HS Canyon Trail: Sedona's Hidden Riparian Canyon Spur

5-mile round trip per the USFS, moderate, free Secret Canyon parking area, no pass. FR-152 high-clearance dirt road access. Oak and pine shade in a riparian canyon that sees very light visitation even on peak weekends.

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

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HS Canyon Trail Is Currently Closed

As of this writing, HS Canyon Trail #50 is closed under a Coconino National Forest closure order following the 2026 Pocket Fire. HS Canyon has no standalone trailhead — reaching it requires hiking in on Secret Canyon Trail #121, which is also closed under the same order. Recently burned watersheds are vulnerable to flash flooding, rapidly rising water, falling trees, ash, sediment, and debris flows, particularly during monsoon storms. Everything below describes the trail as it exists when open — confirm current status with the Coconino National Forest Red Rock Ranger District before driving out on FR-152.

Trail Stats

  • Distance5.0 mi RT (USFS): 2/3 mi on Secret Canyon, then HS Canyon spur to ~2.25 mi
  • DifficultyModerate
  • Elevation Gain~400 ft
  • Trail TypeOut and back spur
  • ParkingFree, Secret Canyon parking area, end of FR-152
  • Pass RequiredNo (free dispersed access)
  • Road AccessFR-152: 3 mi high-clearance 4WD dirt road from Dry Creek Rd
  • ShadeSignificant oak/pine canopy in canyon; best summer shade pick
  • StatusCLOSED (2026 Pocket Fire order)
The Lowdown Verdict: HS Canyon Trail is the answer to a question most Sedona visitors never think to ask: where do you go for a moderate canyon hike with real shade and real solitude? The riparian corridor inside HS Canyon -- Arizona white oak, alligator juniper, ponderosa pine -- is a genuine departure from Sedona's open red rock landscape, and visitation stays very light even on busy spring weekends. The barrier is the FR-152 dirt road approach, which requires high-clearance 4WD and filters out the majority of tourists in rental sedans. The parent trail, Secret Canyon Trail, is worth reading before your visit since you will spend the first and last stretch of the day on it. Both trails share the same parking area and are accessed together — and both are closed as of this writing (see the notice above).
What HS Canyon Trail Is Not:
  • Not a standalone trailhead. HS Canyon Trail does not have its own trailhead. You access it via the Secret Canyon Trailhead at the end of FR-152, then hike 1.0 mile on Secret Canyon Trail before the HS Canyon spur branches left. You cannot reach HS Canyon without first walking Secret Canyon.
  • Not accessible without a high-clearance vehicle. The 3-mile FR-152 approach road is unpaved dirt with rocks and washboard sections. A standard sedan, low-clearance crossover, or typical rental car will struggle. 4WD or high-clearance is the consistent recommendation from land managers and trip reports.
  • Not a views trail. The appeal of HS Canyon is the enclosed riparian atmosphere, shade, and solitude -- not panoramic views. If you want Sedona's signature sweeping red rock vistas, choose Brins Mesa or Wilson Mountain instead. HS Canyon rewards with canyon intimacy, not horizon photography.
  • Not a trail you will find on most tourist resources. The combination of the dirt road approach and spur-branch access means HS Canyon does not appear on most hotel concierge lists or popular hiking apps' "top 10" lists. This is by design -- the route requires local knowledge to navigate correctly.

FR-152 Road Access and the Secret Canyon Trailhead

Forest Road FR-152 begins off Dry Creek Road in West Sedona. From AZ-89A, turn north on Dry Creek Road and follow it approximately 2 miles to the FR-152 junction on the right. The first 0.5 miles of FR-152 are navigable by most vehicles. After that, the road becomes increasingly rocky and rutted for the remaining 2.5 miles to the Secret Canyon Trailhead. High-clearance 4WD is required for the full length. The drive takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes from Dry Creek Road at careful speed.

