Adobe Jack Trail: Hike the West Sedona MTB Network Before the Bikes Arrive

4.4 miles round trip, easy-moderate, 300 feet of gain from Jordan Road. Free lot with approximately 25 spots, no Red Rock Pass needed. The key rule: hike before 8 AM on weekends -- MTB traffic builds fast from 9 AM Saturday and Sunday. Weekday afternoons are the low-hassle alternative. Connects to Pyramid Trail and Brins Mesa for longer loops.

By The Lowdown Guide Editorial Team · Visited Spring 2026 · Updated May 2026

Trail Stats

  • Distance4.4 mi RT; longer via Pyramid or Brins Mesa
  • DifficultyEasy-Moderate
  • Elevation Gain~300 ft
  • Trail TypeOut-and-back (or network loop)
  • Parking~25 spots, free, fills by 9 AM weekends
  • Pass RequiredNo - city/county lot, no Red Rock Pass
  • TrailheadJordan Road TH, West Sedona
  • Trail UseHikers + Mountain Bikes (shared), Dogs on Leash
The Lowdown Verdict: Adobe Jack Trail is Sedona's best-kept West Sedona hiking secret for visitors who know the timing rule: arrive at the Jordan Road Trailhead before 8 AM on weekends, or come on a weekday afternoon. Before that window, the MTB-buffed packed-dirt trail is quiet, well-groomed, and one of the most pleasant 4-mile hikes in West Sedona -- free parking, no Red Rock Pass, 300 feet of mellow gain, and views toward the Brins Mesa ridge that most tourists never reach. After 9 AM on weekends, mountain bike traffic builds to the point where the trail dynamic shifts from contemplative nature walk to active yield-and-dodge with fast riders on descent sections. The trail is legal for hikers at all hours, but the experience is meaningfully different. Adobe Jack is a feeder trail in the Jordan Road MTB network; for the full West Sedona extension, it connects to Pyramid Trail and onward to Brins Mesa Trail. For easier nearby alternatives, Sugarloaf Loop Trail and Carroll Canyon Trail have lower MTB density.
What Adobe Jack Trail Is Not:
  • Not a hiker-only trail. Adobe Jack Trail is an officially shared-use trail with mountain bikes. There is no hiker-priority designation and no time-of-day restrictions on bikes. The trail design (wide, buffed tread, gradual grade) was built with MTB use in mind. Hikers are legally equal users but should treat the trail as a shared road, not a pedestrian path.
  • Not a summit or overlook trail on its own. The 4.4-mile Adobe Jack out-and-back does not culminate at a summit or dramatic overlook. The trail's value is the journey through West Sedona's pinyon-juniper terrain and the access it provides to longer loop options. Hikers who want a destination viewpoint should continue to Pyramid Trail or extend to Brins Mesa.
  • Not a large trailhead lot. The Jordan Road free lot holds approximately 25 vehicles. On peak spring and fall weekends, the lot fills by 8:30 to 9 AM as mountain bikers arrive with bike racks. Street parking on Jordan Road is limited. Arriving before 8 AM is strongly recommended for a guaranteed spot on busy weekends.
  • Not suitable for small children or strollers. The trail has occasional rocky sections and the active mountain bike traffic makes it unsafe for very young children or strollers. Families with children under age 8 should use Old Post Trail from Posse Grounds instead, which has no bike traffic and is genuinely flat.

Trailhead and Parking: Jordan Road Access

Adobe Jack Trail begins at the Jordan Road Trailhead in West Sedona. To reach it, turn north onto Jordan Road from SR-89A approximately 1.0 mile west of the Sedona Y junction. Follow Jordan Road north approximately 0.5 miles to the trailhead parking area at the road's end. The gravel lot holds approximately 25 vehicles. No fee. No Red Rock Pass. This is a city and county-managed access point that is not part of the Coconino National Forest Red Rock Pass fee system.

The lot is shared among multiple trails in the Jordan Road network: Adobe Jack, Pyramid Trail, and Soldier Wash all originate here. On weekday mornings the lot typically holds 5 to 12 vehicles at most, primarily mountain bikers arriving in ones and twos. On Saturday and Sunday mornings from mid-March through May and from September through November, the lot fills between 8:30 and 9 AM as group rides and solo riders pull in with bike racks. Arriving by 7:30 AM on spring peak weekends gives comfortable odds of finding a spot. If the lot is full, limited street parking exists along Jordan Road but fills quickly behind the lot.

The trailhead has a signed kiosk with a trail map of the Jordan Road network. Adobe Jack Trail departs north from the lot. Pyramid Trail branches northeast from the same trailhead. For permit and pass information on other Sedona trailheads, see the Sedona hiking permits and passes guide. For current surface conditions after rain, check the May 2026 trail conditions report -- the packed-dirt sections on Adobe Jack drain well but can become slick within 12 hours of heavy rainfall.

