The Little-Known Hiking Trail In Arizona That Transforms Into An Ice Palace In The Winter
Did you know you could hike to frozen waterfalls in Arizona? Tucked away in Sycamore Canyon in the Kaibab National Forest, Sycamore Falls is a little-known natural wonder that looks like an ice palace in the winter. The best part? You can reach the falls via a quick and easy, half-mile trail that’s suitable for beginners!
Nestled deep within the Kaibab National Forest, you'll find a hidden treasure known as the Sycamore Rim Trail.
The entire trail is 12 miles long, however, if you're looking for something a bit easier, a half-mile loop leads to the main attraction: Sycamore Falls.
With an elevation gain of just over 100 feet, the trail is easy enough for novice hikers to embark on.
It offers stunning views year-round, with rugged canyon walls and evergreen foliage sure to take your breath away.
It takes the average hiker only around 15 minutes to finish the entire trail - which means in just over 7 minutes after setting off, you'll arrive at the pièce de résistance.
Perhaps the best-kept secret in Northern Arizona, this remarkable natural wonder cascades down a series of basalt cliffs into a pristine pool of deep blue water.
The falls are seasonal, so there may only be a trickle (or no flow at all) when you visit.
When that happens, the trail transforms into a mesmerizing ice palace, with snow all over the ground and larger-than-life icicles dangling from the canyon.
Along the canyon rim, a lookout point offers an unparalleled view of the falls.
Patches of ice are everywhere you look, and the unique shapes they form are nothing short of jaw-dropping.
It's worth noting that there is another 70-foot waterfall on the other side of the trail that's worth checking out - to reach it, simply go left when the path forks instead of keeping right.
Most visitors agree, however, that the right-side waterfall is the more beautiful of the two.
Remember to always use caution when hiking in the winter and bring along any gear you think you may need (it’s better to be overprepared than the opposite)! Check out our official Winter Packing Guide if you need help deciding what to take with you on your winter adventures.
Have you ever hiked to Sycamore Falls? If so, we’d love to hear all about your experience in the comments! Don’t forget to check out our previous article for more natural beauty to discover in Sycamore Canyon.
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Address: Sycamore Falls, Williams, AZ 86046, USA
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Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
