Loy Canyon Trail: Longest Under-the-Radar Climb in West Sedona

9.4 miles round trip, hard, 1,800 feet of gain to the Secret Mountain rim. FR-525 access, wilderness boundary trailhead, no Red Rock Pass required. A prehistoric rock shelter at mile 1.4, loose talus from miles 2.5 to 4, and rim views west over Sycamore Canyon Wilderness.

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

Trail Stats

  • Distance9.4 mi RT
  • DifficultyHard
  • Elevation Gain~1,800 ft to Secret Mountain rim
  • Trail TypeOut & back
  • Road AccessFR-525 — ~7 mi dirt past Robbers Roost
  • Pass RequiredNo — Wilderness boundary trailhead
  • Parking~15 spots at Hancock Ranch boundary
  • Time5-7 hours RT
The Lowdown Verdict: Loy Canyon Trail is the longest under-the-radar climb in west Sedona and the right next move for hikers who have finished Boynton Canyon, Bear Mountain, and want one more full day in the same wilderness without the crowds. The 9.4-mile round trip begins flat on the Loy Canyon valley floor, passes an unsigned prehistoric rock shelter spur at mile 1.4, then climbs through loose talus from miles 2.5 to 4 to the Secret Mountain rim with views west over Sycamore Canyon Wilderness. FR-525 is graded but washboarded—sedans can manage it dry, but not after monsoon storms. Combine with Robbers Roost Trail for a two-hike FR-525 day. Trekking poles are not optional on the talus climb.

FR-525 Access and the Road Conditions Reality

The Loy Canyon trailhead is reached via FR-525, also called Loy Butte Road, which branches off Boynton Pass Road in West Sedona. From AZ-89A, take Dry Creek Road north, then turn left onto Boynton Pass Road. FR-525 branches northwest and continues approximately 7 miles of maintained dirt road past the Robbers Roost junction to reach the Loy Canyon trailhead at the Hancock Ranch private boundary. The trail enters the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness immediately beyond the boundary.

FR-525 is graded but develops significant washboarding between maintenance cycles. In dry conditions, a standard sedan with reasonable ground clearance can navigate the road, though the washboarding will be uncomfortable and potentially damaging to low-profile vehicles at speed. The critical constraint is after rain: monsoon storms from July through September can create deep ruts in soft sections that require high-clearance to traverse. Do not attempt FR-525 in a rental sedan within 48 hours of a significant rain event. A truck, SUV, or 4WD crossover is the practical choice for any FR-525 visit regardless of season.

The trailhead parking at the Hancock Ranch boundary holds approximately 15 vehicles. No Red Rock Pass is required here: the trailhead sits at the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness boundary, which is not a developed Forest Service fee site. This is one of the longer-access free trailheads in the Sedona area. No facilities at the trailhead. Carry all water from Sedona—no water sources on or near the trail for the full 9.4-mile round trip.

The Loy Butte Rock Shelter: A Protected Archaeological Site

At approximately mile 1.4 from the trailhead, a cairn on the right (east) side of the trail marks an unsigned 0.3-mile off-trail spur to the Loy Butte sandstone rock shelter. The shelter is a prehistoric alcove structure set into the base of a sandstone cliff—a protected archaeological site consistent with ancestral Puebloan and earlier habitation patterns across the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness and the broader Colorado Plateau.

The viewing protocol at Loy Butte rock shelter is clear: look from outside, do not enter the alcove, do not touch the walls, and do not disturb any features, deposits, or structural remnants. All archaeological features on National Forest and Wilderness land are protected under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act. Entering the alcove or removing anything constitutes a federal violation. The site is worth the spur trip for the view and the geological and historical context it provides—it is not worth entering for any reason.

The cairn marking the spur turn is small and easy to miss if you are moving at pace. Most hikers who know the spur exists have GPS-marked the turn in advance. If you reach the point where the valley floor begins to narrow and the canyon walls close in noticeably, you have passed the cairn—backtrack and look right. The spur itself is off-trail across open ground; no established path leads to the shelter.

Trail Breakdown: Mile by Mile

0.0–2.0 mi

Flat Valley Floor — Loy Canyon

Wilderness begins immediately past the Hancock Ranch boundary. Trail crosses flat valley floor through pinyon-juniper scrub. Canyon walls rise on both sides. Rock shelter cairn spur at mile 1.4 on the right. No shade. Easy walking saves energy for the climb ahead.

~1.4 mi

Loy Butte Rock Shelter Spur (Cairn)

Small cairn on right (east) side marks unsigned 0.3-mi off-trail spur to rock shelter. Protected archaeological site. View from outside only—do not enter the alcove or touch the walls. Federal law protects all features. Mark GPS before leaving trailhead if planning to visit.

2.0–2.5 mi

Canyon Narrows — Transition to Climb

Canyon walls close in and the valley floor transitions from flat to moderately rising terrain. Ponderosa pine appears as elevation increases. The trail surface becomes rockier. This is the transition zone before the talus section begins.

2.5–4.0 mi

Loose Talus Climb to Secret Mountain Rim

1.5-mile climb on loose talus gaining the majority of the 1,800 ft. Trekking poles essential. Unstable footing requires deliberate step placement. No technical moves but sustained effort. Trail thins in sections. This is the defining challenge of the hike.

