Girdner Trail
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…
Our Favorite Sedona Hikes Newsletter
Jail Trail In Cottonwood
The holidays are mere weeks away, and if you’re searching for an easy jaunt that the whole family do, Cottonwood’s Jail Trail Riverwalk is a perfect hike. Sometimes not everyone is up for – or capable…
Little Horse Trail
The Little Horse Trail is one of our favorite hikes in town for two key reasons – the trail is relatively flat and lets you get up close to Sedona’s famed red rocks. The trail kicks…
Eagle’s Nest Trail
When we’re searching for an escape that’s not too far from town, we often head to Red Rock State Park. There’s plenty to love about this park. This 286-acre nature preserve located on the southwestern edge…
Sunset Crater
Visiting Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in Flagstaff in the summer is a great way to cool off and an even better way to check out a historic, scenic monument. We visited this spot last summer…
Schuerman Mountain Trail
When those scorching summer temperatures arrive, we look for less strenuous hikes to get our nature fix. That’s why we turn to hikes that are short and sweet. And the Schuerman Mountain Trail more than works….
Cathedral Rock
Cathedral Rock is a storied Sedona hike. For starters, this impressive red rock formation is one of Sedona’s most recognizable sites. Beyond that, the views are truly spectacular. You’re both up close to the red rocks,…
Mooney Trail
Sedona hiking trails can be many things: scenic and peaceful being the two best descriptors that often come to mind. But they’re typically not secluded. If you’re searching for real solitude, you’ll have to venture farther…
Bear Mountain
Sometimes when you’re out hiking, you’re searching for a real challenge. A hike that tests your physical and mental limits and offers a great payoff. Bear Mountain is one of those hikes that fits that description…
Boynton Canyon Vista
When the days are short and the temperatures plunge, we like to explore some of Sedona’s shorter trails, and Boynton Canyon Vista checks all the boxes. The trail leads to a saddle between two red rock…
Huckaby Trail
Huckaby Trail is a favorite hike among locals and tourists alike, and it’s not hard to see why. This Oak Creek Canyon trail offers up views of Sedona’s red rocks and lets you cross one of…
Thunder Mountain
Thunder Mountain Trail is a gem of a hike that meanders along the base of its namesake, also known as Capitol Butte or Grey Mountain. These trails in West Sedona are some of our favorites, especially…
Loy Canyon
One of our favorite things about trails is that they can offer a choose your own adventure style journey. Loy Canyon is one of the city’s trails that delivers both an extremely difficult challenge or a…
The Arboretum at Flagstaff
When the dog days of summer arrive, it seems like half of Arizona escapes to Flagstaff looking for relief due to the city’s cooler temperatures. And there’s no better place to spot wildflowers and wildlife than…
Rector Trail
Ever since it opened back in 2018, the Rector Trail quickly became a local favorite and for very good reasons. For starters, this hike lets you get up close to many of the Village of Oak…
Wilson Canyon Trail
When those temperatures rise, we often find ourselves searching for relatively easy trails that we can finish quickly but still have a great payoff. The Wilson Canyon Trail is one of our favorite hikes that fits…
Thumb Butte Trail
The Thumb Butte Trail is one of the most popular trails in Prescott National Forest for very good reasons. For starters, it’s easy to reach. The trailhead is a mere 10 minute drive from downtown Prescott….
Cow Pies Trail
If you don’t mind a bumpy ride to get there, Cow Pies Trail is probably one of the flattest and easiest hikes in Sedona. It also happens to be located in an area of Red Rock…
A.B. Young Trail
This time of year is our absolute favorite for hiking. The cool temperatures mean you can spend hours on the trails. In the winter months on the weekends, you’ll often find us taking long, meandering hikes….
