Carroll Canyon Trail

A short drive from Sedona, Arizona, Old Post Trail runs 2.7 miles through the Coconino National Forest and is looked after by the Red Rock Ranger District. Grades run 5-8%, so the climbing is gradual, and the footing is plain dirt and rock. It carries the number 206 and is held to class 3 standards. Other people share the path, so listen for riders and bikes coming from behind. Bring more water than you think you need, and tell someone your plan. Call the Red Rock Ranger District first if you want to know about fire limits or a temporary closure.

Table Top Trail is a short trail near Sedona, Arizona. It is numbered 211 and runs 0.43 miles on native material, meaning plain dirt and rock rather than a built or paved surface. The grade is 5-8%, so it climbs steadily without being steep. It is recorded as trail class 1, the least developed class, so expect a narrow path with little signing and no built structures. The trail sits in the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. Most trailheads on that forest need a pass on the dashboard. Carry water, and start early in summer, because there is no shade to count on.

Signed as trail 672, Sketch Trail stretches 1.22 miles in the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest near Sedona, Arizona. The tread is dirt and rock left in place, and grades of 10-12% mean the miles tilt uphill in places. 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.

Bandit Trail is short, 0.45 miles, and sits in the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest under the number 209. Grades of 5 to 8 percent keep it gentle, and the tread is native material, so packed dirt and rock rather than anything laid down. The trail class 2 rating means a path that is easy enough to follow but rough in places. Its length makes it most useful as a link in a longer ride or walk, joined to the trails around it. Carry water even on a short outing, and check the forecast, because shade is limited.

Dogs, cats and small animals are adopted out here. The Humane Society of Sedona also takes donations and runs giving programs that pay for medical care. Visits are by appointment, so arrange a time rather than arriving cold. Hours run from 10 in the morning to 7 at night, Monday through Saturday, with Sunday closed. The shelter is at 2115 Shelby Drive in Sedona, and it serves the Village of Oak Creek as well. Call (928) 282-4679 or write info@humanesocietyofsedona.org to ask which animals are available and what an adoption costs. Bring identification, and if you rent, bring proof that pets are allowed.

A B Young Trail covers 2.09 miles near Sedona, in the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest. It is trail number 100. The typical grade is 10 to 12 percent, which is steep enough that the mileage understates the effort, and the surface is native material. It is a class 2 trail. The allowed uses are not posted, so ask before you ride. This is a well known climb and it can be busy, so an early start helps with both parking and heat. Trailhead parking details are not posted, and parking rules around Sedona change, so check before you drive out.

Adobe Jack Trail is a 2.1 mile path in the Coconino National Forest near Sedona, Arizona. The Red Rock Ranger District takes care of it. The tread is native material, so you walk on packed dirt and rock rather than pavement. Grades run about 8 to 10 percent, which means steady short climbs rather than flat walking. It is listed as trail number 660 and rated trail class 2, a simple developed path with no pavement and no railings. Wear shoes with grip, carry more water than you think you need, and check the district for closures before you drive out to the trailhead.

Aerie Trail runs 2.75 miles over native dirt and rock in the Coconino National Forest outside Sedona. Grades sit between 5 and 8 percent, so the climbing is gentle and steady rather than steep. It is listed as trail number 168 and rated trail class 2, which means a developed path with a clear tread but no pavement and no railings. The Red Rock Ranger District manages it. Shade is thin on most trails in this country, so carry more water than you think you need, start early in warm months, and check for closures before you drive to the trailhead.