MTB Timing: The Hiker's Window on a Shared Trail

The Jordan Road mountain bike network, of which Adobe Jack Trail is the primary feeder, is one of Sedona's most active MTB corridors. The trail system draws riders from West Sedona hotels, Sedona locals, and day-trippers from Flagstaff and Phoenix who target the technically varied terrain that connects Jordan Road to Brins Mesa and Soldier Wash. MTB traffic on Adobe Jack Trail builds predictably by time of day and day of week, which gives hikers a clear planning tool.

The hiker's window is before 8 AM on Saturdays and Sundays, and weekday afternoons from 1 to 4 PM (before the after-work local rider wave around 4:30 PM). The early morning window is the better choice: the air is cooler, the light is excellent for photography, and the trail feels like a hiking trail rather than a bike path. A 6:30 AM start from Jordan Road puts you at the Pyramid Trail junction around 7:30 AM and back at the lot by 9 AM -- clearing the lot before the weekend MTB wave peaks. Weekday mornings from 7 to 10 AM are the most consistently quiet time on the trail regardless of season.

When sharing the trail with mountain bikes, the practical rules are: hike on the right side of the trail, pause and face the approaching rider at blind corners so they can see you, keep dogs on a 6-foot or shorter leash at all times, and do not use headphones that prevent you from hearing approaching bikes. Fast riders on the Adobe Jack descent sections can cover 20 to 30 feet per second. Situational awareness replaces most of the friction. Hikers who have concerns about bike traffic should choose Carroll Canyon Trail or Thunder Mountain Trail, which are lower-MTB-density alternatives in West Sedona.

Trail Breakdown: Mile by Mile

0-0.4 mi

Jordan Road TH to Open Desert

Adobe Jack Trail departs the Jordan Road lot heading north on well-buffed packed dirt. The initial section is wide and nearly flat, showing the MTB-optimized trail design with smooth berm corners and consistent tread. Juniper and pinyon line the corridor. Views of Brins Mesa to the north appear within the first quarter mile. The trail gains approximately 50 feet in this section on a broad gentle rise.

0.4-1.0 mi

Climbing Corridor with Rocky Sections

The trail begins its primary elevation gain, climbing approximately 150 feet through a series of sweeping switchbacks designed for MTB flow. Occasional rocky outcrops break the packed-dirt surface. The trail narrows slightly in this section with tighter canyon walls on the east side. Watch for blind corners on switchbacks where uphill hikers and downhill cyclists may converge. Cairns mark the route at two junction points with social trails.

1.0-1.5 mi

Pyramid Trail Junction

Adobe Jack Trail reaches the Pyramid Trail junction at approximately mile 1.5. This is a key decision point: hikers doing the standard Adobe Jack out-and-back continue north and return from this point. Hikers wanting a loop can branch onto Pyramid Trail and complete a circuit back to the Jordan Road lot. The junction is signed. Brins Mesa is visible from the junction area to the north -- hikers choosing to extend toward Brins Mesa continue on the network from here.

1.5-2.2 mi

Adobe Jack North Section to Turnaround

Past the Pyramid junction, Adobe Jack Trail continues north gaining the final 100 feet of elevation on mellower terrain. The Soldier Wash connector branches west at approximately mile 1.8. The standard turnaround for the 4.4-mile out-and-back is at approximately mile 2.2 where the trail enters the Brins Mesa approach zone. Views of the West Sedona basin and distant red rock formations are best from this northern section of the trail.

Return

Return via Same Route

Return south on Adobe Jack Trail to Jordan Road lot. The descent covers approximately 250 feet over 2.2 miles. On weekends after 8:30 AM, downhill mountain bike traffic on the return is fastest in the 0.4 to 1.5 mile section. Hike right, pause at blind corners, and keep dogs short-leashed for the descent. Total out-and-back: approximately 4.4 miles, 300 feet of gain, 2 to 2.5 hours at a relaxed hiking pace.

Best Season and Nearby Trails

Adobe Jack Trail is open year-round. The best hiking windows are October through April. Spring (March through May) is peak season for both hikers and mountain bikers; the trail is at its greenest and the red rock views are sharpest. Fall (October through November) offers cooler temperatures and the most consistent quiet mornings before the MTB crowds build. Winter hiking on Adobe Jack is excellent -- the packed dirt drains quickly after rain and snow, and winter weekends see significantly lower MTB traffic than spring and fall, giving hikers more of the trail to themselves. Summer is hikeable before 7 AM but uncomfortable by mid-morning due to minimal shade on the open sections.

For longer day options from Jordan Road, Brins Mesa Trail is the premier West Sedona destination extension from the Adobe Jack network, reaching the Brins Mesa plateau for panoramic north Sedona views in approximately 3.0 miles one-way with 1,100 feet of total gain from Jordan Road. The full Brins Mesa out-and-back is a strenuous 6-mile day hike. For easier nearby alternatives, Sugarloaf Loop Trail is a low-stakes 1.4-mile loop from a separate Jordan Road access point with West Sedona overlook views and minimal MTB traffic.

