The Ultimate Sedona Cycling Guide

📍 Trailhead Access: Yavapai Vista Trailhead (Sedona, AZ)

🚴 Distance: ~9 miles (typical Slim Shady → Hiline → Baldwin → Templeton loop)

⬆️ Elevation Gain: ~1,100–1,300 ft

⏱ Ride Time: 1.5–3 hours depending on pace

⚠️ Difficulty: Advanced – Expert (significant exposure & technical features)

Hiline is one of Sedona’s most iconic rides, a high-exposure red-rock traverse with dramatic cliffside bench cut, a demanding climb to the mesa, and a slickrock descent packed with steep chutes and technical moves. Most riders begin at the Yavapai Vista Trailhead, using Slim Shady as a warmup before committing to Hiline’s main ridge.

Once the trail tips upward, riders grind through punchy sandstone climbs and navigate narrow sidehill singletrack with sweeping views across Cathedral Rock and Oak Creek. The trail’s upper shelf is the highlight: a stunning yet exposed ribbon of dirt carved into the cliffside, where precise line choice and steady handling are essential.

The descent is equally memorable, long stretches of smooth slickrock, ledgy roll-downs, and several steep, technical drops that demand confidence. Hiline eventually feeds into the Baldwin and Templeton trails, creating a full-value loop that feels like a complete Sedona experience: scenery, challenge, and nonstop rock features.

This trail is unforgiving in places, with real-consequence exposure and moves that can’t be forced. Riders should assess their limits honestly and walk features when needed. For advanced and expert mountain bikers, Hiline stands as one of Sedona’s must-ride masterpieces.

📍 Trailhead Access: Broken Arrow Trailhead (Sedona, AZ)

🚴 Distance: ~3.5–5 miles depending on route (High on the Hog → Hog Heaven → Hog Wash)

⬆️ Elevation Gain: ~600–650 ft

⏱ Ride Time: 1–2 hours

⚠️ Difficulty: Advanced – Expert (double-black features, exposure, technical rock moves)

Hogs Loop is a crown jewel of Sedona riding, blending exposed slickrock traverses, puzzle-piece technical features, and stunning red-rock scenery into one compact, high-energy loop. Riders typically start at the Broken Arrow Trailhead—one of the few lots that doesn't require a Red Rocks parking pass, and warm up along Broken Arrow before branching onto High on the Hog, the first of the three trails that make up this classic route.

The loop quickly delivers the full Sedona experience: narrow ledges, cryptic rock sequences, and precision riding across sculpted sandstone. High on the Hog sets the tone with a blend of climbing moves, cliffside exposure, and panoramic views. Hog Heaven continues the theme with steeper rolls and more committing lines, while Hog Wash threads through a maze of chunky, up-and-down rock moves that test handling, power, and timing.

Along the way, riders can detour to Chicken Point, a must-see overlook that draws Jeep tours, hikers, and bikers throughout the day. It’s also the best vantage point for the legendary, and rarely ridden, White Line, one of Sedona’s most iconic and intimidating rock features.

The full loop is short on mileage but big on technical challenge, rewarding advanced riders with nonstop features and unforgettable scenery. Those looking to extend the ride can tack on Pigtail for a fast, playful jump line, or climb back via Peccary before reconnecting to Hog Wash and Broken Arrow.

For riders confident on double-black terrain, Hogs Loop is an essential Sedona ride, compact, demanding, and incredibly fun.

📍 Trailhead Access: Bell Rock Vista Trailhead (Sedona, AZ)

🚴 Distance: ~2.6 miles (varies with connecting loops)

⬆️ Elevation Gain: ~250–300 ft

⏱ Ride Time: 30–60 minutes

⚠️ Difficulty: Strong Intermediate | Beginner-Friendly With Walkable Features

Slim Shady is one of Sedona’s most popular intermediate trails, known for its smooth red-dirt tread, playful rollers, and endless linking opportunities. Starting just across the street from the Bell Rock Vista Trailhead, the trail wastes no time delivering twisty singletrack, punchy little climbs, and fun dips across dry washes. It’s far less rocky than many of Sedona’s advanced routes, making it a go-to warm-up lap or a perfect introduction for riders stepping into Sedona terrain for the first time.

