This Mother’s Day, Kim and I decided to take my Mom out for a nice streamside hike. Parsons Trail, in the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Area within Coconino National Forest, has been on my “to-hike” list for about 12 years, and is flagged in several guides books I own. It was time.
While we didn’t get to the trailhead until nearly 12pm – just in time for the blazing noon-day sun – we really enjoyed the trail. There’s a surprisingly impressive riparian area in the canyon, and quite a bit of water as well. We had several nice places to stop and eat lunch and, later, a snack. We didn’t encounter too many people on the trail, though we did run into two drunk twenty-somethings at the swimming hole, as well as a forest ranger near the wilderness boundary.
Next time, we’ll be sure to get here a bit earlier (either in the day or the season), and have enough time to hike a bit further, take a quick dip in the several large pools along the trail, and stop for a mid-day nap streamside amongst the trees. We had a great time, and it really makes me wonder why I didn’t get to this trail sooner–and how many similar trails are still waiting for me.
![swimming hole](https://i0.wp.com/farm1.static.flickr.com/222/497401021_c9d40d5a38_s.jpg?resize=75%2C75)
![IMG_4741](https://i0.wp.com/farm1.static.flickr.com/224/497350215_3906b3c47f_s.jpg?resize=75%2C75)
![IMG_4651](https://i0.wp.com/farm1.static.flickr.com/223/497372663_02a1164cf3_s.jpg?resize=75%2C75)
![Mom crossing](https://i0.wp.com/farm1.static.flickr.com/229/497394813_44fc7d5d42_s.jpg?resize=75%2C75)
![leaf detail](https://i0.wp.com/farm1.static.flickr.com/216/497389881_7c9839e883_s.jpg?resize=75%2C75)
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!
Looks like Kim’s posted her pictures of the day, too.