Mescal Connector Trail

Walkers heading out from Sedona, Arizona will find Yucca Trail at 0.38 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 174E 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.

Chuckwagon Trail covers about 4.45 miles and is signed as trail 196. It sits on the Coconino National Forest and is looked after by the Red Rock Ranger District. Expect native material underfoot rather than a built or paved path. Grades run between 5 and 8 percent, so expect that much climb and drop. Forest records put it at trail class 2. Small lots fill early on weekends and holidays. Stay on the worn tread to keep the soil and plants around it intact. Footing gets slick for a while after rain.

Mescal Trail is a 2.59 mile route numbered 174C on the Coconino National Forest. Day to day care falls to the Red Rock Ranger District. Native material is the surface here, which is to say plain dirt and stone. Grades of 5 to 8 percent give a sense of how steep the walking gets. The trail class is 2. Shade can be thin, so an early start makes the walk easier in hot months. Pack out everything you carry in, food scraps included. Temperatures swing a lot between morning and afternoon, so dress in layers.

Devils Bridge Extension Trail is 0.1 miles near Sedona, in the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest, as trail number 196A. At a tenth of a mile this is the shortest trail we publish, and the letter marks it as an extension of a longer numbered route. The typical grade is 5 to 8 percent, the surface is native material, and the trail class is 2. The allowed uses are not posted, so ask before you ride. It exists to join two things on a map rather than to be walked for itself.

Canyon of Fools Trail covers 1.2 miles in the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. It is signed as trail 174F, a number worth noting because junctions in this area can be confusing. Grades run 5 to 8 percent, so the walking is moderate rather than steep. The tread is native material, dirt and rock with loose patches, and it is rated trail class 2, meaning a path that is clear but never smoothed. It suits an hour or two outdoors and links with other routes nearby. Carry water and check conditions before you set out.

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.