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Rating System | GREEN : Trail system/Trail typically rideable after 1-2 days of warm, sunny weather YELLOW: Trail system/Trail typically rideable after 2-4 days of warm, sunny weather RED: Trail system/Trail typically rideable after 4–7 days of warm, sunny weather |
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Adobe Jack Area |
Carroll Canyon (Best Zone) | Carroll Canyon is the go-to recommended trail system when weather events hit Sedona. The area is rocky and predominantly south facing, so it tends to dry out faster. Start your ride from the Sedona High School/Red Rock Loop THs. Trails close to Shelby Rd/Old Post TH parking lot can get muddy. Stay off the sections of Old Post & Ridge that are closer to Shelby Road, as they have wash crossings that can be difficult to cross. Suggested Route 1 > Suggested Route 2 > |
RIDES: |
GREEN : rideable after 1-2 days Skywalker | YELLOW : rideable after 2-4 days Ridge Stick to the Skywalker side of these trails and avoid the side closer to Shelby, you’ll be less likely to hit mud and water in the wash crossings. Secret Slick Rock can be muddy near the parking lot down to Ridge. Scorpion These trails have a bit different soil composition, and they do have some clay areas. | RED: rideable after 4–7 days Rams Head Take Chavez Road to connect to Old Post, Ridge, Secret Slick Rock. |
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Western Gateway | Western Gateway is one of the better areas to ride after weather events. However, Dry Creek crossings are required on many of the trails, so you will need to plan wisely to avoid getting wet or stuck. Start from the Dry Creek Aerie TH. Some of the north facing trails are tree covered, thus taking longer to dry out. Little is rideable for a few days from Girdner TH. Suggested Route 1 - Aerie (Longer) > Suggested Route 2 - Aeria (Shorter) > Suggested Route 3 - Girdner > |
RIDES: |
GREEN : rideable after 1-2 days Roundabout You will want to start your rides from the Dry Creek/ Aerie TH to hit Outer Limits and avoid the section after Last Frontier, as it takes you to a Dry Creek crossing. | YELLOW : rideable after 2-4 days Axis These trails require crossing Dry Creek to ride their full lengths. Girdner is best out of the Girdner TH, but it drops you to the Dry Creek crossing and the Girdner sections after the crossing towards Saddle Up are in the shade and the section from Rupp to Snake follows a drainage and both are typically muddy. Axis tends to stay muddy from Lasso down to the Dry Creek crossing, so it’s best ridden from Bolo back to the Aerie TH. Stirrup Stirrup tends to get muddy from Lasso to Saddle Up, so it should be avoided for a few days. Saddle Up and Lasso both tend to dry out quickly. If Stirrup looks good, Lasso and Saddle Up make a decent small loop. Rover connects you to Rupp from Axis, but Rupp can be muddy for a few days. | RED : rideable after 4–7 days Ledge-n-Airy |
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Adobe Jack/Teacup | Adobe Jack/Teacup has some decent options to ride after a few days. Suggested Route 1 - Thunder Mountain > Suggested Route 2 - Soldiers Wash > |
RIDES: |
GREEN : rideable after 1-2 days Thunder Mountain Chimney Rock Andante | YELLOW : rideable after 2-4 days Jordan Crusty Javelina Grand Central Manzanita Coyote Plunge Parts of Grand Central from Ant Hill down to Adobe Jack can be muddy for longer. And Manzanita to Adobe Jack from Grand Central should be avoided for a while, as Adobe Jack is typically muddy for several days. Coyote connects to Adobe Jack, as well, so it’s not a great option other than as an out and back. This area has lots of deep tracks as riders/hikers are going off trail and going around puddles. | RED : rideable after 4–7 days Teacup Sugar Loaf Adobe Jack |
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Villiage of Oak Creek (VOC) | VOC is a mixed bag. Rabbit Ears provides the best, quickest option for a loop. Slim Shady and Llama can be good after a few days. Hiline is typically muddy and dangerous for several days. Suggested Route 1 - Rabbit Ears Loop > Suggested Route 2 - Slim-Llama > |
RIDES: |
GREEN : rideable after 1-2 days Rabbit Ears Little Rock Big Park Loop Bell Rock Path | YELLOW : rideable after 2-4 days Slim Shady Llama Templeton Easy Breezy Hermit Coconino HT Bail | RED : rideable after 4–7 days Hiline Baldwin Made in the Shade Transept Phone Bell Rock ST Bypass |
