An Evening at East Pocket near Flagstaff with Zevia

We camped beside the canyon view at East Pocket for our Zevia shoot, with a rough drive in and an unexpectedly cold night.

Sponsored by Zevia.

Our campsite at East Pocket had the view you see in these photographs. We set up the tent beside the car, right near the stacked rock formations, and could enjoy that canyon view without going off on another outing. There was hardly anyone around when we visited. It was an awesome place to spend time exploring and working on our Zevia shoot.

The area is also known as Edge of the World or Rim of the World.

Our project with Zevia

The visit was part of our work with Zevia, creating outdoor content for the brand. We spent the day exploring around the rock formations and getting the shots we needed, then stayed overnight. Having that view right at camp was one of my favorite things about the trip.

The drive out was rough. I would want a high-clearance vehicle for the conditions we encountered, not necessarily something lifted, but definitely something suited to a rough forest road. That is my experience from this visit, not a promise about what today's road or fire closures will allow.

Exploring responsibly

Stay well back from drop-offs and do not climb exposed formations. Keep rocks and plants undisturbed and carry out every can, wrapper and other item you bring.

Use permitted routes and parking rather than following an unmarked track toward a view.

Evening at the rim

The cold caught me off guard. I had not brought my warmer sleeping bag, and it got much colder overnight than I expected. I ended up leaving the tent and moving into the car. Next time, I would put a lot more thought into my sleeping setup instead of assuming the forecast meant I would be comfortable.

We had no cell service or facilities at our campsite. This was dispersed camping, so I would bring plenty of water and supplies, download navigation ahead of time and have a plan for packing out waste. Take everything back out with you. Check current fire restrictions separately; a campfire on a past trip is not permission to have one now.

Check access first

Use Coconino National Forest road updates and forest alerts before setting out.

The Pocket Fire changed access in this area in 2026. A July 30 update from the City of Sedona’s transit service reported full containment and a reduced closure area beginning July 31. That did not mean every trail and recreation site reopened. Visit Sedona’s closure update lists remaining restrictions, including the West Fork drainage beginning at Forest Road 231.

Before making this the main destination for your day, confirm your particular approach and stopping point with the Forest Service. A reopened highway or a reduced fire closure is not, by itself, confirmation that every forest-road destination is accessible.

Other ways to spend a day around Flagstaff

If access does not work for your dates, choose a different outing rather than trying to find a way around a closure. Walnut Canyon offers cliff-dwelling history and developed visitor trails. Sedona has galleries, restaurants and outdoor options, although individual trail closures still need checking there too.

These visits serve different interests: Walnut Canyon puts cultural history at the center of the day, while time in Sedona can combine a meal with shops or galleries. Having an alternative picked out before leaving means you can change the day without improvising on an unfamiliar forest road.

More photographs from this visit