Doe Mountain Trail

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.

About 3.53 miles long, Cockscomb Trail runs through the Coconino National Forest and falls under the Red Rock Ranger District. The number on the sign is 167. Underfoot it is native material: dirt and rock, not pavement. Grade sits in the 5 to 8 percent range. Trail class is 2. Step to the side and let horses pass when you meet riders. Sun is strong most of the year, so a hat and sunscreen help. Start back with enough daylight left to finish. Wear shoes with grip and take care on loose rock.

About 1.68 miles long, Dawa Trail runs through the Coconino National Forest and falls under the Red Rock Ranger District. The number on the sign is 188. Underfoot it is native material: dirt and rock, not pavement. Grade sits in the 5 to 8 percent range. Trail class is 3. Start back with enough daylight left to finish. Wear shoes with grip and take care on loose rock. Phone service is patchy out here, so save a map to your phone first. Step to the side and let horses pass when you meet riders.

Look for trail 53 on forest signs and maps. That is Fay Canyon Trail, a route of roughly 1.12 miles inside the Coconino National Forest. The Red Rock Ranger District manages it. The surface is native material, which means packed dirt and rock rather than paving. Slopes fall in the 0 to 5 percent band, and the route is rated trail class 3. Pack out everything you carry in, food scraps included. Temperatures swing a lot between morning and afternoon, so dress in layers. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back.

This is a climb, not a stroll. Bear Mountain Trail runs 2.35 miles in the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest, and its grades reach 20 to 30 percent, far steeper than most routes nearby. The surface is native material, dirt and rock, with sections where you are stepping up ledges rather than walking. It is signed as trail 54 and rated trail class 2. Allow much more time than the distance suggests, carry plenty of water, and turn back if heat or weather builds. Sturdy shoes matter here. Check conditions before you drive to the trailhead.

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.