Old Post Trail: Sedona's Historic Carroll Canyon Mail Route

2.7 miles point-to-point (up to 5.4 miles as a loop with Ridge Trail), moderate, part of the Carroll Canyon Area Trails system southwest of Sedona. Access via Chavez Ranch Road off Upper Red Rock Loop Road, or a 3-space pullout on Shelby Drive. Once a horse-and-buggy mail route; today it delivers views of Cathedral Rock and Courthouse Butte.

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

Trail Stats

  • Distance2.7 mi one-way (5.4 mi w/ Ridge Trail loop)
  • DifficultyModerate
  • Elevation GainNot published by Coconino NF; climbs noticeably out of Carroll Canyon
  • Trail TypePoint-to-point or loop (with Ridge Trail)
  • ParkingChavez Ranch Rd lot, or 3 spaces on Shelby Dr
  • Pass RequiredNo Red Rock Pass noted; part crosses a private easement
  • TrailheadChavez Ranch Rd or Shelby Dr
  • Trail UseHikers, Mountain Bikers, Dogs on Leash
The Lowdown Verdict: Old Post Trail is a moderate, 2.7-mile route in the Carroll Canyon Area Trails system southwest of Sedona -- not the flat West Sedona neighborhood walk some sources describe. It once served as a horse-and-buggy mail route between outlying homesteads, and today it delivers real views of Cathedral Rock and Courthouse Butte along the way. Reach it from the Chavez Ranch Road trailhead off Upper Red Rock Loop Road, or the smaller Shelby Drive access with only 3 designated parking spots. It connects to Carroll Canyon Trail and Ridge Trail, which lets you extend the hike into a 5.4-mile loop rather than backtracking. This is a trail for hikers who want moderate terrain and some history, not a stroller-friendly in-town stroll.
What Old Post Trail Is Not:
  • Not at Posse Grounds Park. Posse Grounds Park is a real West Sedona city park with its own short walking paths and an off-leash dog park, but it is a separate facility and not the trailhead for Old Post Trail. The actual trailheads are on Chavez Ranch Road and Shelby Drive, southwest of Sedona.
  • Not a flat, easy walk. The trail is rated moderate and climbs noticeably through the Carroll Canyon drainage. It is not the near-flat, 80-foot-gain route this page previously described.
  • Not a large-lot trailhead at every access point. The Shelby Drive (north) access has only 3 designated parking spaces and reaches the trail kiosk via a short private-land easement. The Chavez Ranch Road (south) access has more room, but neither is a large paved city lot.
  • Not stroller-friendly. Rockier sections and real elevation change through Carroll Canyon make this a poor fit for jogging strollers or young children walking independently.

Trailhead and Parking: Chavez Ranch Road and Shelby Drive

Old Post Trail has two official access points, and neither is Posse Grounds Park. The Old Post South Trailhead is reached via Chavez Ranch Road, off Upper Red Rock Loop Road southwest of Sedona. The Old Post/Ridge North Trailhead is on Shelby Drive, off AZ-89A approximately 1.9 miles west of the Sedona Y junction -- access here is limited to 3 designated parking spaces at a business driveway turnout, and the trail itself begins past a short private-land easement at a signed kiosk.

Neither trailhead is a Coconino National Forest fee lot in the way a Red Rock Pass site is, but the North Trailhead's 3-space limit is a real constraint on weekends -- arrive early or use the Chavez Ranch Road access, which has more room. There are no restrooms or water at either trailhead.

Old Post Trail is part of the Carroll Canyon Area Trails system, which also includes Ridge Trail, Carroll Canyon Trail, and Herkenham Trail, all of which intersect near the Old Post corridor. For permit logistics on other Sedona trails, see the Sedona hiking permits and passes guide.

A Historic Mail Route Through Carroll Canyon

Old Post Trail's name comes from its history: it once served as a mail route in horse-and-buggy days, connecting outlying homesteads southwest of Sedona before paved roads existed. That working-trail heritage shows in the route today -- it climbs and descends through the Carroll Canyon drainage rather than following a graded, purpose-built recreational path.

The route delivers real views of Cathedral Rock and Courthouse Butte along the way, which sets it apart from a purely functional connector trail. It is moderately trafficked -- not a crowded destination trailhead, but not the quiet neighborhood walk this page previously described either. Expect to share the trail with other hikers and mountain bikers.

Check current Sedona trail conditions after rain events -- sections of the Carroll Canyon drainage can hold water and become slick after significant rainfall.

Trail Breakdown: Mile by Mile

Start

North Trailhead (Shelby Drive)

From the Shelby Drive turnout, the route crosses a short private-land easement to a signed kiosk before entering Coconino National Forest land. Parking here is limited to 3 designated spaces.

