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North Urban Trail System - West
Lower Chimney Rock, Summit, Chimney Rock Pass, Thunder Mountain Trails
The North Urban Trail System is an interconnected series of trails along the red rock front country at the north edge of Sedona. The western portion, described here, includes the above listed trails. These trails may be reached using the three trailheads shown below or from the Teacup Trail from the west.
An easy 1.4 mile loop can be made from the Thunder Mountain Trailhead using Lower Chimney Rock Trail and the southern portion of the Thunder Mountain Trail. From the loop, a short but steep route climbs up the Summit Trail to Chimney Rock Vista on top of a red rock hill with a great 360 degree view. A moderate 2.6 mile loop can be made using the Chimney Rock Pass Trail and more of the Thunder Mountain Trail, or a moderate "figure 8" of 3 miles can be hiked using the same trails. The trailhead at the north end of Andante Drive can also be used as the starting point for these loops. These trails offer no shade.
The Thunder Mountain Trail is the connector between these western trails and the eastern portion of the North Urban Trail System. The trail begins at the Thunder Mountain Trailhead and goes north, passing Chimney Rock. It then turns east and crosses the open area south of the sheer face of Capitol Butte, intersecting Teacup Trail at 1.7 miles. This is an easy, level trail, but there is no shade. The Teacup Trail continues east. The Sugarloaf Trailhead is 0.3 miles to the south.
At a Glance
| Open Season: | Year-round |
|---|---|
| Usage: | Medium-Heavy |
| Operated By: | Red Rock District - 928-203-2900 |
General Information
Directions:Location: 38 miles south of Flagstaff in scenic Red Rock Country.
Access:
- Thunder Mountain Trailhead: From the junction of SR 89A and SR 179 ("The Y"), take 89A west 3.2 miles to Dry Creek Road on the right. Go north 0.5 miles to Thunder Mountain Road on the right. Go 0.6 miles east to the turnoff on the left for trailhead parking. GPS: N34° 52' 14.5194", W-111° 48' 40.86"
- Andante Drive Trailhead: From the junction of SR 89A and SR 179 ("The Y"), take 89A west 2.5 miles to Andante Road on the right. Go north 1.2 miles to end of road and small trailhead parking area on left next to water storage tank. Follow spur trail west 120 yards to the Thunder Mountain Trail.
- Sugarloaf Trailhead: from the junction of SR 89A and SR 179 ("The Y"), take 89A west 2 miles to Coffee Pot Drive on the right. Go 0.5 miles to Sandborn Drive on the left, then 0.2 miles to Little Elf Drive on the right. Go 0.2 miles to the end of Little Elf and turn right on Buena Vista Drive for 50 yards to the trailhead parking area on the left.
GPS:
- Thunder Mountain Trailhead (Map): 34°52'19.1"N 111°48'43.5"W
- Andante Trailhead (Map): 34°52'40.6"N 111°48'29.4"W
- Sugarloaf Trailhead (Map): 34°52'27.4"N 111°47'47.2"W
USGS Map: Wilson Mountain, Sedona
Maps
- Red Rock Country Maps: Download Red Rock Country trail maps and find other Sedona recreation resources. See the Sedona Northwest map for this trail system.
- The Digital Travel Map Whether you're driving, hiking, riding, or exploring, you will find this full-color, GPS-enabled map a handy reference to have on your mobile device. The map show trails, recreation sites, major landmarks, and forest roads.
- Forest Service Topo Map (FSTopo Geo-enable PDF)
Click map thumbnail for larger view.
General Notes:
Rating: Easy / Moderate
Hiking Time: 1 to 3 hours, depending on route used
Uses: Hiking, bicycling, horses (Bicycles prohibited on Chimney Rock Pass Trail in Wilderness; bikes not recommended for Summit Trail due to steep and hazardous conditions.)
Activities
Mountain Biking
Bicycles prohibited on Chimney Rock Pass Trail in Wilderness; bikes not recommended for Summit Trail due to steep and hazardous conditions.
See Bicycle Restriction: Red Rock Country under Forest Orders for information about off-trail biking and permitted slickrock areas in the Sedona area.
Day Hiking
Horse Riding
Related Information
Location
