The canyons and mountains around Sedona have more maintained trails than anywhere else in Arizona. The popularity of the region, and the ease of access of most of the paths means that true solitude may be hard to find, and the hiking is rather tame compared to, for example, the Grand Canyon or the Escalante River in Utah, but there is no doubt about the beauty of the red rock scenery. The Sedona hiking list below is divided into three regions: Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness, Munds Mountain Wilderness, and the area immediately around the town itself.
Use the Sedona map to locate the trailhead for each hike.
|
Trail
(with number) |
Length
(one way)
(miles) |
Elevation Change (feet) |
Trail Description |
Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness Trails (north of Sedona)
|
AB Young
#100 |
2.2 |
2,000 |
This short but very steep trail ascends the west side of Oak Creek Canyon, leading to a look-out tower at 7,200 feet, which may be accessed from the top of the plateau by a long drive on forest road 231. The trailhead is at the Bootlegger Campground on AZ 89A, at about mile 383.3. |
Bear Mountain
#54 |
2.4 |
1,800 |
The hike to the top of Bear Mountain is one of many reached along Dry Creek Road (FR 152) and later Boynton Pass Road, starting from AZ 89A 3.2 miles west of the AZ 179 junction. The narrow, steep, sometimes rocky trail climbs up the side of the mountain and has ever improving, panoramic views, especially to the south. |
| Bear Sign |
2.2 |
400 |
Bear Sign Canyon is one of the more remote places near Sedona, and there really is a good chance of spotting traces of black bear activity, or even the animals themselves. The trailhead is at the end of the unpaved portion of Dry Creek Road, and the increasingly narrow canyon can be followed for some distance beyond the end of the official trail. |
Boynton Canyon
#47 |
2.4 |
500 |
The hike along red walled Boynton Canyon is very popular - it is easily reached by the paved Dry Creek Road, and has no difficult spots or steep climbs. The main path is only 2.4 miles long, but the canyon has several branches and all day could be spent exploring it. |
Brins Mesa
#119 |
3.8 |
600 |
This easy trail climbs up a shallow canyon to the flat-topped Brins Mesa, a spur of Wilson Mountain, then continues down the far side. All of the trail has expansive views in most directions. It has two trailheads - south access is at the end of Jordan Road, starting from Highway 89A just north of the AZ 179 junction, while the north access is 3 miles along the unpaved section of Dry Creek Road. Full Hike Description |
Devils Bridge
#120 |
0.9 |
400 |
The bridge is actually a large natural arch in the red Supai sandstone cliffs on the north side of Capitol Butte, and reached by the Dry Creek Road (FR 152). The best views are obtained from the top of the bridge, which overlooks a large area of canyons and mesas in the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. |
Doe Mountain
#60 |
0.7 |
400 |
Doe Mountain is an isolated, 400 foot high mesa with a perfectly flat top. The trailhead is the same as for the Bear Mountain Trail, and although the path ascends quickly to the summit in less than a mile, it is worth walking all around the edge (about another mile), to see views in all directions. |
Dry Creek
#52 |
2.7 |
700 |
A gentle walk along a narrow, wooded, increasingly steep red rock canyon with sandstone ledges and cliffs, this starts right at the north end of the Dry Creek approach road, so receives fewer visitors than other trails closer to Sedona. |
Fay Canyon
#53 |
1.0 |
250 |
Fay is a short box canyon containing a natural arch, a seasonal stream, and a collection of desert plants typical of the lower elevations around Sedona. The trailhead is along Dry Creek Road then Boynton Pass Road. |
HS Canyon
#50 |
1.6 |
300 |
HS is a typical Sedona canyon - moderately narrow, forested at lower levels but with sheer red cliffs higher up. The short trail to it extends about half way along, and begins 0.6 miles along the path to Secret Canyon. |
Long Canyon
#122 |
3.7 |
450 |
This is another forested canyon with many red cliffs and eroded formations, and, more unusually, some ancient Indian ruins and petroglyphs. As with most canyons hereabouts, the trail is mostly level and quite easy. Start point is along FR 152. |
Loy Canyon
#5 |
4.8 |
2,000 |
Loy Canyon is 14 miles west of Sedona on FR 152. The lower reaches are very wide and level but the drainage narrows sharply at the upper end, where the trail ascends steeply to a ridge at 6,500 feet, on the other side of which is the upper part of Secret Canyon. |
North Wilson
#123 |
1.8 |
1,800 |
Starting at the Encinoso picnic area on AZ 89A, 2 miles north of Sedona, the North Wilson Trail climbs half way up Wilson Mountain where it links with another trail that leads to the summit, 2.5 miles further. Not many trails ascend the walls of Oak Creek Canyon, so this is a popular route, despite its strenuous nature. |
Secret Canyon
#121 |
4.4 |
800 |
Secret Canyon is narrower and more overgrown than most, and contains a year-round stream with pools and cascades. The trail starts along the unpaved part of Dry Creek Road, and although the official distance is 4.4 miles, a fainter path continues some distance further. Full Hike Description |
Secret Mountain
#109 |
5 |
level overall |
This trail winds along the south edge of Secret Mountain, past the tops of several deep canyons including Hart Well, Boynton and Long, and ends at a small summit at 6,607 feet. The starting point is the ridge at the end of Loy Canyon trail, so the total (one-way) distance is 10 miles, and this is a trip more suitable for backpacking. The views along the path are about the most spectacular anywhere in Sedona. |
