Sedona Off-Road Trails: Which Routes Can ATVs and UTVs Ride?

The official route list

The Coconino National Forest highlights 11 different OHV routes in the Sedona area of the Red Rock Ranger District, with difficulty running from Easy, which means a dirt forest road, up to extreme 4WD routes that need high clearance. That list is your ground truth for what a rented ATV or UTV can legally ride.

The main forest rule is simple: do not drive off an open and authorized road, and obey speed limits while minimizing noise in neighborhoods. The forest also posts an alert about severe flooding with many closures in the Red Rock Ranger District, so check conditions with the district before you ride.

Named routes on the list include Broken Arrow, a 4-mile round trip, the Outlaw route at a 10.5-mile loop, Diamondback Gulch at a 6-mile loop, Soldier Pass at 2.5 miles round trip, Schnebly Hill at 11 miles one way, Ranch Loop at 6.5 miles, Cliffhanger at 5.5 miles one way and Powerline at 6.5 miles one way.

Vehicle class rules

Arizona law splits the routes. On National Forest roads marked with horizontal route markers, only a street-legal vehicle may drive, which means a motorcycle plate plus an OHV decal. A nonresident needs the Arizona OHV decal for machines designed mainly for unimproved terrain that weigh 2,500 pounds or less, including street-legal ones. Nonresidents do not need the decal for dual-sport motorcycles or 4x4 vehicles.

If you rent from a tour operator, ask whether the machine already carries the decal, because the state page does not say whether rental or tour vehicles are covered. Guided tours handle all of this for you, which is the simplest legal path.

If you want to self-drive

Rentals run all day in West Sedona. For a full day, the Vortex full-day side-by-side rental gives you 8 hours at $575 per vehicle.

Broken Arrow

The Broken Arrow OHV Trail is a renowned 3.9-mile off-road route within the Coconino National Forest, and the forest service lists it as a 4-mile round trip. Earth Trekkers ranks it hardest of the six Sedona 4WD roads it covers, listed easiest to hardest as Schnebly Hill Road, Dry Creek Basin, Outlaw Trail, Diamondback Gulch, Soldier Pass Road and Broken Arrow.

One quirk matters if you navigate by phone: Broken Arrow is the only one of the six 4WD roads not on Google Maps, so download a detailed map before you go. If you would rather sit back, a guide drives it for you, and the Pink Jeep Scenic Rim Tour covers the red rock rims in 2.5 hours from $138 per person.

The other five classic roads

Broken Arrow tops a list of six. Schnebly Hill Road runs 12 to 17 miles in 2 to 3 hours, rated easy to adventurous. Dry Creek Basin is an 11-mile easy drive of about 2 hours.

Outlaw Trail is a 6.4-mile moderate point-to-point of about 2 hours. Diamondback Gulch and Soldier Pass round out the set. Each gets its own section below.

The route

Schnebly Hill Road starts east of Uptown Sedona and runs 12 to 17 miles depending on how far you go, taking 2 to 3 hours, rated easy to adventurous with a low thrill factor. The forest service lists it at 11 miles one way. Sedona Off-Road Center describes it as a 13-mile historic route, once a cattle route from the early 20th century.

Key stops come in a handy sequence. The Merry-Go-Round rock formation sits at mile 4.0 and Schnebly Hill Vista at 5.7 miles, with an optional 3-mile Volcanic Rim Loop rated adventurous. The road also passes the Cow Pies, with views over Bear Wallow Canyon, Munds Mountain and the Verde Valley.

Directions, camping and the Flagstaff end

Directions are simple from town: the route starts east of Uptown Sedona and climbs northeast toward the Mogollon Rim on the Flagstaff side. Schnebly Hill Road camping is not stated on any page we cover, so check with the Red Rock Ranger District at 8375 State Route 179, phone (928) 203-7500, before planning an overnight. If you would rather leave the driving to someone else, the Rim Run Supreme jeep tour up Schnebly Hill Road runs 2.5 hours from $124 per person.

