Celebrating 9 Years of My Blog in the Great Outdoors

May 10, 2024 – Today marks 9 years since I started LadyBugBlog.com that is now known as “Krista’s LadyBug Adventures”. It’s been too long since I’ve shared a new post, yet I wanted to share a hidden gem near Sedona, Arizona that we explored today. This site is located 37 miles south of Flagstaff and 7 miles southwest of Sedona at an elevation of 4,000 feet.

On the map, this place is called Crescent Moon Picnic Area. It is located just outside of Sedona as you drive west on US 89A. After you leave town, turn south on Upper Red Rock Loop Road (FR 216). Drive about 1.5 to 2 miles and follow the signs to Red Rock Crossing. The road will also be marked as FR 216A. Turn into the Crescent Moon Picnic Area and pay the daily rate to enter. This area is part of the Coconino National Forest and the Red Rock Recreation Area.

Crescent Moon Picnic Area is part of the Crescent Moon Ranch day-use area. Coconino National Forest acquired Crescent Moon Ranch in 1980 with the goal of preserving the scenic and recreational experiences of this location. This area originally was a ranch that dates back to the 1880s. In the early 1900s, two families worked together to construct an elaborate irrigation system on their ranch that tapped into Oak Creek and carried water across the ranch, supplying homes, irrigating fields, and eventually, turning the water wheel shown in the photo.

From the late 1920s to 1980, the ranch land changed hands a few more times. The property went from slipping into decline in 1936 to being rebuilt and prospering with various ventures until the ranch was sold in the 1980s to the Trust for Public Land, which deeded the property to the U.S. Forest Service the same year. Today, this picturesque spot is a blend of rustic charm from a bygone era and a nature retreat with areas for picnicking, waterplay, wildlife watching, photography, and fishing.

Photo Collage: Juxtaposition of red rocks and spring green tree leaves (upper left), Krista at the historic water wheel dating back to the early 1900s (upper right), water wheel built to carry water from Oak Creek to the ranch over 120 years ago (middle left), close-up of fallen tree with wood structure in background (bottom left), and Oak Creek rushing over rocks (lower right). Photo Credit: Krista Ames-Cook, all rights reserved.

What to Know Before You Visit

• Operational Hours:
  • April 1 – September 30
    • 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    • Exit gate is open until dusk
  • October 1 – November 30
    • 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • December 1 – March 31
    • ​9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Exit gate is open until dusk
• Area Amenities: Accessible, Picnic tables, Toilets, Drinking water, Parking
• Fees:
  • Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted
  • Day Use:
    • Vehicles: $12 per vehicle (up to 5 people)
    • Walk-ins, buses, extra passengers: $3 per person, per day
    • Passes: Red Rock Grand Annual Pass and Big 3 Red Rock Pass is accepted.
  • Weddings
    • Small (up to 15 people): $100 (three spaces, two hours)
    • Large (up to 50 people): $160 (group ramada)
• Group site reservations are accepted. Call 877-444-6777 or visit Recreation.gov Single-use sites cannot be reserved.
• Usage: Heavy. If you want the world-class beauty of Red Rock Crossing all to yourself (or nearly so) visit early in the morning or on a weekday.
• Best Seasons to Visit: Spring through Fall
• Busiest Season: Summer and weekends
• Restrictions: Day-use only. Camping is not permitted at this site. No glass near creek. Grilling only at designated picnic areas.

Our Visit

We arrived at the picnic site around 10:45 AM after stopping at Sedonuts for some handcrafted donuts and getting some beverages at the McDonald’s in the same parking lot. This is the only McDonald’s in the world that has teal arches. We enjoyed our breakfast picnic and then explored the area for over an hour. There are walking trails that are both paved and natural. There were families arriving for a day along the banks of Oak Creek and one area of the ranch was reserved for a wedding happening later in the day. By the time we were ready to leave, the parking lot was nearly full, so it’s best to arrive early especially in the summer or on weekends.

This was a great first visit to Crescent Moon Ranch and we plan on returning soon! It was a great way to get outside and to celebrate my blog’s 9th anniversary. Looking forward to sharing more hidden gems of Arizona with you soon!

Safe travels!

Have you visited Sedona? What are your favorite spots to explore and hike?
Looking forward to hearing from you in the comments!
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”