The Secret Canyon parking area at the end of FR-152 is a dispersed dirt area roughly 200 feet beyond the trailhead sign, per the Coconino National Forest. There is no fee, no kiosk, and no Red Rock Pass requirement. The signed Secret Canyon trailhead itself is across the usually-dry Dry Creek streambed. Most visitors here are hiking Secret Canyon itself -- HS Canyon spur users are a subset of that already-small group, which accounts for the exceptional solitude inside the canyon.

Road condition on FR-152 varies by season and precipitation. After significant rain events, the road can develop deeper ruts and mud sections that require more clearance than typical. The Coconino National Forest Red Rock Ranger District does not actively maintain FR-152 -- it is a user-maintained dispersed access road. Check Coconino NF road conditions before visiting during or after monsoon season (July through September).

Trail Breakdown: Secret Canyon to HS Canyon Spur

0-2/3 mi

Secret Canyon Parking Area to HS Canyon Junction

Follow Secret Canyon Trail from its signed trailhead (across the usually-dry Dry Creek streambed) through open pinyon-juniper terrain with partial red rock views. The trail climbs gently through the canyon entrance. At 2/3 mile, the signed HS Canyon junction appears on the left, per the Coconino National Forest. Do not miss this turn -- it is easy to walk past if you are not watching your distance.

2/3-1.5 mi

HS Canyon Junction to Canyon Entrance

Turn left at the junction and follow the HS Canyon spur west-northwest. The trail narrows compared to Secret Canyon and transitions quickly into denser vegetation. Arizona white oak and juniper begin shading the trail past the junction. Red rock views open up around the 1.5-mile mark, per the USFS. A seasonal stream corridor runs through this section -- expect wet crossings in spring.

1.5-2.25 mi

Canyon Interior to Trail End

The canyon deepens and the canopy closes overhead. Ponderosa pine mixes with oak in the canyon bottom. Around 2.25 miles from the parking area, the trail approaches the sheer face of Maroon Mountain and switchbacks up to a small clearing at the box canyon's end, per the USFS. Return the same way.

2.25-5.0 mi

Return to Parking Area

Retrace the spur back to the Secret Canyon junction at 2/3 mile, then continue on Secret Canyon Trail back to the FR-152 parking area. The descent is easier than the approach. Total round trip is 5.0 miles per the Coconino National Forest.

Summer Shade and Best Season

HS Canyon is one of only a handful of moderate Sedona hikes with meaningful overhead shade throughout the route. The open slickrock trails that define most Sedona hiking -- Bell Rock, Devil's Bridge, Cathedral Rock -- provide little to no shade and become genuinely dangerous for afternoon summer hiking. HS Canyon's riparian corridor runs north-to-south with canyon walls and oak/pine canopy keeping temperatures 5 to 10 degrees cooler than exposed mesa trails at the same elevation.

The best window for HS Canyon is May through September for summer shade, and October through early November for fall foliage in the oak and cottonwood corridor. Spring (March through May) is also excellent for seasonal stream flow, which adds a water element to the canyon that disappears by June in most years. Winter access depends on FR-152 conditions -- the road can become impassable after winter precipitation.

Start no later than 7:30 AM even for summer visits. The first mile on Secret Canyon Trail is exposed. Completing the exposed approach before 8:30 AM and spending the heat of the day in the shaded canyon is the correct strategy. Carry at least 2 liters of water -- there is no reliable water source on the route despite the seasonal stream, which may carry giardia and requires treatment if used.

