Llama Trail: Sedona's Little Horse–Templeton Connector

2.8 miles one-way, moderate, about 200 feet of gain between Bell Rock Vista and Little Horse Trailhead on AZ-179. A Red Rock Pass is required at both access points. Popular with mountain bikers linking Little Horse Trail to Templeton Trail -- open to hikers and equestrians too.

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

Trail Stats

  • Distance2.8 mi one-way (Bell Rock Vista to Little Horse TH)
  • DifficultyModerate
  • Elevation Gain~200 ft
  • Trail TypePoint-to-point connector
  • ParkingBell Rock Vista or Little Horse TH lots
  • Pass RequiredYes - Red Rock Pass
  • TrailheadBell Rock Vista or Little Horse TH, AZ-179
  • Trail UseHikers, Mountain Bikers, Equestrians
The Lowdown Verdict: Llama Trail is a 2.8-mile connector in the Bell Rock/Big Park corridor south of Sedona, and the Forest Service treats it as exactly that: an alternate link between Little Horse Trail and Templeton Trail, popular with mountain bikers but perfectly hikeable. Park at Bell Rock Vista (AZ-179 milepost 307.1) or Little Horse Trailhead (milepost 309.8) -- a Red Rock Pass is required at either. The junction with Little Horse Trail is marked by a large dead pinyon pine. Use it to stitch together a longer loop day with Bell Rock and Little Horse rather than as a destination on its own.
What Llama Trail Is Not:
  • Not a free-parking trailhead. Unlike some West Sedona connectors, both Bell Rock Vista and Little Horse Trailhead are developed Forest Service fee sites. A Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful pass is required at either.
  • Not a loop on its own. Llama Trail is a point-to-point connector between Little Horse and Templeton trails. To make a loop, combine it with Little Horse Trail and Bell Rock Pathway back to your starting trailhead.
  • Not a hiker-only trail. Llama Trail is a popular mountain-bike connector route. Hikers and leashed dogs should stay alert for bike traffic, particularly near the Little Horse Trail junction.
  • Not heavily shaded. The open sandstone-bench terrain typical of the Bell Rock corridor offers little shade. Carry water and avoid midday starts in summer.

Trailhead and Parking: Bell Rock Vista and Little Horse Trailhead

Llama Trail is accessed from either end of its 2.8-mile run. The Bell Rock Vista parking area is on AZ-179 about 6.5 miles south of Sedona, at approximately milepost 307.1. The Little Horse Trailhead is closer to town, about 3.6 miles south of Sedona at approximately milepost 309.8. Both are developed Forest Service trailheads with signed parking areas, not informal pullouts.

A Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful interagency pass is required to park at both trailheads -- this is a fee site at either end, unlike some of the informal free access points elsewhere in Sedona. Trailhead elevation is approximately 4,270 feet. There is no dedicated Llama Trail parking lot; hikers and bikers park at Bell Rock Vista or Little Horse and pick up the trail from there.

Because Llama Trail is a point-to-point connector rather than a loop, most visitors either arrange a short car shuttle between the two trailheads or combine it with Little Horse Trail and Bell Rock Pathway to loop back to their starting point. For permit logistics on other Sedona trailheads, see the Sedona permits and passes guide.

A Mountain-Bike Connector That Works Just as Well on Foot

The Coconino National Forest lists Llama Trail as an alternate connector between Little Horse Trail and Templeton Trail, and its primary user base is mountain bikers stitching together loops in the Bell Rock/Big Park trail network. That doesn't make it any less useful on foot -- the moderate 200-foot grade and 2.8-mile length make it a practical way to avoid backtracking on an out-and-back day.

Because the trail sees regular bike traffic, hikers and leashed dogs should stay aware of riders, especially near the Little Horse Trail junction, which is marked by a large dead pinyon pine. Yield to uphill riders per standard trail etiquette and keep dogs close on the narrower benched sections.

The terrain is characteristic of the Bell Rock corridor: open high desert with sandstone benches, pinyon-juniper cover, and views toward Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. Check current trail conditions before an early-season start, particularly after winter precipitation.

Trail Breakdown: Mile by Mile

0-1.0 mi

Bell Rock Vista Area

From Bell Rock Vista, the trail heads into open high-desert terrain typical of the Big Park corridor, with sandstone benches and pinyon-juniper cover. Views open toward Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. Watch for mountain bike traffic throughout.

