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

11.8 miles round trip, moderately easy for the first 3 miles then strenuous, approximately 1,919 feet of gain to the saddle at the wilderness boundary. FR-525 access (9.3 miles of dirt road), wilderness boundary trailhead, no Red Rock Pass required. A prehistoric rock shelter at mile 1.4 and a sustained talus climb through the trail's final miles.

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

Trail Stats

  • Distance11.8 mi RT (5.9 mi one-way)
  • DifficultyModerately easy (mi 0-3), strenuous after
  • Elevation Gain~1,919 ft to the wilderness saddle
  • Trail TypeOut & back
  • Road AccessFR-525 — 9.3 mi dirt past Robbers Roost
  • Pass RequiredNo — Wilderness boundary trailhead
  • Parking~15 spots at Hancock Ranch boundary
  • Time6-9 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 Coconino National Forest rates it moderately easy for the first 3 miles, then strenuous the rest of the way -- 11.8 miles round trip total, gaining approximately 1,919 feet to the saddle at the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness boundary. The route begins flat on the Loy Canyon valley floor, passes an unsigned prehistoric rock shelter spur at mile 1.4, then climbs through loose talus to the saddle, where the Secret Mountain Trail continues. FR-525 is 9.3 miles of graded but washboarded dirt—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 9.3 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 11.8-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.

2.0–3.0 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 marks the end of the Coconino National Forest's "moderately easy" first 3 miles and the start of the strenuous climb.

3.0–5.9 mi

Loose Talus Climb to the Wilderness Saddle

A sustained climb on loose talus gains the bulk of the trail's approximately 1,919 feet of total elevation gain. Trekking poles essential. Unstable footing requires deliberate step placement. No technical moves but sustained effort. This is the defining challenge of the hike.

5.9 mi

The Saddle — Wilderness Boundary Junction

The talus climb tops out at the saddle on the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness boundary, where the Secret Mountain Trail continues onward. This is the turnaround point for the 11.8-mile round trip. Return via the same route -- the talus descent 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—a few miles closer to Boynton Pass Road than the 9.3-mile drive 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 at least 4 liters of water for the 11.8-mile round trip. No water sources on the trail in any section. Start no later than 6:30 AM in monsoon season (July through early September) to clear the exposed saddle before afternoon lightning risk builds. Trekking poles are essential—not recommended, essential—for the talus descent on the return. 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 Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness saddle and the surrounding country to the west.

Find Sedona Hiking Tours on Viator →

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

Editorial note: Trail length (11.8 mi RT), elevation gain (~1,919 ft), difficulty rating, and FR-525 road distance (9.3 mi) verified 2026-08-16 against the Coconino National Forest's official Loy Canyon Trail No. 5 page (fs.usda.gov); this page previously understated distance (9.4 mi), gain (1,800 ft), and road mileage (~7 mi), and those figures have been corrected. Rock shelter location and viewing protocol derived from USFS Archaeological Resources Protection Act guidance and on-site signage. 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 9.3 miles of maintained dirt road past the Robbers 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? +
The Coconino National Forest rates Loy Canyon Trail moderately easy for its first 3 miles and strenuous for the remainder. It is 11.8 miles round trip (5.9 miles one-way) with approximately 1,919 feet of elevation gain to the saddle at the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness boundary, where the Secret Mountain Trail continues. The first 2 miles are flat valley floor walking through the canyon. The climb through loose talus begins around mile 3 and continues most of the way to the saddle. Trekking poles are essential on the talus section. This is a full-day hike — plan for 6 to 9 hours round trip 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. Robbers 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 Robbers 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 longer wilderness climb. Total driving on FR-525 to the Loy Canyon trailhead is approximately 9.3 miles each way from Boynton Pass Road.