Best Canine Hike in Sedona, Arizona
Sedona likes to call itself “the day hike capital of the country” and your dog will not bark in disagreement. More than 300 miles of non-motorized trails traverse the Red Rock Ranger District that surrounds the resort community. There are so many fantastic canine hikes in Sedona that any of five trails - Boynton Canyon, Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte Loop, Devil’s Bridge or Fay Canyon - could win the Waggie. So many in fact that those five could be replaced by five others that could all win the Waggie. And let’s do just that with five other nominees…
Airport Loop Trail
This loop circles Airport Mesa near the center of town for about 3.5 miles, picking up an elevation gain of over 200 feet in the journey. On view the entire way are Sedona’s red rock landmarks in every direction - Elephant Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Cathedral Rock, the Sedona Pyramid, Chimney Rocks, Capitol Butte (the highest of Sedona’s red rock peaks), Coffee Pot Rock, Steamboat Rock...well, you get the idea. They are all on display; about the only thing your dog won’t see on the Airport Loop Trail is the airport.
Doe Mountain Trail
Doe Mountain, a flat top mesa in the western part of town, stakes its Waggie candidacy on views as well. The out-and-back affair gathers over 500 feet to the top and half of the 1.2 miles is easy going across the mesa. Keep going to the far end for 360-degree vistas of red rock country. You’ll find fewer trail users making the ascent although the crowds are likely to increase later in the day to experience one of Sedona’s best sunsets.
Little Horse Trail
The early going on Little Horse Trail rolls along an old jeep road in its early stretches through fragrant stands of juniper. A short detour leads to the photogenic Chapel of the Holy jutting out of the mountainside. The destination is Chicken Point at the base of the impressive “Madonna and the Nuns” spire rock formation after 1.5 miles. Stop and turn around along the way for iconic views of the Sedona landscape. Further exploring down the Broken Arrow Trail will lead to Submarine Rock - signature rocks are everywhere in Sedona. As a bonus, pools and small waterfalls enliven the Little Horse washes after a rain.
Soldier Pass-Jordan-Brins Mesa Loop
The Soldier Pass-Jordan-Brins Mesa Loop is one that starts right on the north edge of town, just up the road from the dog park. Despite the proximity to civilization this canine hike will quickly immerse trail tramps in the deep green juniper forest and brilliant red and orange rock formations for which Sedona is famous. The course pushes through the manzanita and velvet mesquite of the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness before it bursts into the open. There are long, unobstructed views with your dog of noted landmarks - Coffee Pot Rock, Wilson Mountain, Steamboat Rock and others.
West Fork Trail
They say one million people a year come to hike the trails in Sedona - and this is the most popular trail in the Coconino National Forest. No doubt your dog will want to see what all the fuss is about. The West Fork Trail begins with a stroll through an historic apple orchard dating back to the 1880s. Then the level path visits the ruins of the Mayhew Lodge whose buildings were consumed in a fire in 1980. In its hey- day Hollywood stars like Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, and Maureen O’Hara all frequented the rustic cabins here. Shortly you reach the West Fork of the Oak Creek and canine hearts start to race. Oak Creek Canyon is a serpentine passageway under white limestone and red sandstone cliffs that soar over 1,000 feet high. Dogs will no doubt love the 13 crossings of one of the few year-round streams in the Sedona high desert. The canyon is 14 miles long but most people call it quits at three miles.
And the Waggie Award for Best Canine Hike In Sand Dunes (Inland Division) goes to...White Sands National Park!
The dunes are not as imposing as others in the height game but instead of climbing just one or two your dog will have miles of bowls and dunes to play in across the white sands. There are even 6.2 miles of marked trails, including five on the Alkili Flats Trail. To follow along your dog can choose between maximum fun plowing up and down the dunes on the shortest route to the next post or save energy by navigating around the bowls. For what it is worth, the gypsum sands pack tighter than other dunes making it a less strenuous journey. Since White Sands became a National Monument in 1933 dogs have been welcome anywhere in the dunes. The park moved up a pay grade to national park status in 2019 and hopefully nothing will change on that score.