West Fork Trail
Oh, West Fork. There is something undeniably magical with Oak Creek and Sedona’s towering red rocks beside you as you cross multiple streams. This only-in-Sedona scenery makes this hike truly stunning. Like so many of Sedona’s…
Sedona’s Five Hardest Hikes
Sedona is a hiking mecca with over 200 hiking trails to explore. If you’re searching for a true challenge, these hikes deliver with heart pumping climbs and breathtaking summit views that will make all the effort…
Doe Mountain Trail
Every year, the trail leading to the top of Doe Mountain seems to grow in popularity as more and more hikers seek out the mesa’s 360-degree views. It’s easy to see why so many flock to…
Aspen Loop Trail
Flagstaff’s Aspen Loop Trail is a gem of a hike any time of year, but it’s especially worth the drive in the fall. Although peak leaf peeping season does vary annually, the fall colors are typically…
Table Top Trail
When those summer temperatures soar, one of our favorite places to hike in town is Airport Mesa. The relatively easy and mostly short trails in this West Sedona area all offer stunning views of some of…
Jim Thompson Trail
When it’s hot outside, but we still want to hike, we love trails where you can leave a car at either end, and the Jim Thompson Trail is a great option. The hike begins near Jordan…
White Mesa Trail
Finding a quiet trail to hike in Sedona can be tough, and that’s why trails like the White Mesa Trail – a historic cattle trail – can be refreshing. Although this hike lacks red rock views,…
Vultee Arch Trail
Accessing the Vultee Arch Trailhead is a challenge and one of the hardest parts of this easy trail. The only way to reach it is with a high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle. Yes, you need both high…
Munds Wagon Trail
When we set out to hike Munds Wagon Trail, we weren’t expecting to find waterfalls. We’ve hiked this trail in warm weather without a puddle in sight, so we suspect our experience was relatively rare, which…
Fay Canyon
Fay Canyon has long been one of the most popular hikes in Red Rock Country and for good reason: There’s plenty of parking at the trailhead, the route is relatively flat until the end and the…
Mescal Trail
Although originally built for and by mountain bikers, the 2.5-mile Mescal Trail is a relatively easy, mostly flat trail that makes for an easy going hike. Mescal is most likely named for the mountain it skirts…
Iconic Trails
Airport Loop When out-of-town guests who don’t hike often ask us what trail to hike, Airport Loop is typically our answer. This relatively flat (but a little rocky) trail offers breathtaking views of all of Sedona’s…
Devil’s Bridge
The sandstone arch that gives this trail its name has become a star on social media. The arch’s visual appeal is undeniable. Many hikers flock here to see this incredible arch with their own eyes, and…
Chapel Trail
Summer’s high temps generally linger in September, and if you’re looking for an easy and short trail that features stunning red rock views, try the quick and easy Chapel Trail. Although dogs are not allowed inside…
Where to Swim in Sedona
Slide Rock State Park One of Sedona’s most popular attractions in the summer, Slide Rock State Park, is named for the 80-foot long natural rock slide that visitors have been sliding down for years. The setting…
Allen’s Bend
When those temperatures rise in June, many Sedona hikers will stick to shorter trails until the cooler weather returns. And that’s why we love a quick hike like Allen’s Bend. The trailhead for Allen’s Bend starts…
Boynton Canyon Trail
Sometimes all you need is a long hike. It gives you time to think, relax and get in a good workout. One of our top trails that meets all those requirements is the Boynton Canyon Trail….
Brewer Trail
Believe it or not, there is a trail you can hike if you’re searching for solitude and happen to be on Airport Road: the Brewer Trail. We only spotted two couples on our short hike. After…
Baldwin Trail
The Baldwin Trail is one of our favorite hidden gems. For one thing, it’s tucked away in the Village of Oak Creek so you can enjoy a secluded hike. For the entire hour we hiked, we…
Sugarloaf Loop Trail
West Sedona’s Sugarloaf Loop Trail is an easy way to work up a sweat, take in beautiful views and get in a good hike. It’s especially beautiful after a dusting of snow. Begin your hike at…
Cibola Pass Trail
The Cibola Pass Trail is one of our favorite short hikes in Sedona. The Uptown Sedona trail offers stellar views of many of the major red rock formations in the area. We can’t think of a…
Marg’s Draw Trail
What we love most about Marg’s Draw Trail is that it offers hikers so very much. For starters, it’s easily accessible and located in central Sedona. You can connect to other trails and hike nearly all…
Top 10 Sedona Hikes
Bright Angel Round-Trip Distance: 18.5 miles; At a Glance: Iconic, Stunning Arizona Views Although not in Sedona, we couldn’t run this list without this Grand Canyon trail. It’s one of the most iconic hikes in the…
Pyramid to Scorpion Trail Loop
As the cooler temperatures gradually arrive in September, we always look forward to heading back out to the trails more frequently. And while we’re building back up our strength, we’re searching for hikes that are moderately…