1.0-2.0 mi

Mid-Trail Benches

The trail continues over gently rolling sandstone benches, gaining most of its 200 feet of total elevation gain in short rises. Pinyon-juniper cover offers intermittent shade. This section carries the bulk of the route's mountain-bike traffic, so hikers should stay alert on blind corners.

2.0-2.8 mi

Little Horse Trail Junction

The trail approaches its junction with Little Horse Trail, marked by a large dead pinyon pine -- the Forest Service's own landmark for the intersection. From here, continue on Little Horse Trail back toward the trailhead of the same name, or pick up Templeton Trail for a longer loop combining Bell Rock, Little Horse, and Templeton.

Best Season and Nearby Trails

Llama Trail is open year-round. The best hiking and biking windows are October through April, when temperatures stay comfortable on this exposed, low-shade corridor. Summer (June through August) heat builds quickly on the open sandstone benches; start before 8 AM or avoid the trail in the hottest months.

Llama Trail is best combined with its neighbors in the Bell Rock/Big Park network. Bell Rock Trail and Bell Rock Pathway connect near the Bell Rock Vista trailhead. Little Horse Trail meets Llama Trail at its far end and leads toward Chicken Point. Templeton Trail extends the corridor further for hikers building a longer day.

For permit planning on other Sedona trailheads, the Sedona hiking permits and passes guide details which lots require a Red Rock Pass and how the America the Beautiful annual pass applies across Coconino National Forest trailheads.

Guided Bell Rock & Big Park Tours from Sedona

If you want a guided experience through the Bell Rock and Big Park trail network with a local naturalist explaining the red rock geology, Sedona jeep and hiking tour operators offer guided trips in this corridor. Viator lists available departure times and current pricing for Sedona's most popular guided hikes.

Find Sedona Bell Rock Tours on Viator →

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

Editorial note: Trail specifications (distance, elevation gain, difficulty, trailhead access, Red Rock Pass requirement, and Little Horse/Templeton trail connections) verified 2026-08-16 against the Coconino National Forest's official Llama Trail No. 650 page (fs.usda.gov). This page previously described a different, unofficial "Sanborn Drive to Soldier Pass" route that does not match the Forest Service's Llama Trail; it has been corrected to reflect the trail's actual Bell Rock/Big Park location and Little Horse–Templeton connector function.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Llama Trail used for in Sedona? +
Llama Trail is a 2.8-mile connector trail in the Bell Rock/Big Park area south of Sedona. The Coconino National Forest describes it as an alternate connector between Little Horse Trail and Templeton Trail, and it is especially popular with mountain bikers linking those two trails. Hikers and equestrians use it too, most often as a way to build a longer loop day combining Bell Rock, Little Horse, and Templeton without retracing the same path twice.
Where do you park for Llama Trail in Sedona? +
Llama Trail can be accessed from two trailheads on AZ-179 south of Sedona: Bell Rock Vista parking, 6.5 miles south of Sedona at milepost 307.1, or Little Horse Trailhead, 3.6 miles south at milepost 309.8. A Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful interagency pass is required to park at either trailhead.
How does Llama Trail connect to other Sedona trails? +
Llama Trail runs 2.8 miles between the Bell Rock Vista area and the Little Horse Trail junction, which is marked by a large dead pinyon pine. From that junction it continues on toward Templeton Trail, making it a practical link for hikers or bikers building a loop that also touches Bell Rock Pathway. Trailhead elevation is approximately 4,270 feet.
Do you need a permit for Llama Trail in Sedona? +
Yes. A Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful interagency pass is required to park at both the Bell Rock Vista and Little Horse trailheads that access Llama Trail. There is no separate fee for the trail itself, but both access points are developed Forest Service fee sites.
Is Llama Trail good for hikers, mountain bikers, and dogs? +
Llama Trail is rated moderate and gains approximately 200 feet over 2.8 miles, with sandstone benches and open high-desert terrain typical of the Bell Rock corridor. Because it functions as a mountain-bike connector between Little Horse and Templeton trails, hikers and leashed dogs should stay alert for bike traffic, especially near the Little Horse junction. There is little shade, so carry water and avoid midday hiking in summer.