Long Canyon Trail: Sedona's Quietest Canyon Walk

Most Sedona trails drop you into crowds within the first half mile. Long Canyon doesn’t. The trailhead sits on a quiet residential road in west Sedona, and the canyon itself absorbs hikers fast. On a weekday, you might not see another person past the first mile.

Trail Overview

Long Canyon Trail runs 3.4 miles one way into a broad, northwest-trending canyon before dead-ending at a wall of sandstone. The round trip is 6.8 miles. Elevation gain is only 350 feet over the full distance, nearly all of it in gentle, barely-perceptible rises across the canyon floor. This is an easy trail by Sedona standards.

Difficulty is best described as easy to moderate. The footing is sandy in places and rocky in others. There are no exposed sections, no scrambles, and no technical challenges. A fit beginner can handle it without any problem.

Permit: No Red Rock Pass required at the Long Canyon Road trailhead. This is a city street access point, not a Forest Service trailhead. No fee, no day-use kiosk.

Season: October through May. Summer is not recommended. The canyon walls trap heat and there is no shade past the first half mile.

Getting There

Trailhead GPS: 34.9015° N, 111.8568° W

Trailhead address: Long Canyon Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. Park along the road near the end of the pavement. There is no formal parking lot, but street parking is available for 6 to 8 vehicles.

From Phoenix (2 hours): Take I-17 north to exit 298 (AZ-179). Drive north on AZ-179 through the Village of Oak Creek and into Sedona. At the Sedona Y intersection, turn left onto AZ-89A heading west. Drive about 3 miles west on 89A, then turn right onto Dry Creek Road. Drive 1 mile north, then turn left onto Long Canyon Road. Follow Long Canyon Road to the end and park along the road.

From Flagstaff (45 minutes): Take AZ-89A south from Flagstaff through Oak Creek Canyon. Continue into Sedona and turn right onto Dry Creek Road. Drive 1 mile north, then turn left onto Long Canyon Road. Follow to the end.

Trail Description

Miles 0 to 1.0

The trail starts at the end of the pavement and heads northwest into the canyon mouth. The first mile is wide and easy, following a sandy wash bottom. Canyon walls rise gradually on both sides. You’ll spot tall buff-colored sandstone layers and the deep orange of Schnebly Hill Formation above. The vegetation here is mostly juniper and pinyon pine with scattered scrub oak. The trail is obvious and well-worn.

At about 0.8 miles, the walls start to feel closer. The canyon narrows slightly and the buff sandstone gives way to more dramatic orange cliff faces on the north side.

Miles 1.0 to 2.0

This is the heart of the hike for most visitors. The canyon floor broadens again after the first pinch, opening into a wide sandy basin with good views straight up to the canyon rims. The walls here top out around 300 feet above the floor.

You may find cairns in this section, but the route is straightforward. Stay on the main canyon floor. Side drainages occasionally branch off to the right and left. Don’t follow them. The main canyon is clearly the larger and more obvious path.

At mile 2, you’ll pass through a section where large boulders have tumbled from the north wall. Some route-finding is needed to thread between them, but nothing technical. This is a good rest stop with some shade from the boulders in the morning hours.

Miles 2.0 to 3.4

The upper canyon is where the trail earns its reputation for solitude. Few day hikers make it past mile 2. The canyon walls grow taller and the trail becomes a bit rougher, more rocky than sandy. Elevation gain picks up slightly here but stays modest.

At around mile 3, the canyon walls begin closing in dramatically. The route threads between narrowing walls of deep red Supai Group sandstone. This is some of the most impressive canyon scenery in west Sedona and almost nobody sees it.

The trail reaches a dead end at approximately 3.4 miles where the canyon terminates at a series of cliff walls. This is your turnaround point. Return the way you came.

Optional extension: A faint use trail near the canyon head climbs east toward Deadman Pass. The route is unmaintained and requires scrambling. It adds roughly 400 feet of gain. Experienced hikers comfortable with route-finding can add it as an out-and-back from the canyon terminus.