Gear for HS Canyon Trail

  • ✓Water: 2-3 liters -- 5.0 miles round trip with an exposed approach section; treat any stream water before drinking
  • ✓Hiking boots or trail runners with grip -- the canyon interior has rocky uneven terrain and possible wet crossings; sandals are inadequate
  • ✓Offline map download -- AllTrails or CalTopo with FR-152 and HS Canyon spur marked; cell service is unreliable at the trailhead
  • ✓Trekking poles -- useful for the canyon floor creek crossings and loose rock sections on the return descent
  • ✓Snacks for a half-day outing -- with the drive, approach, and canyon time, plan for 4 to 5 hours total

Related Trails and Further Reading

Since HS Canyon Trail begins on Secret Canyon Trail, read that guide before visiting -- it covers the FR-152 road conditions in detail and the junction navigation. For other canyon hikes in the Sedona area with riparian character, West Fork Oak Creek Trail is the most accessible shaded canyon option but significantly more crowded. Loy Canyon Trail offers another dirt-road-access riparian experience with a different canyon character. For the full West Sedona high-clearance trail network, see the Sedona hiking index which flags all FR-road access trails.

Guided Sedona Canyon Hiking and Jeep Tours

If you want guided access to Sedona's backcountry canyon trails without navigating FR roads yourself, Viator lists jeep tours and guided hikes into the Secret Canyon and Boynton Canyon corridor departing from Uptown Sedona.

Find Sedona Canyon Tours on Viator →

Affiliate link -- we earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Stay in West Sedona for Backcountry Access

Staying in West Sedona puts you 10 minutes from Dry Creek Road and the FR-152 junction. Expedia lists West Sedona lodging with real-time availability for your dates.

Find Sedona Hotels on Expedia →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get to HS Canyon Trail in Sedona? +
HS Canyon Trail is accessed via Forest Road FR-152, a high-clearance dirt road leading to the Secret Canyon Trailhead. FR-152 is off Dry Creek Road in West Sedona. High-clearance 4WD is required for FR-152 -- standard sedans and low-clearance vehicles cannot safely complete the road. The Secret Canyon parking area at the end of FR-152 has no fee and no Red Rock Pass requirement. From the parking area, hike 2/3 mile on Secret Canyon Trail (whose signed trailhead is across the usually-dry Dry Creek streambed) and watch for the signed HS Canyon Trail turnoff on the left, per the Coconino National Forest.
Where does HS Canyon Trail branch off Secret Canyon Trail? +
HS Canyon Trail branches left off Secret Canyon Trail at 2/3 mile from the Secret Canyon parking area, per the Coconino National Forest. The junction is signed. The trail then climbs through oak and alligator juniper shade to about 2.25 miles from the parking area, near the sheer face of Maroon Mountain, where it switchbacks to a small clearing at the box canyon's end. Return by the same route for a 5-mile round trip.
How crowded is HS Canyon Trail? +
HS Canyon Trail is one of the least-crowded moderate hikes accessible from Sedona. The combination of a several-mile high-clearance dirt road approach and the spur nature of the trail (branching off Secret Canyon rather than being a standalone trailhead) keeps overall visitor numbers very low. Based on field visits, you can realistically expect to have the canyon to yourself or encounter only a small handful of other parties during a full morning on the trail; exact visitor counts are not published by the Forest Service.
Is HS Canyon Trail shaded in summer? +
Yes, HS Canyon Trail is one of Sedona's best summer shade picks among moderate hikes. The hidden riparian canyon is lined with Arizona white oak, alligator juniper, and ponderosa pine, providing significant overhead canopy throughout the canyon section. The approach along Secret Canyon to the 2/3-mile junction is more exposed, but once inside HS Canyon the shade is consistent. Best summer start time is before 7:30 AM to complete the exposed approach before the heat builds. The canyon itself remains cooler than Sedona's open slickrock trails by several degrees.
Do you need a permit or Red Rock Pass for HS Canyon Trail? +
No permit and no Red Rock Pass are required for HS Canyon Trail. The Secret Canyon Trailhead at the end of FR-152 is a dispersed access point with no fee. This is one of the few moderate-to-long hikes near Sedona proper that is completely free. The FR-152 dirt road itself is open to the public at no charge. The only requirement is a vehicle with sufficient ground clearance to safely navigate the 3-mile dirt road approach.