4.0–4.7 mi

Secret Mountain Rim — Views West

Talus climb tops out on the rim. Views open west over Sycamore Canyon Wilderness. Ponderosa pine rim environment. Trail continues along the rim to the turnaround at 4.7 miles. Return via same route. The descent on talus requires the same careful footing as the ascent.

Combining with Robbers Roost and the FR-525 Day Strategy

The most efficient way to use a Loy Canyon day is to combine it with Robbers Roost Trail on the same FR-525 drive. Robbers Roost sits earlier on the road—approximately 3 to 4 miles from Boynton Pass Road vs the 7 miles to Loy Canyon. Do Robbers Roost first while energy is highest (1 mile round trip to the cave, easy-moderate), then drive the remaining miles to the Loy Canyon trailhead for the full day climb. The two-hike approach turns a long dirt road drive into a productive full day in the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness corridor without backtracking.

For hikers who have already done Boynton Canyon and Bear Mountain and want more ground in the same wilderness system, Boynton Canyon Trail and Fay Canyon Trail are the closest comparisons by access corridor and wilderness character. Loy Canyon is longer and harder than either but shares the same general terrain type and the same FR-525 access road area. Bear Mountain Trail (not profiled separately here) is the steepest hard hike in the Boynton Pass corridor and is the logical comparison in difficulty and commitment.

Carry 3.5 liters of water minimum for the 9.4-mile round trip. No water sources on the trail in any section. Start no later than 7 AM in monsoon season (July through early September) to clear the rim section before afternoon lightning risk builds. Trekking poles are essential—not recommended, essential—for the talus descent from miles 4 to 2.5. See our passes guide for general Sedona wilderness access information.

Guided Tours in West Sedona Wilderness

Viator lists guided hiking and jeep tours in the West Sedona canyon corridor. A guide with knowledge of the FR-525 / Loy Canyon area can navigate the road safely, interpret the Loy Butte rock shelter archaeological site in proper context, and explain the geological sequence of the Secret Mountain rim and its connection to the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness to the west.

Find Sedona Hiking Tours on Viator →

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Editorial note: Visited April 2026 by The Lowdown Guide editorial team. FR-525 road condition characterization sourced from on-site observation and Coconino National Forest road condition reports. Rock shelter location and viewing protocol derived from USFS Archaeological Resources Protection Act guidance and on-site signage. Trail mileage from Coconino NF trail data. Wilderness boundary pass-free status confirmed with current USFS guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get to Loy Canyon Trail in Sedona? +
Loy Canyon Trail is accessed via FR-525, also called Loy Butte Road, off Boynton Pass Road in West Sedona. From AZ-89A, take Dry Creek Road north then turn left onto Boynton Pass Road. FR-525 branches off Boynton Pass Road and continues approximately 7 miles of maintained dirt road past the Robber's Roost junction to reach the Loy Canyon trailhead at the Hancock Ranch boundary. The road is graded but washboarded — sedans can drive it in dry weather only, not after monsoon storms. No Red Rock Pass is required at the Loy Canyon trailhead, which sits at the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness boundary.
How hard is Loy Canyon Trail in Sedona? +
Loy Canyon Trail is rated hard. It is 9.4 miles round trip with 1,800 feet of elevation gain to the Secret Mountain rim. The first 2 miles are flat valley floor walking through the canyon. The climb begins at approximately mile 2.5 and continues through loose talus to mile 4 before topping out on the rim. Trekking poles are essential on the talus section. Most fit hikers take 5 to 7 hours round trip. The trail is significantly longer than most Sedona day hikes and requires full-day planning with adequate water and food.
What is the Loy Butte rock shelter ruin on Loy Canyon Trail? +
The Loy Butte sandstone rock shelter is a prehistoric alcove structure located approximately 1.4 miles from the Loy Canyon trailhead. It is accessible via an unsigned 0.3-mile off-trail spur marked by a cairn at the trail junction. The shelter is a protected archaeological site on Coconino National Forest land. Do not enter the alcove, touch the walls, or disturb any features. The site reflects ancestral Puebloan or earlier habitation patterns common throughout the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. Viewing from outside is appropriate; accessing the interior violates federal law protecting archaeological resources.
Is a Red Rock Pass required for Loy Canyon Trail? +
No. The Loy Canyon trailhead sits at the boundary of the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness, which is not a developed Forest Service fee site. No Red Rock Pass is required to park at the trailhead. The approximately 15-vehicle parking area at the Hancock Ranch boundary is free. However, note that the FR-525 access road passes through the broader Coconino National Forest and the Robber's Roost trailhead earlier on the same road does require a Red Rock Pass if you stop there.
Can you combine Loy Canyon Trail with Robbers Roost in one day? +
Yes, and this is the recommended way to use a single FR-525 drive day efficiently. Robber's Roost Trail is a short easy-moderate hike (approximately 1 mile round trip to the cave) accessed earlier on FR-525 before the Loy Canyon trailhead. Do Robber's Roost first in the morning for the cave experience, then continue driving to the Loy Canyon trailhead for the full day climb. The two trails share the same access road and combined give you both the short accessible cave hike and the full wilderness rim climb. Total driving on FR-525 is approximately 7 miles each way from Boynton Pass Road.