Merry Maids of Cottonwood

This is a climb, not a stroll. Bear Mountain Trail runs 2.35 miles in the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest, and its grades reach 20 to 30 percent, far steeper than most routes nearby. The surface is native material, dirt and rock, with sections where you are stepping up ledges rather than walking. It is signed as trail 54 and rated trail class 2. Allow much more time than the distance suggests, carry plenty of water, and turn back if heat or weather builds. Sturdy shoes matter here. Check conditions before you drive to the trailhead.

Look for trail 53 on forest signs and maps. That is Fay Canyon Trail, a route of roughly 1.12 miles inside the Coconino National Forest. The Red Rock Ranger District manages it. The surface is native material, which means packed dirt and rock rather than paving. Slopes fall in the 0 to 5 percent band, and the route is rated trail class 3. Pack out everything you carry in, food scraps included. Temperatures swing a lot between morning and afternoon, so dress in layers. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back.

Tree work for homes and businesses across northern Arizona. The jobs listed include removing trees, trimming and pruning, taking out dead wood, grinding and pulling stumps, clearing brush to cut wildfire fuel, storm cleanup and checking whether a tree has become a risk. Estimates are free, so a homeowner can find out what a job costs before committing to it. The office takes calls Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed Saturday and Sunday. The number is (928) 286-2522, and email goes to paul@aznorthtree.com. Ask about insurance, cleanup and timing when you set up a visit.

Walkers heading out from Sedona, Arizona will find Palatki Ruins Face Trail at 0.2 miles long, in the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. The tread is dirt and rock left in place, and grades of 5-8% mean the miles climb gently. It carries the number 80B and is held to class 3 standards. Storm runoff moves dirt around, so the tread may look different from one season to the next. Carry water, wear shoes with grip, and give yourself more time than the distance suggests. For closures, dog rules, or parking questions, the Red Rock Ranger District is the place to ask.

Signed as trail 80A, Palatki Ruins Loop Spur stretches 0.2 miles in the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest near Sedona, Arizona. The tread is packed material brought in and rolled flat, and grades of 5-8% mean the miles climb gently. It is held to class 3 standards. Loose rock turns up after storms, so watch your step on the downhill side. Take water for everyone in your group, and turn back if the weather changes. Check with the Red Rock Ranger District for closures, fire limits, and parking rules before you drive out.

House cleaning and vacation rental turnovers make up most of the work here. Desert Haven Home Management also offers home watch check ins for owners who are away, and help with stocking and vendor visits between guests. The office is at 105 Roadrunner Drive, unit 5, in Sedona, and the crew covers Cottonwood, Cornville and the Village of Oak Creek as well. Quotes are free. The business says it is licensed and insured, and it is worth asking to see that paperwork. Weekday hours run 9 to 5, and Saturday ends at 4. Call (928) 301-2892 or write hello@sedonadeserthaven.com.

Junk removal, moving help and cleaning, all from the same crew. We Haul It.We Move It.We Clean It works out of 65 Verde Valley School Road in Sedona and takes calls from 7 in the morning to 8 at night, every day. Quotes are free, and a text message works as well as a call. The phone number is (928) 202-2769. For a haul away job, ask how the price is set, whether by the load, the hour or the item, and ask what will not be taken, since paint, tires and similar waste often need a different route.

Robinson Cleaning Services LLC is a cleaning business working in Cornville, Arizona. Calls are taken around the clock, every day, so a message can be left at any hour and returned later. Call (928) 202-2769 to ask what a clean would cost for a house, an office, or a rental between guests. Price usually tracks the size of the place and how often you want a visit, so ask for a quote in writing and ask whether supplies are included. Details and a contact form are posted at robinsoncleaning.godaddysites.com. Ask who will be doing the work and whether the same person comes each time.