Sedona View Trail
The Sedona View Trail really lives up to its name. The views by this trailhead are some of the best in town. We’ve spent plenty of time appreciating the stunning vistas of Coffee Pot Rock, Chimney…
Top Ten Must Have Sedona Experiences
From hiking one of Sedona’s many gorgeous trails to staying at one of the city’s top resorts, here are the 10 best Sedona experiences. We value Sedona’s local businesses as much as we value its visitors,…
Teacup Trail
When those temperatures start to climb, we look for hikes that meet two requirements: short and scenic. And West Sedona’s Teacup Trail is one of our favorite brief hikes with top-notch views of one of Sedona’s…
Woods Canyon Trail
Spring is our favorite time of year to hike. The weather is usually perfect. The wildflowers are blooming. And we can’t think of a better way to appreciate this season than by tackling the Woods Canyon…
Chimney Rock Pass Trail
We’ll never tire of seeing Sedona’s famed red rocks in a different light. And if you’re up for a relatively moderate hike that will take you around the base of Chimney Rock, consider the Chimney Rock…
Black Canyon Trail
After a season of hiking, sometimes you just want to get away from all the packed trails. And one of our favorite remedies for peak hiking season fatigue is Cottonwood’s Black Canyon Trail. You have to…
Little Horse Trail
Little Horse Trail is one of our favorite hikes for two key reasons – the trail is relatively flat and lets you get up close to Sedona’s famed red rocks. The trail kicks off just past…
Airport Loop
If there’s one thing that we love more than a red rock hike, it’s a hike when the red rocks have been dusted with snow. There’s something undeniably magical about seeing those red rocks blanketed with…
Night Trails
A dark blue sky spotted with stars provides a backdrop for a shot of the illuminated Courthouse Butte (center) and dark Bell Rock (right) red rock formations from the Yavapi Vista Trail. A recent snowfall supplied…
Lakeview Trail
After a long, hot summer, sometimes you need a break from all the heat. And if you’re searching for a relatively easy, classic Flagstaff trail, we’d recommend Lakeview Trail No. 132. The trail starts with a…
Schuerman Mountain Trail
November can be a bit nuts. Chances are high that you’re busy prepping for the upcoming holidays on top of all your other day-to-day responsibilities. And you’re probably searching for a quick break, which is what…
Soldier Pass Arches
The Soldier Pass Arches hike meets all the requirements of a downright perfect day hike. Just three miles round trip. Check. A challenging, but not impossible trail. Check. Gorgeous views and a few fun places to…
Sycamore Canyon: Parsons Trail
If you are up for an adventure, pack a lunch and take a ride to Sycamore Canyon for a full day of hiking in the wilderness. From Sedona, it’s a 30-minute drive on AZ-89A to Cottonwood….
Broken Arrow Trail
Initially, we set out to hike the Broken Arrow Trail to Chicken Point but ended up taking a detour that proved a worthwhile adventure. Broken Arrow Trailhead allows 4×4 road vehicles and jeep tours – and…
Adobe Jack Trail
Adobe Jack Trail features fantastic red rock views. It also leads you to a creek bed and winds in and out of small washes and green desert terrain lined with junipers and Manzanita bushes. Before beginning…
A.B. Young Trail & Beyond
We first wrote about the challenging but rewarding A.B Young Trail in 2017. At that time, we stopped our hike where the switchbacks end at the top of the Mogollon Rim. We hiked it again recently,…
Airport Loop
There’s no denying the 3.3-mile trail that loops around Airport Mesa offers views of every major red rock formation in Sedona, but we were equally as enthusiastic about the landscape of the mesa itself. A constant…
Girdner Trail
Named after a family of ranchers who herded cattle in this area, 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….
Bear Mountain Trail
The trail that leads up Bear Mountain may only be 2.5 miles one way, but it’s easily one of the most difficult hikes in Sedona. There’s little to no shade, so if hiking this trail is…
Devil’s Bridge
The name of Sedona’s largest sandstone arch, Devil’s Bridge, might sound sinister, but there’s no need to start reciting your Hail Marys just yet. The short, 0.9-mile trail that leads to the top of the arch…
Cockscomb Butte Trail
Have you ever wondered about the spindly spires of the Cockscomb formation west of Sedona and on the very edge of Red Rock Country? Then you need to spend an afternoon exploring Cockscomb Butte Trail. The…
Crescent Moon Creek Walk
When the days are hot, and you never know when a monsoon storm is going to pop up, we tend to stick to tried-and-true (read: short) hikes. Crescent Moon Creek Walk, more popularly known as Red…
Rector Trail
Because you are holding a copy of Sedona Monthly in your hands – whether you live here or not – it’s safe to assume that you have a favorite Red Rock Country trail. (No, we won’t…
Red Mountain Trail
If you don’t mind the long drive, hiking into the amphitheater of Red Mountain, a 1-million-year-old cinder cone in the San Francisco Peaks Volcanic Field, is a must-have experience. The trail begins at the end of…
