A mountain biker navigating a rocky trail through a desert landscape, surrounded by red rock formations and sparse vegetation, with distant hills visible under a clear blue sky. Upper Dry Creek Area Trails mountain bike trail.
See all photos (132)
×
User
Today
 
  |   Rate it:

Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 32 mi (51.5 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Network
Elevation: +733/ -758 ft
Total: 91 riders
 

Mountain Biking Upper Dry Creek Area Trails

*****   Add a review
#5 of 417 mountain bike trails in Arizona
#124 in the world

The Upper Dry Creek Area Trails are easily accessible from West Sedona and include a lot of Sedona classics like Chuckwagon, Mescal, and Aerie. While this trail system offers gorgeous views, exposure, rocks, and some tech features, on average this is a more cross country-oriented trail system. Don't let that keep you away, though: these flowy-yet-rocky trails are mountain biking gold!

First added by Greg Heil on Nov 4, 2014. Last updated Apr 27, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
  • Drinking water: unknown
  • Lift service: unknown
  • Night riding: yes
  • Pump track: unknown
  • Restrooms: unknown
  • Fat bike grooming: unknown
  • E-bikes allowed: unknown
  • Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Getting there
AZ
System trails (16)
Advanced difficultyAerie*****3 mi
Intermediate difficultyAnaconda****2 mi
Intermediate difficultyArizona Cypress***1 mi
 difficultyCanyon of Fools1.2 mi
Intermediate difficultyChuck Wagon*****11 mi
Intermediate difficultyCockscomb Trail****6 mi
Beginner difficultyDawa Loop***3 mi
Intermediate difficultyDeadman's Pass****1 mi
Intermediate difficultyGirdner Trail***5 mi
Intermediate difficultyLong Canyon****6 mi
Intermediate difficultyMescal Trail*****13 mi
 difficultyOK Trail0 mi
Intermediate difficultyRupp Trail****1 mi
 difficultySnake Trail1 mi
 difficultyTwo Fence Trail1 mi
 difficultyWestern Civilization3 mi
Featured in


Upper Dry Creek Area Trails Trail map

Add to or improve this map // Share this map on your website

Local Info

Club Sponsor

-

Trail checkins

V1c70r (6 days ago)
What's this?

Upcoming Events

None.
Add one

Trail conditions

Good (6 days ago)
login to update

Camping & Lodging

Coming soon!

Upper Dry Creek Area Trails videos

Add a video
 
These videos have been shared by members of the Singletracks community. Report inappropriate content here.

More trail photos




Mountain Bike Trails Near Sedona, Arizona

****
Advanced | 3 mi
****
Intermediate | 15 mi
| 2 mi
Intermediate | 2 mi

Add a review

Rating
 
Difficulty
 
Review

Reviews

  • Bubblehead10MM   ✓ supporter
    Reviewing Mescal Trail:
    *****

    Let’s say advanced intermediate. Mescal is a wonderful trail with good flow that accesses the Deadman’s canyon and Boynton Canyon trails, from Chuckwagon and the Long canyon rd area. The exposures are modest and if they scare anyone they can be walked. I would like to session back and forth on this one a bunch of times. Loved it!!!

    Reply | Thank
  • Gdb49
    Reviewing Arizona Cypress:

    Part of a great network, otherwise nothing special.

    Reply | Thank
  • Gdb49
    Reviewing Anaconda:
    ****

    Part of a great network, fun and beautiful.

    Reply | Thank
  • Gdb49
    Reviewing Aerie:
    *****

    Amazing trail, scenery to match.

    Reply | Thank
  • Gdb49
    Reviewing Girdner Trail:
    ****

    As of March 2019, this trails been completely recut and is an excellent trail. Don't let earlier reviews scare you off!

    Reply | Thank
  • chuckpelley
    *****

    great singletrack, with curves, sand, rock slabs and more. Great for the intermediate rider. We did a fun loop; long canyon, deadman's pass, aerie, cockscomb to dawa and up the mescal long canyon connector.

    Reply | Thank
  • TK34
    Reviewing Mescal Trail:
    *****

    Probably my favorite trail I did in Sedona, because Hiline was too much for me. Just an awesome area, great views, great weather. Mescal is part of other really good trails in Upper Dry Creek, with really good flow, some tech, and some exposure to keep your attention.

    Reply | Thank
  • bradbardo
    Reviewing Mescal Trail:

    Amazing - I love biking on sliprock on the side of a mountain.

    Reply | Thank
  • Ben Stolinski
    Reviewing Chuck Wagon:
    *****

    Super fun trail that connects to quite a few other trails. Intermediate trail friendly enough for beginners and fun enough for advanced riders. We connected to about a dozen other trails in the area in the following order (going counter clockwise across NW Sedona): Lizardhead, chuckwagon, mescal, yucca, long canyon, conayon of fools, anaconda, and two forks. There are so many other offshoots to other trail systems you can really mix it up however you like. Super scenic the entire way with some fun downhills into dry river beds and off massive red rocks. Some exposure, but not beyond an intermediate's skill level. Highly recommend and would totally ride again if I ever come back to Arizona!

    Reply | Thank
  • [email protected]
    Reviewing Chuck Wagon:
    ***

    Not one of my favorites in the area, but it does have a few fun spots. There's really not a lot of places to just "let-r rip", seems like you're always climbing and the descents are covered with half buried rocks that always seem to be right in your line!

    Reply | Thank
  • Chris155
    Reviewing Aerie:
    *****

    Lots of fun here and many options to extend. A very good introduction to Sedona and West Sedona to those here the first time. Go to Famous Pizza when done. Good food and beer right on 89a and Dry Creek Road (gateway to many biking and hiking routes)

    Reply | Thank
  • CFM   ✓ supporter
    Reviewing Chuck Wagon:
    ****

    Rode this trail early in the morning. Really enjoyed the variety of terrain and loved the way some sections were laid out. The route was generally easy to follow with adequate signage. Not too technical like some of the trails in Sedona.

    Reply | Thank
  • dschmitz8565
    Reviewing Chuck Wagon:
    ****

    Awesome single track in Sedona! This was my first ride in Sedona. Started at Mescal trailhead and rode mescal, deadmans pass, long canyon and chuck wagon. Rode these in clockwise fashion and had a blast. Some fun down hills along with some short technical climbs.

    Reply | Thank
  • jashay77   ✓ supporter
    Reviewing Mescal Trail:

    Nice trail that allows you to enjoy great views and a dramatic setting with less of the danger and difficulty of other Sedona trails. I rode it from East to West in a counter-clockwise loop that included Deadman's Pass, Aerie, Cockscomb, etc.

    Reply | Thank
  • Avfc80
    Reviewing Aerie:
    ****

    Great All mountain trail, excellent views... when your not looking at the trial... add in Chuckwagon and Mescal for a great loop

    Reply | Thank
  • sellnit
    ****

    Wide open trails, loose uphills, exposed mountain trails. This area has it all with the exception of the extreme of the H trails. Rode Aerie, Mescal, Canyon of fools, Girdner. Only reason I give this a 4 is due to it being full of hikers on the weekend.

    Reply | Thank
  • psherwood
    *****

    Loved these trails! They are challenging and a lot of fun. You can't beat the views either. Lots of rock gardens and sandy stretches plus some slick rock. These trails have it all. Just watch out for the cacti!

    Reply | Thank

Rider questions

Q: How would I get to the trail head? I pulled up the map on Google maps, but it isn't very clear.
A: we went up dry creek to long canyon to the trailhead there

Q: is it ok if i use a bike that isnt a mountain bike
A: Give it a shot. That's how you'll find out if you like trail riding.