Village businesses help support Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund

Several Village businesses support SRRTF through the “Trail Keepers Program,” a consortium of 50 Sedona area businesses, and the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau.

Feb. 25, representatives of this unique alliance of contributors presented a $100,000 check to the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund (SRRTF). This program supports the SRRTF partnership with the Red Rock Ranger District (RRRD) of the U.S. Forest Service. The RRRD uses the funds to maintain hundreds of miles of trails in and around Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek.

“Our trails are the gateway to the Red Rock Country, offering access to our unique environment to approximately two million people every year, including all of us,” said Sedona Chamber President and CEO, Candace Carr Strauss. “The multiple partnerships behind Sedona’s trail maintenance achievements demonstrate what we can do when we work together.”

Since 2016, the 50 dedicated Sedona businesses a part of the Trail Keepers program have donated a total of $185,000. With a match from the Sedona Chamber, the five-year donation total is $370,000.

Currently, funds have enabled work in the Big Park System. Problems caused by lack of moisture required work to focus on armoring and rock projects in the area. In addition, a few new signs were installed. 

In February, the big equipment arrived at Big Park Loop. A mini excavator has been working to install new drains that will last many years. On February 24, crews started to build the new sections of Pine Valley and Dairy Springs, located between Courthouse Butte and Rabbit Ears.

Because of the philanthropy work of SRRTF, and programs such as Sedona Trail keepers, necessary routine trail maintenance continues on much of the Red Rock Trail System.

“Partnerships like these are critical to Sedona’s continuing progress in implementing the Sustainable Tourism Plan, and they provide Sedona visitors and our fellow Sedonans and Villagers with beautiful trails that they can hike, bike and ride daily,” Strauss added.

“The contributions of the Trail Keepers have been critical to our ability to fund massive annual efforts to maintain trails and build retaining walls, rock stairs and drainage structures,” said SRRTF President, Kevin Adams, resident of VOC.

“This unique partnership with the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund and contributors like the Sedona Chamber is a model for other communities supported by outdoor recreation and tourism,” said Red Rock District Ranger, Amy Tinderholt. “This effort ensures that residents and visitors will have an amazing trail system to explore.”