Sycamore Canyon (Yavapai County, Arizona) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sycamore Canyon
Sycamore Canyon from Sycamore Point, south of Williams, Arizona.
Sycamore.Canyon Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Sycamore.Canyon Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Length	21 miles (34 km)
Width	7 miles (11 km)
Geography
Location	Sycamore Canyon Wilderness, Arizona, United States
Topo map	USGS Davenport Hill, AZ
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
Designated	1972

Sycamore Canyon is an amazing natural wonder in Arizona. It's the second biggest canyon in the state's famous red rock area, right after Oak Creek Canyon. This beautiful canyon stretches for about 21 miles (34 km) and can be as wide as 7 miles (11 km) in some spots.

You can find Sycamore Canyon in North Central Arizona. It's located near and below the Mogollon Rim. The canyon is west and northwest of Sedona, spreading across parts of Yavapai and Coconino counties.

Exploring Sycamore Canyon

A stream called Sycamore Creek flows through the canyon. This creek is a "tributary," which means it's a smaller stream that flows into a larger river. Sycamore Creek eventually joins the Verde River. It meets the Verde River canyon about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) north-northwest of Clarkdale.

Home to Wildlife

Sycamore Canyon is special because it's part of three different U.S. National Forests. These are the Coconino, Kaibab, and Prescott National Forests. Because of this, the canyon is home to many different kinds of wildlife. You might spot animals like black bears, deer, and even mountain lions here.

Visiting the Canyon

Unlike the very popular Oak Creek Canyon nearby, Sycamore Canyon is mostly protected. A large part of it is called the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness. This wilderness area covers about 56,000 acres (22,662 hectares). Because it's a wilderness area, you won't find any roads or developed campsites here.

The best ways to explore Sycamore Canyon are by hiking or horseback riding. One of the most popular ways to get into the canyon is by using the Parsons Spring trail. This trail is located upriver from Tuzigoot National Monument. To reach the trailhead, it's helpful to have a vehicle that sits high off the ground.

A Protected Place

Sycamore Canyon is one of the oldest protected Wilderness Areas in Arizona. It was first set aside as a "Primitive Area" by the Forest Service. This happened even before the Wilderness Act of 1964, which created the official system of wilderness areas we have today.

Images for kids

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  Lower Sycamore Canyon, near the trailhead

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  Sycamore Falls

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  Columnar basalt in the lower canyon