Bones Trail

Raptor Bones Connector Trail is short, about 0.18 miles, and it links other paths rather than going anywhere on its own. It carries the number 181B. The tread is native material, so dirt and rock underfoot. Grades run around 5 to 8 percent, which is gentle. Trail class 3 points to a clear, well defined path. The Coconino National Forest looks after it through the Red Rock Ranger District. Because this is a connector, look at a map of the whole loop before setting out so you know what it joins. Check with the ranger district for closures, and bring water even on a short walk.

Raptor Hill Trail runs about 4.69 miles and carries the number 181. The surface is native material, which means dirt and rock rather than anything laid down. Grades sit around 5 to 8 percent, steady rather than steep. Trail class 3 describes a path that is easy to follow and holds up to regular use. The Coconino National Forest manages it through the Red Rock Ranger District. At that length, plan for a few hours and take water, a map and sun protection. Weather turns the tread slick and can change how long the route takes, so check conditions with the ranger district before you go.

Thumper Trail covers about 2.3 miles and is numbered 131. Its surface is native material, so dirt and rock rather than gravel or pavement. Grades run about 5 to 8 percent, a steady pull rather than a scramble. It is rated trail class 2, which means a simple path with few built features and less signing than a busier route. The Coconino National Forest manages it through the Red Rock Ranger District. Take a map, since a class 2 path can be faint in places. Water, sun protection and sturdy shoes matter on open ground. Check with the ranger district for closures before you set out.

Tuzigoot National Monument sits at 25 Tuzigoot Rd in Clarkdale and is run by the National Park Service. It opens 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. every day and closes on Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and New Year's Day. Entry is $10 for one adult aged 16 and over, and the same ticket covers Montezuma Castle for 7 days. Listed activities are guided and self-guided walking tours, hiking, museum exhibits, a bookstore and park store, birdwatching and a Junior Ranger program. The phone number is (928) 634-5564 and the email is moca_tuzi_info@nps.gov. Check nps.gov for directions.

Blazin' M Ranch is a tour and dinner show business in Cottonwood, Arizona. The ranch serves a chuckwagon dinner and follows it with a live show. Gates open in the late afternoon, dinner is served in the early evening, and the show runs after dinner. The schedule is Wednesday through Sunday, and the ranch is closed Monday and Tuesday. Tickets come in three levels: the Blazin' M Experience, a dinner and show package, and a VIP package. Prices for each are listed on the ranch's own site. The ranch lists the show as kid friendly. The ranch lists Cottonwood, Clarkdale and Sedona as the towns it serves. Call the ranch to check the night you want.

Deadman Pocket Trail runs 5.2 miles through the Bradshaw Ranger District of Prescott National Forest, near Clarkdale. It is trail number 0117. The typical grade is 12 to 20 percent, which is the steep end of what we list anywhere in the area, so treat the distance as slower than it looks on paper. Native material underfoot, class 2. Hiking and horses are the allowed uses. Bicycles are not listed. Carry more water than you think you need for a climb this sustained, and check the forest for closures before heading out, because district conditions change with weather and fire.

Deadman Trail is short and steep. It covers 1.59 miles on native material, with grades in the 12 to 20 percent range, so the climbing is sustained for its length. The route is rated trail class 1, the roughest built class, meaning a faint and narrow tread in places where route finding matters. It is open to hiking, horseback riding and bicycles, and is numbered 29 under Kaibab National Forest. Sturdy footwear helps, and a trail map is worth carrying because a class 1 path can be easy to lose. Check with the forest for closures and conditions before you drive out.

Dogie Trail covers 5.4 miles on native material, so the surface is dirt and rock the whole way. Grades run 5 to 8 percent, a steady grade rather than a steep one, though the distance makes it a half day for most walkers. It is rated trail class 2, a built path that stays rough in spots. The route carries number 116 and is managed by the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest. There is no posted water, so carry your own and start early in warm months. Ask the ranger district about closures and current conditions before you go.