~0.4 mi

Ridge Trail and Carroll Canyon Junction

Ridge Trail joins near the north end, and Carroll Canyon Trail branches off about 0.4 miles in. Hikers building the 5.4-mile loop option return via Ridge Trail rather than retracing Old Post Trail.

Mid-route

Cathedral Rock and Courthouse Butte Views

The route through the Carroll Canyon drainage opens to views of Cathedral Rock and Courthouse Butte -- the trail's main scenic payoff, and the reason it's worth more than a functional connector.

2.7 mi

South Trailhead (Chavez Ranch Road)

The trail ends near the Old Post South Trailhead off Chavez Ranch Road, where Herkenham Trail also meets the corridor. From here, retrace on Old Post Trail, arrange a car shuttle, or loop back via Ridge Trail for the 5.4-mile option.

Best Season and Nearby Trails

Old Post Trail is hikeable year-round, with October through April offering the most comfortable temperatures. Summer hiking is best done early, before 8 AM, since the Carroll Canyon corridor has only intermittent shade. Winter is generally dry and walkable at this elevation, though check conditions after storms.

Old Post Trail connects directly into the rest of the Carroll Canyon Area Trails system. Carroll Canyon Trail extends the route with more canyon-bottom hiking. Ridge Trail provides the return leg for the 5.4-mile loop option. Herkenham Trail meets the corridor near the Chavez Ranch Road trailhead for hikers wanting to extend further.

For a Sedona overview trip, see the Red Rock Scenic Drive audio tour.

Family-Friendly Sedona Tours

If you want a guided Sedona experience for families or visitors who prefer not to navigate trails independently, Viator lists family-friendly jeep tours, guided nature walks, and evening programs that complement a morning on Old Post Trail. Many operators specialize in groups with children or seniors.

Find Family Sedona Tours on Viator →

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

Editorial note: Trailhead locations, distance, trail connections, and history verified 2026-08-16 against the Coconino National Forest's official Carroll Canyon Area Trails No. 207 page (fs.usda.gov), which lists Old Post Trail's length at 2.7 miles and its access points at Chavez Ranch Road and Shelby Drive. This page previously placed the trailhead at Posse Grounds Park, a separate West Sedona city park unrelated to Old Post Trail; that error has been corrected. The Coconino NF page does not publish an official elevation-gain figure, so no specific number is stated here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is Old Post Trail in Sedona? +
Old Post Trail is rated moderate. The core route is 2.7 miles point-to-point, part of the Carroll Canyon Area Trails system, and can be extended to a 5.4-mile loop by returning on Ridge Trail. The Coconino National Forest does not publish an official elevation-gain figure for the route, but it climbs noticeably out of the Carroll Canyon drainage rather than staying flat. There are good views of Cathedral Rock and Courthouse Butte along the way. It is not the flat, beginner-friendly trail some aggregator sites describe.
Where do you park for Old Post Trail in Sedona? +
Old Post Trail has two main access points, neither of which is Posse Grounds Park. The Old Post South Trailhead is reached via Chavez Ranch Road off Upper Red Rock Loop Road, southwest of Sedona. The Old Post/Ridge North Trailhead is on Shelby Drive off AZ-89A, about 1.9 miles west of the Y junction, where only 3 designated parking spaces are available and access crosses a short private land easement to a signed kiosk. Neither trailhead is a Coconino National Forest fee site in the way a Red Rock Pass lot is, but the limited North Trailhead parking is a real constraint.
Is Old Post Trail good for dogs? +
Dogs are permitted on leash on Old Post Trail, consistent with standard Coconino National Forest trail rules. The trail is not the flat neighborhood walk some sources describe -- it climbs through the Carroll Canyon drainage with rockier sections -- so it suits dogs comfortable with moderate terrain rather than a casual stroll. Posse Grounds Park, a separate West Sedona city park with its own short walking paths and an off-leash dog park, is a different facility and is not the trailhead for Old Post Trail.
What trails connect to Old Post Trail in Sedona? +
Old Post Trail is part of the Carroll Canyon Area Trails system and connects to Ridge Trail, Carroll Canyon Trail, and Herkenham Trail. Ridge Trail joins Old Post Trail near its northern junction and can be used to build the 5.4-mile loop option. Carroll Canyon Trail branches off about 0.4 miles from the north trailhead. Herkenham Trail meets Old Post Trail near the Chavez Ranch Road trailhead at the southern end.
What is the history of Old Post Trail in Sedona? +
Old Post Trail once served as a mail route in horse-and-buggy days, connecting outlying homesteads to Sedona before paved roads existed -- which is the likely source of the trail's name. Today it is a Coconino National Forest hiking and mountain biking route through the Carroll Canyon drainage southwest of Sedona, with views of Cathedral Rock and Courthouse Butte along the way.