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VAN DEREN CABIN Van Deren cabin  �A woman�s bullet kills as quick as a man�s!� These menacing words from a lobby card for the 1948 film, Blood on the Moon , spoils one of the movie�s several twisted story arcs. Western serial movies don�t get any more typical than this one. Van Deren homestead Starring Robert Mitchum and Barbara Bel Geddes (in her glamourous pre-Miss Ellie of Dallas phase) the film�s luscious cinematography features several Sedona locations.   Despite the film�s period-accurate stilted dialogue, unfortunate stereotypes and marginal production qualities, it�s a captivating tale of a sinister businessman versus a good cowboy (and his �spitfire blonde� love interest---the one with the bullets) who foils an evil plot. Sure, there are plenty of horses, cattle and smoking-gun action scenes that play out in the pristine Sedona countryside that dominated the area before Sedona became Sedona.   The road to the cabin crosses Dry Creek But two things make this cellu...

SOLDIER PASS-BRINS MESA LOOP Sedona View from Soldier Pass Simply put---there's hardly ever a bad time to hike in Sedona. It's scenic beauty and myriad trekking environments are unparalleled. But, of all the months in the year, April stands out as one of the best to hit Red Rock Country trails. The climax of spring in the high desert brings fresh leaves, blooming shrubs and the emergence of flowering stalks on yucca and agave. It's nature's last hurrah before settling in for summertime heat and monsoons. For hikers with limited time, the area's multitude of options can be overwhelming. That's why the Soldier Pass-Brins Mesa Loop is an oft recommended route. Along this moderate excursion, you'll be treated to samples of everything that makes Sedona such an outdoor recreation hot spot. Right out of the chute, you'll encounter Devil's Kitchen sinkhole. An interpretive sign at the site explains the complex geological forces that created the impressive g...