebration. An added bonus was a raffle of hiking accessories donated by Canyon Outfitters, The Hike House, Danner Boots, Kahtoola and Thunder Mountain Bikes.

Recent Grant Wins Boost Funding   In recent months, the SRRTF grants committee, chaired by Sophia Sweeny, was awarded grants from ACF Sedona ($8,500), the Fruhman Family Foundation ($5,000), the Langston Family Foundation ($5,000), Athletic Brewing ($10,000), and the Mountain Bike Assoc. of AZ ($2,000). Once again, the diversity of generous support is a testament to the broad appeal of the trails and the reach of SRRTF’s work to secure funding.

The new year includes new projects, new maintenance activities and the need for renewed funding sources. The organization is celebrating its 10^th year of trail stewardship and is looking forward to working with anyone with a desire to support and nurture our vibrant Red Rock trail system. For more information, please visit the website at redrocktrailfund.org.

Photo: The AZ Trailblazers Hiking Club from Phoenix came up to help with trail maintenance, organized by SRRTF VP/Director Sandi Heysinger (far right).

On November 4th, 5 members of the Arizona Trailblazers, led by their Vice President Li Li, made the trek up I-17 from their homes in Phoenix to participate in a Red Rock Trail Crew volunteer work event.  The Trailblazers, wanting to help preserve the trails, coordinated their participation with Sandi Heysinger of the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund.  The morning’s activities included the Doe Mountain Trail and a portion of the Bear Mountain Trail. Work included clearing drains, pruning overhanging bushes, and extensive rock work on steps and check steps.

Sedona’s hiking trail system encompasses over 400 miles of trails, heavily used by outdoor enthusiasts from other cities in Arizona and the region.  Work days such as this, coordinate by Kevin Kuhl and his colleagues of the Red Rock Ranger District, help visiting hikers gain an appreciation of the level of effort it takes to maintain the network of trails. Other local groups who helped this day included the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition and the Stewards of Sedona.

The Trailblazers and SRRTF crew was led by Seth, a returning member of the Ranger District’s seasonal work crew.  The group leapfrogged their way all the way up Doe Mountain, hauling hoes and lopping shears whilst clearing drains to channel water off the trail and trimming bushes to allow users an easier time of staying on the intended trail.

The Arizona Trailblazers, a 150-member strong group that hikes all over Arizona and beyond, has done this type of service work before, and sees it as a way for them to give back and help preserve the trails they use and love.  Several of their members in attendance Saturday have worked on sections of the Arizona Trail.  Li Li, their Vice President, offered “I have to say this is the best volunteering experience that I have ever had over last five years since I joined Trailblazers. Thank you very much, Sandi for providing us this opportunity to give back to the community and working on God’s beautiful red rock garden! We are so impressed with Red Rock Trail Crews! They are wonderful workers and heroes for our hikers”!  The group hopes to make this a volunteer work a tradition for Trailblazers every year.

The Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund, in its 10-year history, has raised over $3 million to support the development and maintenance of non-motorized trails in the Sedona and Village of Oak Creek environs. Sandi Heysinger, Vice President, offered “We were glad to discover the Trailblazer’s desire to give back to the trails they love, and appreciated the opportunity to help arrange this joint activity.  Their offer to travel all this way to help shows a true commitment to their desires to help our trails.”

At the end, all of the volunteers enjoyed a picnic lunch generously provided by Trail Lovers: Sedona Hiking & MTB Guides. A local hiking, mountain biking, and adventure shuttling service based in Sedona for the last 12 years and dedicated to local stewardship in Red Rock Country.

Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund hosted Veterans on Saturday, November 11^th for a special volunteer work day focused on the Soldier Pass trails. Over 50 workers, including Sedona area Veterans, USFS personnel, Friends of the Forest Sedona, Sedona Westerners Hiking Club, Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition volunteers, and SRRTF staff participated. Assignments included cleaning drains, moving rocks, and closing off social trails near the trailhead. This work will help facilitate the larger Soldier Pass trail system project which is expected to require $50,767 in cash resources to complete. Click here to contribute to that fund.

Following the morning work session, there was special picnic at Posse Grounds. In the spirit of honoring local veterans for their service, and to all the volunteers for helping to preserve the trails, the City of Sedona provided three ramadas.

This event marked the official start of a planned year-long series of events marking the organization’s 10^th year of support to Red Rock trails.

Food was provided by Thunder Mountain Bikes, with James and Bri Goodwin serving as grill masters with burgers, hot dogs and all the fixings.  The Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition provided pizza and Trail Lovers: Sedona Hiking and MTB Guides provided beverages. A raffle had fabulous prizes from Danner Boots, Canyon Outfitters, Thunder Mountain Bikes and Hike House. Setting the mood for the party, the band Slide Rock, featuring Chris Malek and Winston Norrish, graciously donated the musical entertainment.

