Ward Trail

This is a 1.38 mile path in the Coconino National Forest. It sits in the Mogollon Rim Ranger District, within reach of Sedona, Arizona. It carries the number 231B and is held to class 3 standards. Mark where you leave the car. Junctions look alike once you are in the trees. Bring water and sun cover, and start early when the days are warm. Conditions change with storms and fire season, so check with the Mogollon Rim Ranger District before the drive. Time on foot depends on your pace, the heat, and how often you stop to look around.

Walkers heading out from Sedona, Arizona will find Rock Rut Trail at 0.71 miles long, in the Mogollon Rim Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. It carries the number 249 and is held to class 3 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 Mogollon Rim Ranger District is the place to ask. Leave what you find, pack out your trash, and stay on the worn line to spare the soil.

A short drive from Sedona, Arizona, Howard Trail runs 6.03 miles through the Coconino National Forest and is looked after by the Mogollon Rim Ranger District. It carries the number 234 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 Mogollon Rim Ranger District first if you want to know about fire limits or a temporary closure. Distances shown are for the path itself, not for any loop you piece together with other trails.

Big Bear Trail is public land walking in the Coconino National Forest, 0.67 miles of it, managed by the Mogollon Rim Ranger District close to Sedona, Arizona. It carries the number 232 and is held to class 3 standards. Rain and snowmelt can leave the footing slick, and washes may hold water for a day or two. Pack water and a hat. Shade comes and goes, and afternoons heat up fast. The Mogollon Rim Ranger District can tell you about closures and any pass you need to leave a car at the start.

Howard Spur Trail covers 3.38 miles inside the Mogollon Rim Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest, on the public land around Sedona, Arizona. It carries the number 234A and is held to class 3 standards. Cool mornings are the easier time to walk it, and light fades quickly in the canyons. Sturdy shoes help, and so does an early start in summer. Ask the Mogollon Rim Ranger District about current conditions and where you may park at the start. Weekend mornings draw the most people, and midweek is quieter.

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.