The trail flows north toward connections with Made in the Shade, Templeton, Hiline, and several classic loop options. With well-marked intersections and a recommended northbound direction, Slim Shady serves as one of the best connectors in the Bell Rock trail zone, letting riders link scenic, mellow miles or ramp up into more technical terrain if they choose.

Most of the riding is intermediate-level, with roughly 10% beginner and 20% advanced features sprinkled in. Expect packed red dirt mixed with small rock sections, optional slickrock lines, and short bursts of climbing that keep things interesting without being overwhelming. Views of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte appear throughout the ride, adding to the peaceful, iconic Sedona backdrop.

For anyone building a loop in the Village of Oak Creek area, Slim Shady is an essential trail, fun, flowy, approachable, and a perfect gateway to the rest of Sedona’s world-class riding.

📍 Trailhead Access: Dry Creek Vista Trailhead or Long Canyon Road

🚴 Distance: ~5.3 miles (base loop)

⬆️ Elevation Gain: ~600 ft

⏱ Ride Time: 1.5–3 hours depending on pace

⚠️ Difficulty: Intermediate – Advanced

Chuckwagon is one of Sedona’s most beloved intermediate-to-advanced loops, blending playful red-dirt singletrack with classic slickrock riding, rolling terrain, and wide-open views of the Dry Creek basin. It’s often the first “real” Sedona ride recommended to visitors because it offers a perfect sampler of the area’s terrain without the extreme exposure found on trails like Hiline or Hangover.

The loop begins at the Dry Creek Vista Trailhead, dropping nearly 150 feet in the opening mile, before easing into flowing singletrack that winds in and out of sculpted slickrock washes. Short rock steps, tech punches, and twisty forested sidehill keep the ride engaging, especially when pedaled counter-clockwise (widely considered the better direction). As the trail climbs gradually toward Brins Mesa and crosses Long Canyon Road, the scenery opens into piñon and juniper forest before transitioning into a fun, fast descent toward Mescal Mountain.

Riders can finish the loop here or extend the adventure by linking Chuckwagon into Mescal, Deadman’s Pass, and Long Canyon for a full figure-eight route, one of Sedona’s best moderate-difficulty half-day rides. Expect packed-dirt tread with rocky sections, chunks of exposed slickrock, and a mix of 10% beginner, 50% intermediate, and 40% advanced features. The views along the way, especially toward Boynton Canyon, are classic Sedona and make this route a must-do for any visiting rider.

Chuckwagon earns its reputation as the ideal warm-up for Sedona. It’s scenic, varied, incredibly fun, and a gateway to nearly all the major Dry Creek trail networks.

📍 Trail Access: Schuerman Trailhead (north) or Upper Red Rock Loop / Chavez Rd lot (south)

🚴 Distance: ~2.4 miles (Scorpion) • +1.2 miles with Pyramid

⬆️ Elevation Gain: ~350–400 ft depending direction

⏱ Ride Time: 45–90 minutes

⚠️ Difficulty: Intermediate – Advanced

Scorpion is one of Sedona’s most dynamic intermediate-to-advanced trails, running between Red Rock High School and Upper Red Rock Loop Road. It’s a multi-directional, multi-use route, so riders must stay alert, but in the downhill direction (north to south), Scorpion is a blast of twisty red dirt, embedded basalt rock, quick rollers, and technical pockets that keep you engaged from start to finish. Intermediate riders will find plenty of challenge without overwhelming exposure, and advanced riders can really open it up while staying mindful of uphill traffic.

Halfway down, riders reach the junction with Pyramid, a 1.2-mile optional extension that’s steeper, rougher, and more technical. Strong riders often take Pyramid for an extra dose of chunky descending and ledgy climbing; others continue down Scorpion for a smoother run to the lower lot. When ridden uphill, Scorpion becomes an important connector to Skywalker and Herkenham, offering short rocky pitches that test balance and power but remain rideable for most skilled intermediates.

Expect a mix of compact dirt, basalt chunks, and fun, undulating terrain that rewards momentum. Scorpion has become a go-to for riders looking for a shorter, high-quality trail with big grin factor, especially when paired with Pyramid or routes that climb toward Skywalker.