Named after Dale Girdner, who herded cattle in the area in the 1920s, the Girdner Trail connects Yavapai College and the former Sedona Cultural Park with Dry Creek Road via 4.75 miles of interesting and diverse terrain. This trail is perfect for those looking for a long day hike (almost 10 miles round trip), or you can opt to park a car at both trailheads and take your time exploring the juniper forests and tributaries of Dry Creek. Due to it length, you’ll likely spot mountain bikers here. If there’s a dusting of snow on the ground, all the better. We began our hike at the trailhead located across from the former Sedona Cultural Park – the views from here are extraordinary.
West Sedona’s Girdner Trail is named after Dale Girdner. He was a cattleman in the 1920s and owned 80 acres in West Sedona, according to Visit Sedona.
Looking north and west you’ll be treated to Cockscomb Butte, Casner Mountain, Mingus Mountain, Capitol Butte and the intricate layers of the Seven Canyons area. The first 0.3 mile of the trail, which was built in 1999, is relatively rocky yet flat. Pristine scenery aside, this area used to be the Sedona Dump. The trail soon narrows and hugs the side of a hill with a steep drop into a canyon on your right. After about 1 mile, the trail begins to descend into the canyon – you reach the bottom at 1.2 miles. The trail soon leads you under power lines. You continue to remain in valleys and canyons. You’ll come across small red rock formations and boulders as you cross tributaries of Dry Creek – the tributaries could have water running depending on the weather. After 2.03 miles, you’ll walk through a gate and continue along the banks of Dry Creek, which can be a raging river during the monsoon season. You’ll cross Dry Creek for the last time 3 miles from the trailhead.
Due to its length – the entire trail is just less than 10 miles long – this trail is perhaps most popular with mountain bikers. After a snow fall, it should be relatively quiet.
After crossing the creek, the trail climbs out of the canyon. The last 2 miles are less interesting and more strenuous. Your initial feeling of isolation disappears, especially when you begin hearing the echoes of gunshots coming from the shooting range located off Dry Creek Road, and the traffic from the same road. You’ll come across the Arizona Cypress Trail after hiking 3.56 miles, and at 3.71 miles, 2 Fence Trail intersects Girdner. The last 0.75 mile of the trail rewards hikers with views similar to those at the beginning. You’re now near the heart of the Seven Canyons area with its towering red rock cliffs. Look to your right for a nice view of Chimney Rock, its lone spire standing out against the blue sky. Girdner ends at Boynton Pass Road, just opposite from FR 152/Vultee Arch Road. If you really are up for more, you can hike on the Chuck Wagon Trail and end up at Devil’s Bridge.
