'The Crack' at Wet Beaver Creek

'The Crack' is a cliff jumper's dream, but it also offers something for everyone, with smooth rocks for sunbathing and shallow waters for wading. To get to The Crack, it's about a 3.5-mile hike each way, making it slightly less popular than Sedona's more accessible swimming holes. While you only gain about 500 feet of elevation, the hot desert sun is what makes this hike tough - but the swimming hole makes it totally worth it.

You'll park at either the Bruce Brockett Trailhead or the Bell Trailhead in a well-marked parking lot (just follow the signs for Beaver Creek Work Center). There are pit toilets at the trailhead and no fee or permit required to park there. On nice days during fall and spring, the parking lot can fill up, in which case you can park in the overflow parking areas (you'll see signs before arriving at the trailhead).

From the parking lot, follow the signs for Bell Trail. There will be two times where you'll come to a fork in the trail - once at Weir Trail and once to pass the creek - stay to the left both times. Not long after you pass the second fork, you'll arrive at the swimming hole. All that's left to do is choose a spot and jump in! And then hike back, of course...

Sidenote: No cell service is available on the trail or at the swimming hole.