Jail Trail River Walk
Looking for something to do with the kiddies during spring break? Family in town? Sometimes not everyone is up for – or capable of – a 6-mile hike in the red rocks. That’s when Cottonwood’s Jail…
Dry Creek Trail
In late winter and early spring, Dry Creek is anything but dry. Depending on how much rainfall we’ve received, it’s completely impassable in some locations. The key to hiking this trail is finding that ideal time…
Munds Mountain Trail No. 77 in Sedona
The only remnant of any movie set ever built in Sedona is a tall rock chimney and fireplace shrouded in brush and trees on a rocky basalt road at the top of the Mogollon Rim. Reaching…
Courthouse Butte Loop in Sedona
The verdict is in: Courthouse Butte Loop is one of the prettiest trails you’ll hike in the snow – and it’s easy. The 4.5-mile loop traverses the base of Courthouse Butte, one of Sedona’s largest monoliths,…
Boynton Canyon in Sedona
Scenic Boynton Canyon near Enchantment Resort is one of Sedona’s most popular trails and deservedly so. But because it’s in danger of being loved to death, we haven’t written about it in 12 years. Instead, we’ve…
A.B. Young Trail in Oak Creek Canyon
The A.B. Young Trail is the only route (of which we know) that climbs the west wall of Oak Creek Canyon. From AZ-89A in the northern reaches of the canyon, you can spot the trail, which…
Sedona’s Loy Canyon
Sometimes you just want to walk in the woods, Hansel-and-Gretel style. That’s when you need to explore Loy Canyon and Loy Canyon Trail. The trail meanders along the floor of the canyon for 4 relatively flat…
Sedona’s Baldwin Trail
We don’t hike much during this time of the year, however, if we’re going to spend time on a trail, Baldwin ticks all of the boxes for a summertime jaunt. It’s in close proximity to Oak…
Sedona’s Thunder Mountain Trail
Thunder Mountain Trail is a gem of a hike that meanders along the base of its namesake, also known as Capitol Butte or Grey Mountain. Though there isn’t a ton of shade along the trail, it’s…
Vultee Arch Trail in Sedona
Back in the day, accessing the Vultee Arch Trailhead wasn’t nearly as challenging as it is now. The only way to reach it today is with a high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle (yes, you need both high…
Templeton Trail in Sedona
For those who like to spend half the day rambling through Red Rock Country at a leisurely pace, Templeton Trail is right up your alley. You’ll only encounter one steep climb along this 9-mile (round trip)…
Sedona’s Munds Wagon Trail
We’ve hiked this trail in warm weather without a puddle in sight, so we suspect our experience was relatively rare, which made it even more special. Despite a blustery breeze, the scenery made us feel like…
Sedona’s Cathedral Rock Trail
Cathedral Rock Trail has long been one of our top 10 favorite hikes in Sedona, but the recent crowds in the area have kept us at bay for a couple of years. Then it dawned on…
Sedona’s Scorpion and Pyramid Trails
We first became aware of the Scorpion and Pyramid trails while writing our September cover story – Jennifer Young, president of Friends of the Forest, let us in on the secret. If you like solitude mixed…
Slide Rock State Park in Sedona
Most locals past the age of 8 will tell you that Slide Rock State Park in the summer is highly overrated. After sitting in a long line of cars just to secure a parking space, you’re…
Doe Mountain
Every year, the trail leading to the top of Doe Mountain seems to grow in popularity as more and more hikers seek out the mesa’s 360-degree views. After spending several days flying above Sedona, we were…
The Arboretum at Flagstaff
When the dog days of summer arrive, it seems like half of Arizona escapes to the cooler climes of Flagstaff. And there’s no better place to spot wildflowers and wildlife than The Arboretum at Flagstaff. Leave…
Sedona’s Wilson Canyon Trail
After hiking Sedona’s trails for more years than we care to admit, we’ve realized there aren’t a lot of trails for beginning hikers, those out for a casual Sunday stroll or families with young kids. If…
Sedona’s White Mesa Trail
Sometimes you hike for the beauty and the views, while other times you hike just to get a bit of exercise in the great outdoors. White Mesa Trail, located southeast of Sedona in the Beaver Creek…
Sedona’s Hangover
Were you disappointed (but obviously not surprised) that The Hangover Part III wasn’t worth the price of admission? We guarantee you won’t feel that way about the new Hangover Trail that traverses Mitten Ridge. For the…
Sugarloaf Loop Trail
For some of the most expansive views in Sedona, you don’t have to climb to the top of Wilson Mountain or the Mogollon Rim. Sugarloaf, that little red rock mound at the base of Capitol Butte…
Sedona’s Herkenham Trail
Few things match the beauty of Red Rock Country covered in a blanket of snow, especially when you consider that it’s a rare and fleeting sight. If you don’t want to waste time finding an off-the-beaten-path…
Sedona’s Sterling Pass Trail
Perhaps we’ve watched too many episodes of Finding Bigfoot, but if sasquatch was going to winter in Sedona, there’s no doubt he’d feel at home in the unnamed drainage surrounding Sterling Pass Trail. The area has…