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Dry Creek | Dry Creek is a challenging area to ride after weather events, other than the routes outlined above that go out to Western Gateway. There are individual trails that dry out quickly, but it is challenging to string together a loop that avoids mud for several days. SUGGESTED ROUTES: GO TO WESTERN GATEWAY Or do the out and backs on Mescal, Long Canyon & Yucca and Anaconda. |
RIDES: |
GREEN : rideable after 1-2 days Mescal Long Canyon Anaconda Oak Yucca These trails are rocky or sandy and tend to dry out quickly; however, there is no good way to string them together with other trails to do a loop without running into muddy conditions. If you really want to ride them, do them as out and backs to avoid getting on the surrounding muddy trails. | RED : rideable after 4–7 days Deadmans Pass Aerie Cockscomb Canyon of Fools Rupp Dawa Snake OK AZ Cypress Two Fence Lizard Head Chuckwagon |
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Broken Arrow | Most of these trails get muddy and/or are dangerous to ride during freeze/thaw cycles. SUGGESTED ROUTES: GO TO ADOBE JACK / TEACUP Mystic, Broken Arrow and Little Horse can be ridden as out and backs or access into the VOC; however, there are not great routes available in these areas for several days. |
RIDES: |
YELLOW : rideable after 2-4 days Broken Arrow Little Horse Mystic These trails provide access to the VOC trail system. These are fairly rocky and/or sandy and tend to dry out after a few days. | RED : rideable after 4–7 days High On The Hog Hog Heaven Pig Tail Peccary Hog Wash |
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Schnebly Hill | These trails are dangerous to ride during freeze/thaw cycles. SUGGESTED ROUTES: GO TO ADOBE JACK / TEACUP |
RIDES: |
RED : rideable after 4–7 days Hangover Munds Wagon |
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FAQs When is it too soon to hit the trails? Your... • Leaving a visible tire track of an inch+ • Carrying mud on your tires and can’t see your tire knobs • Kicking up signifcant amounts of mud onto your bike frame If you are experiencing one of these conditions on a trail, turn around and pick another route. What if there are puddles on the trails, but I’m not picking up mud? This is generally fine riding conditions. Don’t go around puddles, which often leads to trail widening. Go through the puddles to keep the single track, single. When should I be concerned about going out? The worst time of year is the Winter. If there is a substantial snowfall and the temperatures are below freezing at night and above freezing during the day, the trails go through a freeze/thaw cycle. This turns trails into a muddy, saturated mess. The cycle continues until the temperatures rise high enough to dry out the trails during the day and/or they do not freeze overnight. Early in the morning during the freeze/thaw cycle, most of the trails will still be frozen and are OK to ride. Typically finishing your ride prior to 11am is safe. As far as the remainder of the year, the trails typically absorb even heavy downpours fairly quickly. However, many of the creek crossings can become difficult to navigate with significant rain or snow events. If the trails do not get a day or two to dry out and another rain or snow event occurs, they can become saturated, and it can take 2-5+ days for the trails to be suitable to ride again. | Other Considerations These are common correct opinions: • Mother Nature causes more damage to the trails. • The soil in Sedona fixes itself, so it’s fine to ride whenever, regardless of the trail conditions. However, consider these factors: • Red Rock Trail Crew and many volunteers work all winter/spring to create drainages to get water off the trails, so they dry out more quickly. Drainages also assist in keeping the soils on the trail, thus minimizing potential ruts and erosion. When you ride during muddy conditions, these drainages are compromised thus resulting in longer periods with mud, ruts, and a loss of soil. • We love Sedona due to the beautiful trail systems. Be part of keeping our trails looking and riding great every day! |
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The VVCC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2003 (incorporated in March 2004) to promote road and mountain bike advocacy in, and around, the Verde Valley of Northern Arizona.
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