Soldier Pass
#66 |
2 |
450 |
An easy route up to Brins Mesa via the wooded canyon of Soldier Creek, this path enters the wilderness area near the end, and links with the main Brins Mesa trail. Full Hike Description |
Sterling Pass
#46 |
2.4 |
1,100 |
The Sterling Pass route leads steeply up the side of Oak Creek Canyon and over a ridge into the upper end of Sterling Canyon, then descends this ravine as far as an overlook of Vultee Arch. From here, the Vultee Arch Trail continues downstream, linking with FR 152. Full Hike Description |
Thomas Point
#142 |
1.0 |
900 |
Short but steep, this trail is one of only 3 that climb the east side of Oak Creek Canyon, and all have excellent views from the top. The trailhead is along AZ 89A at about mile 384.5 but the best parking place is at the Call O' The Canyon day use area, 0.25 miles to the north. |
Vultee Arch
#22 |
1.6 |
400 |
An easy hike along Sterling Canyon to a viewpoint of a large natural arch, starting from the north end of Dry Creek Road (FR 152). Full Hike Description |
West Fork of Oak Creek
#108 |
3.0+ |
200+ |
The best canyon hike in the Sedona area - the west fork of Oak Creek is a beautiful red rock gorge that has a sizeable stream flowing through, and many eroded rock formations and narrow sections. Full Hike Description |
Wilson Canyon
#49 |
1.2 |
300 |
A short, easy trail along a box canyon just north of Sedona. Starting point is near Midgely Bridge, 2 miles north of the AZ 89A/AZ 179 junction. |
Wilson Mountain
#10 |
5.3 |
2,400 |
This is the most strenuous trail in the Sedona area, and with the highest elevation gain, but of course the views at the top of the mountain are excellent. The first 2 miles of the trail is steepest - the remainder is mostly level, as it follows the flat top of Wilson Mountain northwards, ending at a promontory overlooking Sterling Canyon. Starting point is near Midgely Bridge, 2 miles north of the AZ 89A/AZ 179 junction. |
Munds Mountain Wilderness Trails (southeast of Sedona)
|
Hot Loop
#94 |
8 |
2,300 |
Hot Loop starts with short, steep climb, then has a long, mostly level walk along Horse Mesa, high above Woods Canyon, ending with another climb to the main plateau at Jacks Point Tank. The start of the hike is a little way along Beaver Creek, which meets AZ 179 two miles south of the village of Oak Creek. Connecting paths at the start and finish (main one is Jacks Canyon Trail) allow for a long loop hike. |
Jacks Canyon
#55 |
6.6 |
2,000 |
A long hike beside the bushy streamway in Jacks Canyon, between Munds Mountain and Horse Mesa, ending with a steep ascent up the side of the Schnebly Hill plateau, which offers panoramic views over the surrounding landscape. Start point for the hike is 3 miles along Jacks Canyon Road, which forks off AZ 179 in the middle of Oak Creek village. |
Margs Draw
#163 |
2.2 |
200 |
This is a lesser-used path through woodland on the western foothills of Munds Mountain, quite close to the center of Sedona, linking Morgan Road with Schnebly Hill Road. |
Munds Mountain
#77 |
2.5 |
500 |
Beginning at the north end of the Jacks Canyon Trail, this path climbs further to the summit of Munds Mountain at 6,834 feet, then follows the ridge a little way to the south. |
Woods Canyon
#93 |
4 |
300 |
An easy walk beside Beaver Creek then along the floor of Woods Canyon, beneath red rock cliffs and formations. Woods Canyon can be followed further upstream for many miles beyond the end of the official trail. Start point is the same as for the Hot Loop Trail. |
Trails close to Sedona
|
| Allen's Bend |
0.5 |
level |
This is one of the few trails right beside Oak Creek, a short path that links the Grasshopper Point picnic area (2 miles north of Sedona on AZ 89A) with the trailhead for Casner Canyon, passing by nice red rocks of the Supai formation on one side and the fast flowing waters of the creek on the other. |
Broken Arrow
#125 |
1.5 |
300 |
Broken Arrow trail offers a quick route into red rock landscape, starting at the end of Morgan Road, which meets AZ 179 one mile south of the AZ 89A junction. The path is easy and well used, and climbs gradually to a slickrock pass between two high buttes (Chicken Point). The Little Horse trail continues from here, providing an alternative route back to the highway. |
Casner Canyon
#11 |
2.6 |
1,500 |
There are only three trails on the east side of Oak Creek Canyon, where the cliffs are more sheer than on the east side - one is along Casner Canyon, at first following close to the streambed then climbing steadily up the side of the ravine, right to the forested plateau. A short walk through the woodland reaches the Schnebly Hill Road. There is limited parking at the trailhead, or more space at Grasshopper Point picnic area, which is linked to Casner Canyon by the Allen's Bend trail. |
| Cathedral Rock |
0.7 |
600 |
A short hike to the base of one of Sedona's most famous red rock buttes, starting from the Back of Beyond Road on the west side of AZ 179, 3.4 miles south of the AZ 89A junction. |
Little Horse
#61 |
1.5 |
300 |
A gentle route leading through open land towards high red buttes, this trail begins beside AZ 179, 3.6 miles south of the AZ 89A junction, and ends at Chicken Point, where the Broken Arrow trail continues northwards. |
| Scheurman Mountain |
1 |
500 |
At 4,899 feet, Scheurman Mountain is one of Sedona's lesser summits but the short trail to the top still gives nice views over the town, and the Oak Creek valley in Red Rock State Park to the south. The trailhead is along the top part of the Red Rock Loop road, and this meets AZ 89A 4 miles west of the junction with AZ 179. A longer trail continues past the summit and joins the south part of the loop road. |