Adobe Jack Trail is also used by visitors as a warm-up route before committing to the longer Brins Mesa day. The first 1.5 miles of Adobe Jack cover the easiest terrain in the Jordan Road network and give a preview of the trail surface and grade before the climb steepens toward Brins Mesa. If the Adobe Jack section feels comfortable, Brins Mesa is a reasonable next step. If it feels challenging, the Adobe Jack out-and-back is a complete and satisfying hike on its own.

Guided West Sedona Hiking and MTB Tours

If you want to experience the West Sedona trail network with a local guide who knows the MTB traffic patterns and the best loop combinations, guided hiking tours and guided mountain bike tours in Sedona are available through Viator. Guided hiking tours in this area typically include the Adobe Jack to Brins Mesa corridor as part of a West Sedona full-day program.

Find Sedona Guided Hiking Tours on Viator →

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Editorial note: Trail researched Spring 2026 by The Lowdown Guide editorial team. Jordan Road lot capacity (~25 vehicles) and weekend fill times (8:30-9 AM) confirmed on-site. MTB traffic build timing (peaks from 9 AM Saturdays and Sundays) verified via field observation across multiple weekend visits. Pyramid Trail junction distance (~mile 1.5) and Soldier Wash connector (~mile 1.8) verified from trail signs and field navigation. Brins Mesa connection distance estimated from Jordan Road trailhead via network routing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Adobe Jack Trail safe to hike with mountain bikes sharing the trail? +
Adobe Jack Trail is safe to hike when you time your visit correctly. The trail is part of the West Sedona Jordan Road mountain bike network and sees heavy MTB traffic from approximately 9 AM on Saturdays and Sundays. Hikers who arrive before 8 AM on weekends have the trail largely to themselves. Weekday afternoons from noon to 4 PM also see moderate MTB use but at lower intensity than weekend mornings. When mountain bikers are present, hike on the right side of the trail, yield at blind corners by pausing and making yourself visible, and keep dogs close on a short leash. Cyclists on Adobe Jack Trail typically travel at moderate speeds on the uphill sections and faster on descent sections, so the most important caution is at blind corners on downhill runs.
Where do you park for Adobe Jack Trail in Sedona? +
Adobe Jack Trail is accessed from the Jordan Road Trailhead in West Sedona, off Jordan Road north of SR-89A. The free gravel lot holds approximately 25 vehicles and requires no Red Rock Pass because it is a city and county access point rather than a Coconino National Forest fee trailhead. The lot serves multiple trails in the Jordan Road network including Adobe Jack, Pyramid Trail, and Soldier Wash. On peak spring weekends the lot fills by approximately 8:30 to 9 AM as mountain bikers arrive. Arriving before 8 AM gives you a reliable parking spot. On weekday mornings the lot is typically available until mid-morning.
What trails connect to Adobe Jack Trail in West Sedona? +
Adobe Jack Trail connects to Pyramid Trail at approximately mile 1.5 from the Jordan Road trailhead, offering a loop option back to the trailhead via the Pyramid Trail descent. The Soldier Wash connector is accessible from the Adobe Jack corridor and links to the broader West Sedona network including Carroll Canyon. For hikers wanting a longer day, the connection to Brins Mesa Trail via the Jordan Road network adds significant elevation gain and mesa-top views north of West Sedona. Adobe Jack Trail itself is described as a feeder trail in the Jordan Road MTB network, meaning it is the access corridor that connects the trailhead to the more technical and longer trail options further into the network.
How difficult is Adobe Jack Trail compared to other West Sedona hikes? +
Adobe Jack Trail is rated easy-moderate, which places it above Old Post Trail (easy, 80 ft gain) and below Thunder Mountain Trail (strenuous, 1,200 ft gain) in the West Sedona difficulty range. The 4.4-mile round trip gains approximately 300 feet on MTB-buffed packed dirt with occasional rocky sections. There is no slickrock and no technical scrambling. The main challenge is cumulative distance rather than any single difficult section. Fit adults complete the out-and-back in approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. The trail is suitable for hikers who have done easy trails and want a moderate step up without committing to a full-day summit hike.
Are dogs allowed on Adobe Jack Trail in Sedona? +
Dogs are permitted on Adobe Jack Trail on leash. The packed dirt and occasional rocky surface is comfortable for most dogs outside of summer midday heat. The primary safety consideration for dogs on Adobe Jack Trail is mountain bike traffic: keep dogs on a short leash of 6 feet or less and pull them to the trail side when bikes approach. Fast-moving MTB riders on descent sections may not have time to stop for a dog that moves unpredictably across the trail. On weekday mornings before 9 AM, MTB traffic is minimal and dog management is straightforward. Weekend mornings after 9 AM require active awareness of bike traffic at all times. There are no water sources on trail; carry at least 1 liter per dog on warm days.