SEDONA MOUNTAIN BIKING
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to get to from Phoenix | Very hot for summer riding |
| Shoulder season mecca | Very touristy, think pink jeep tours. Just pass them while you bike and wave |
| Free camping | Lots of noisy ATVs |
| Lots of trails for the advanced to the expert rider to test out their skills |
Sedona is considered by many one of the most beautiful places in America to visit. Geographically, Sedona rests in a transition zone between the Colorado Plateau and Upper Sonoran Desert. This sacred and powerful place is home to several spiritual energy vortexes, as well as an extensive trail system with unparalleled options for mountain biking and hiking. Sedona offers astounding red rock vistas and is a perfect destination for the off-season months when the rest of the country’s trails are covered in snow.
MUST RIDE SEDONA TRAILS
Sedona has so many incredible trails for mountain biking – mainly in the Intermediate/Advanced category, but some beginner-friendly options exist. Sedona mountain bike trails are broken up into 5 main riding areas:
Village of Oak Creek
- 42 trails with mix of beginner/intermediate/advanced/expert
- 42 miles of trails around the Village of Oak Creek south of Sedona
- Trails wind around iconic Sedona scenery like Courthouse Butte and Cathedral Rock
Dry Creek
- 66 trails with mix of beginner/intermediate/advanced
- An astounding 111 miles of trails encompassing Adobe Jack area and some newer trails at the Girdner Cultural Park trailhead
- Range of trail types from technical slickrock to flowy desert singletrack
Broken Arrow
- 22 trails with intermediate/advanced/expert
- 16 miles of trails just south of town
- Stunning Twin Buttes red rock vistas and vortexes
Adobe Jack
- 37 trails with mix of beginner/intermediate/advanced
- 30 miles of trails on the north side of Sedona
- Classic Sedona red rock views, popular trails like Chuckwagon & Mescal
Carroll Canyon
- 25 trails with primarily intermediate/advanced
- 29 miles of trails southwest of Sedona
- Fun flowing intermediate trails with views to Red Rock State Park
For more Sedona mtb trail recommendations, check out our 6 best intermediate rides in Sedona article.
SEDONA IS BEST KNOWN FOR
- Off-season riding. When it’s too cold in the rest of the country, head down to Sedona to mountain bike. Sedona is probably the best known mountain bike town in Arizona… for good reason.
- It’s spiritual energy and vortexes!
WHERE TO RENT BIKES IN SEDONA
- Rent a mountain bike online at Sedona Bike and Bean, and grab a latte from them pre-ride.
- Thunder Mountain Sedona also carries the hottest line up of mountain bikes from several amazing brands.
SEDONA GUIDED MOUNTAIN BIKE TOURS & LESSONS
Looking for a local to guide you to the best Sedona mountain bike trails, or help you brush up on your mtb skills?
- Sedona Mountain Bike Academy offers beginner through advanced mountain bike clinics and lessons!
- Hermosa Tours offers personalized, custom guided bike tours throughout the red rock trails of Sedona.
WHERE TO CAMP FOR FREE IN SEDONA
- There are several options for free camping, we camped off the main drag 525 which was slightly busy, but gave us quick access to town and getting to trails
- Road 525 (or Loy Butte Rd) can be busy, but make sure you stick to one of the established parking/camping spots and don’t just forge your own spot in the desert.
- Please make sure to leave no trace and pack everything out (that includes your poo!). These materials don’t break down in the dry desert, so burying human waste is a no-no here.
OTHER SEDONA OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
BEST TIME TO VISIT SEDONA
- Spring and fall are the best times to visit, it’s very hot in the summer
- Winter can be a great time to ride too, temps are usually in the 50s in Dec/Jan and up to the 60s by February – it’s also the best time to save money on hotels and other accommodation