What to Bring

Water is the most important item. Carry at least 2 liters per person for the full 6.8-mile round trip. In October and November when daytime temps can still reach 80 degrees, bump that to 3 liters. There is no water source anywhere on this trail.

Footwear matters on the rocky upper sections. Trail runners work well on the sandy lower canyon. Hikers who want more ankle support for the rocky upper miles should wear hiking boots with good grip. Sandals are a bad idea past mile 1.

Sun protection is non-negotiable. The canyon walls provide almost no overhead shade. A sun hoodie is a better choice than sunscreen alone, especially for the mid-canyon sections that face south. Sunglasses and a hat are required.

For water storage, a hydration reservoir works better than bottles on longer canyon hikes. It keeps your hands free and makes it easier to drink without stopping.

Photo Spots

Canyon mouth at golden hour. Park and walk 15 minutes to the first section of tall walls. In the morning, light hits the north wall orange cliffs from about 8 to 10 a.m. The warm-to-cool color contrast between the lit canyon wall and the shadowed floor makes for strong images. Afternoon light here is harsh and flat.

The boulder field at mile 2. The tumbled boulders create natural framing for the upper canyon walls behind them. Shoot west from the boulders in early morning when the upper walls are lit and the floor is still in shadow. A wide-angle lens captures the scale well.

Canyon terminus. The dead-end wall at 3.4 miles is the most dramatic photo location on the trail. In late morning, light drops into the upper section of the wall and the deep red sandstone glows. This is worth timing your hike to reach between 10 a.m. and noon. See our desert photography guide for more on working with canyon light.

Safety Notes

Heat: Long Canyon looks cool and inviting, but the canyon floor reflects heat effectively from both walls. On days above 75 degrees F, start before 8 a.m. and plan to be back at the trailhead by noon. Carry more water than you think you need.

Flash floods: Long Canyon is a drainage canyon. If there is any thunderstorm activity within 20 miles, do not enter the canyon. Water from storms miles away can arrive in the canyon without warning. Check the National Weather Service forecast before your hike and watch the sky during monsoon season (July through September).

Wildlife: This area has rattlesnakes from April through October. Watch where you step and where you put your hands on rocks. Coyotes and Javelina are also common in the canyon. Give all wildlife plenty of space.

No cell service: Cell coverage is spotty in the canyon. Download an offline map before you go. Tell someone your plans and expected return time.

For any trail emergency, call 911.

Best Time to Go

October and November hit the sweet spot for Long Canyon. Daytime highs in Sedona run 65 to 75 degrees F, the light is warm and long, and trail traffic is light on weekdays. The sandy canyon floor is dry and stable after the summer monsoons. These two months are the best the trail offers.

December through February is cold by desert standards. Morning temps in the canyon can drop below freezing. The light is lower in the sky and the north-facing canyon walls stay in shade longer. That shadow means beautiful soft light on the south-facing walls until late morning. Bring an insulating layer and gloves for early starts.

March and April bring more hikers but the wildflowers and green vegetation are worth it. The canyon floor collects runoff from spring rains and the vegetation along the wash is noticeably greener than any other time of year.

May is a transitional month. By mid-May, afternoon temps in Sedona can push 90 degrees F in the canyon. Morning starts are still comfortable, but you want to be back at the trailhead by noon. Don’t push it past that.

June through September is the season to skip. Heat is the obvious reason. But monsoon season (mid-July through September) adds flash flood risk that makes canyon hiking genuinely dangerous. Wait for October.

Related Trails

If Long Canyon is on your list, these nearby trails are worth adding to your Sedona itinerary.

Secret Canyon Trail goes deeper and narrower. It’s longer with more elevation gain, but the upper canyon is even more dramatic than Long Canyon. Plan a full day.

Cockscomb and Aerie Trail Loop climbs to the ridge above the Long Canyon area for views back down into the canyon system. A good second-day option after Long Canyon.