The beautiful weather only added to the enjoyment of all.

At the commencement of the work day, Richard Zahner, retired Lieutenant General U.S. Army, addressed the volunteers with words of appreciation for their contribution to public lands and for service to country.

Photo above: The USFS seasonal crew with a Veterans’ tribute cake to recognize our local vets who pitched in for the trail work.

Photo below: Amidst the backdrop of Thunder Mountain, the participants of the Salute to Veterans Soldier Pass Work Day gather at the end of their project.

Thank you Arizona Community Foundation for awarding us $8500 toward various trail improvement projects in the Red Rock District. Fun evening mingling with so many great philanthropic organizations.

The past two years (2022 and 2023) the trail improvement projects in the Red Rock Ranger District in the Sedona and VOC vicinity have focused on restoration and renovation, in addition to general maintenance of the trail system at large. Additional trail miles have not been added since 2021 when the 5-mile Rabbit Ears/Little Rock project was completed.

The USFS released their proposal for the Red Rock Trails Access Plan (RTAP) on November 21, 2023. RTAP proposes up to 30 miles of new trail construction (all non-motorized), adoption of 16 miles of user-created (social) trails, and naturalization of 21 miles of user-created trails. Location of these trails are in Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek and Cornville. For trail enthusiasts – this includes the long-awaited trail network for the Turkey Creek area, a figure eight trail atop Doe Mountain, an equestrian bypass for equestrians on the Rector Connector Trail and a few other connectors.

Every new trail on USFS public lands must first be submitted to a NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process involving rigorous investigation of the land that will be environmentally impacted unless categorically excluded. While the RTAP is categorically excluded from the lengthy NEPA process, it still must have archeological, botanical, and wildlife surveys that have been completed and must be reviewed by Forest Service hydrologists, engineers, and other specialists. (The required archeological study was funded by the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund).

Public comment period through Dec. 20th

With the research completed this Fall, the USFS plans to present the proposal and begin the process of hearing community and individual concerns in November. Public release of the proposal starts the clock on a 30-day public comment, and at least one public forum is planned to be held in the Village. The documents can be reviewed at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62415&exp=overview, and links will also be posted on the SRRTF website, redrocktrails.org.

At the conclusion of the public comment period, the District reviews the public inputs, and the final step is issuance of a Decision Memo approving the plan. Implementation is anticipated to take several years, as funding permits.

Year-end campaign - $175,000 goal

The Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund is the funding backbone of the trail system that provides access to the dramatic and enticing landscape. With federal allocations covering less that 10% (average) of the yearly cost of maintenance and enhancements of the non-motorized trails, donations are the means for sustaining this valuable asset.

In addition to the standard maintenance of the extensive trail system, the Trail Fund has committed in 2024 to providing funding support for the renovation of Soldiers Pass Trail, Schnebly Hill and Scheurman Trail, as well as the completion of Cathedral Rock Trail. (More information on these on the trail fund website). They are also committed to the growth of an endowment fund to ensure that the essential needs of the trails and forest will continue into the future. And when the RTAP is approved, will discuss the District’s funding needs for buildout. 

To spur year-end donations, a $15,000 donor match has been secured, which doubles the impact of donations received by December 31^st. This year for the first time, donors can share their love for the trails with friends and family by giving a gift in their honor – for the holidays, for birthday/anniversary or other occasion.  Honorary gifts can include an inspirational certificate with personal message.

You can make donations online at redrocktrailfund.org or by mail (SRRTF, PO Box 4475, Sedona AZ 86340). SRRTF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and an Official Partner of the US Forest Service Red Rock Ranger District.

Photo - Trailhead of Turkey Creek Trail: Public comments are open through Dec. 20^th on the proposed RTAP. This plan includes construction, adoption and naturalization of user-created (social) trails in the Village of Oak Creek, mostly west of Verde Valley School Road on 1,800 acres of National Forest lands. The project would also include reconstruction and expansion of the Turkey Creek trailhead.

In November, the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund is kicking off a year of activities to raise public awareness of the organization’s mission and to celebrate their 10-year anniversary.

Veterans Volunteer Public Lands Work Day

The first celebration event is a special opportunity for local veterans to spend a few hours working together on the Soldiers Pass restoration project.

This Red Rock Ranger District Volunteer Work Day is being sponsored by the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund. It starts at 8:30 am at east side parking lot of Posse Grounds Park and will be led by USFS staff. No special skills or knowledge is needed – all tools, safety equipment and instruction will be provided.  Participants need only arrive in work clothes and sturdy footwear.

Veterans tribute picnic at Posse Grounds

Afterwards, starting at noon at the Posse Grounds, all veterans are invited to a free picnic with food and beverages. There will be a live local band, raffle prizes and a special tribute to all veterans for their service.

