Dry Creek Trail

Bear Sign Trail is one of the longer walks in this group, 3.1 miles in the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. Grades hold between 5 and 8 percent, so the effort is spread out rather than concentrated in one climb. The tread is native material, packed dirt and rock, and crossings can be muddy or wet after rain. Signs and maps carry the number 59, and the route is rated trail class 2. Plan for the full distance out and back unless you are linking it with another trail. Carry water and tell someone your plan.

Walkers heading out from Sedona, Arizona will find Vultee Arch Trail at 1.66 miles long, in the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. At 5-8% the climb is gentle, and the tread is dirt and rock left as it lies. It carries the number 22 and is held to class 2 standards. Storm runoff moves dirt around, so the tread may look different from one season to the next. Carry water, wear shoes with grip, and give yourself more time than the distance suggests. For closures, dog rules, or parking questions, the Red Rock Ranger District is the place to ask.

Look for trail 164 on forest signs and maps. That is David Miller Trail, a route of roughly 0.98 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 12 to 20 percent band, and the route is rated trail class 1. Bring more water than you think the walk needs. Shade can be thin, so an early start makes the walk easier in hot months. Pack out everything you carry in, food scraps included.

Trail class 2, grade 5 to 8 percent, and a length near 1.6 miles: that is the shape of Hs Canyon Trail. It lies on the Coconino National Forest, in the Red Rock Ranger District, and shows up on maps as trail 50. Nothing is paved. The surface is native material, dirt and rock as found. 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.

Sterling Pass Trail is 2.4 miles near Sedona, in the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest, as trail number 46. The typical grade is 5 to 8 percent, moderate on paper, but the trail class is 1, the least developed class: rough tread and light marking. The allowed uses are not posted for this one, so ask before you ride. A pass route climbs to a saddle and drops the other side, so expect work in both directions. Carry a map and check conditions with the district office.

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.