From $0 to $3,000,000 in less than a decade

In 2013, a small group of citizens, trail lovers, USFS staff and local government representatives convened monthly meetings that lasted a year in an effort to find a solution to the perennial government funding shortfall for trail maintenance. It was recognized that federal allocations could never support the demands of a recreational trail system that would meet the needs of the public, the residents and the ecosystem. From these discussions, the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund was established as a non-profit entity, with a mission to raise funding to support the planning and ensure sustainability of the non-motorized trails in the areas surrounding Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek.

This volunteer-led group works hand in hand with USFS officials to forecast the ways and means to accomplish the essential recreational trail maintenance, renovation, and enhancements, year after year.

In the decade since inception, with impressive support from local businesses and individual donors, the trail fund has raised in excess of than $3 million. In fiscal year 2023, just ended September 30, the group successfully raised $656,405 (see chart).

Challenges on the Horizon

Compounding the impacts of increased usage, expansion of system trail miles and extreme weather – inflation, labor cost and shortages have further squeezed the USFS capacity. The annual budget for trail maintenance for the Sedona area is now approaching $1 million!

Keeping pace with those needs, the SRRTF has approved a 5-year strategic plan that includes new ideas for tapping visitor donations, boosting its endowment fund, and providing donors with more options for recurring donations and planned giving.

In November and December, the SRRTF will be reaching out to the public to support its annual year-end drive, with a goal of raising $175,000. All donations are tax-deductible and the first $15,000 received by December 31 will be matched by donor pledges.

About Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund (SRRTF)

The organization’s mission is to gather donations to maintain and enhance the non-motorized National Forest trails in the greater Sedona area, and to educate the public regarding their use and management. The Cooperative Funds Act of 1914 authorizes the USFS to accept money from organizations such as the SRRTF.  SRRTF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and an Official Partner of the US Forest Service Red Rock Ranger District.

The Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund held its annual meeting on September 6^th, which involved approval of a 5-year strategic plan and election of directors and officers.

The strategic plan officially expanded the mission of the organization to include trail user education, in addition to fund raising for the maintenance and enhancement of the 411 miles of trails within and surrounding Sedona and Village of Oak Creek.

The three new board directors – Dreama Aldredge, Amanda Maxwell and Kelley Malek, are all avid trail users have all become engaged committee members. Dreama has joined the community outreach committee, Amanda the grants committee and Kelley the philanthropy committee. They will each serve 2-year terms. (shown in photo L-R: Dreama Aldredge, Amanda Maxwell and Kelley Malek)

We asked them to share a few words about their attraction to Sedona and what inspired them to join the board.

Dreama Aldredge and her family began visiting Sedona and the surrounding communities in the 1990’s. Immediately realizing what a spectacularly unique area this was, she and her husband purchased a home here in 2001, moving here full-time in 2009. For the last 14 years she has hit the Red Rock trails almost daily either on horseback, hiking or jeeping. Having volunteered for many non-profit organizations, her most recently held positions have been focused on tourism and fund-raising. By working to achieve the goals of the SRRTF, Dreama hopes to share the joy and magnificence of this area with her grandchildren for years to come.

Kelley Malek is a retired geoscientist with a passion for hiking among the beautiful, unique Red Rocks of the Sedona area. She serves on the board of the Sedona Westerners Hiking Club and is the Hike Boss of the Sunday hiking group. When not hiking, Kelley enjoys backpacking, kayaking, playing the piano, and spending time with family and her beloved dog. She started living part-time in Sedona in 2014 and moved here full-time in 2021.

Amanda Maxwell is a Sedona resident and avid member of the Sedona hiking, backpacking and kayaking communities. She clocks hundreds of miles per year on the trails and rivers of Sedona, Grand Canyon, and Southern Utah. She currently serves as the Ranger (Forest Service Liaison) for the Sedona Westerners Hiking Club, and coordinated their volunteer efforts for the Cathedral Rock Trail Project in 2023. As a sculptor and career art educator, Amanda authored numerous Visual and Performing Arts grants for underserved student populations. As a member of the Red Rock Trail Fund board, she contributes her grant writing skills to support the care and maintenance of the Sedona trails that she hikes every day.

In addition to the new board members, the board also re-elected three officers: Kevin Adams, president (2-year term); Mark Bealafed, treasurer (2-year term), Dick Williams, secretary (1-year term). Vice president Sandi Heysinger will be serving the second of her 2-year term.

At the conclusion of the meeting Kevin Adams remarked, “Our current board is the most experienced since I joined and became president in 2018”. He added “It’s an eclectic mix of time-honored and new directors with diverse backgrounds, trail use preferences and experiences who are committed to the SRRTF’s mission. I can’t wait to see what this board will accomplish!”