Dry Creek Basin and Vultee Arch

Dry Creek Basin is an 11-mile easy drive of about 2 hours in West Sedona. Its main uses are hiking Devils Bridge, visiting the Van Deren Cabin at the 2.6 mile point, and reaching the Vultee Arch trailhead for a 3.6 mile round trip hike. The Van Deren Cabin was originally built in the 1920s and last renovated in the 1930s by the Van Deren family.

Devils Bridge is the reason most people drive it. Taking an OHV to Devils Bridge cuts the hike to 1.6 miles round trip from the trailhead versus roughly 4 miles and 4 to 5 hours on foot, and the drive fits a 2-hour rental. If you only have two hours booked, this is the route to pick.

Terrain and the Honanki connection

Outlaw Trail is rated moderate difficulty with rocky terrain and sandy patches. Earth Trekkers describes it as a 6.4-mile moderate point-to-point drive of about 2 hours in West Sedona, usually turned into a loop with FR 525. The forest service lists the Outlaw route as a 10.5-mile loop.

The payoff is the Honanki Heritage Site, ancient ruins reached from the trail. Honanki is open 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas, and closes above 100°F or when roads are impassable. Day use there costs $5 per vehicle per day, $15 per week or $20 per year via Red Rock Pass, sold at the on-site machine. The road to Honanki is not regularly maintained and is rocky in places, so a high-clearance vehicle is recommended. If you would rather have a driver handle it, the Outlaw Trail off-road jeep tour runs 3 hours from $134.81 per person.

Diamondback Gulch

The forest service lists Diamondback Gulch as a 6-mile loop. In the six-road ranking it sits fifth of six, harder than Soldier Pass and easier than Broken Arrow. Expect rocky desert terrain and allow a couple of hours at a relaxed pace.

Soldier Pass and its permit

The Soldier Pass OHV route runs 2.5 miles round trip and requires a permit booked at least 72 hours ahead on Recreation.gov. That lead time makes it a planning route, not a spontaneous one, so book early if it is on your list. Soldier Pass is also served for hikers by the free Sedona Shuttle from park-and-ride lots, roughly 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., which is an option for anyone in your group skipping the ride.

The OHV decal

Arizona requires a valid OHV decal on public and state trust land for any vehicle designed mainly for unimproved terrain that weighs 2,500 pounds or less, including street-legal ones. Nonresidents have had to buy the decal before riding since September 1, 2019, and each machine needs its own non-transferable decal. Nonresidents do not need the decal for dual-sport motorcycles or 4x4 vehicles.

The decal costs $25 plus a processing fee for residents and nonresidents alike and is valid for one year. Buy it online at ohv.azgfd.com or in person at AZGFD offices in Kingman, Mesa or Yuma. A receipt or screenshot works as proof of purchase for up to 30 days while the decal is mailed, which takes two to three weeks. If you rent, ask the operator whether the machine already carries the decal, because the state page does not say whether rental or tour vehicles are covered.

Permits and passes

Route permits are separate from the decal. Soldier Pass requires a permit booked at least 72 hours ahead on Recreation.gov. Casner Mountain, at 6.75 miles one way, needs a free permit, limited per year, by calling the Red Rock Ranger Station.

For parking, a Red Rock Pass costs $5 daily, $15 weekly or $20 annually and is valid at Coconino National Forest fee sites in the Sedona area only. You need a pass when you leave your vehicle at a fee site, and the forest service page does not say whether driving through without stopping needs one. The America the Beautiful annual pass costs $80 and can be used instead of a Red Rock Pass at many Sedona-area sites. A Red Rock Pass is not valid at national parks or Arizona state parks, which charge their own entry fees, and passes can be bought on Recreation.gov, where your license plate is recorded instead of a printed pass. A pass covers everyone in the vehicle, and the cardholder must be present.

Routes by rental length

A 2-hour rental covers the Dry Creek Basin run to Devils Bridge, where the OHV shortens the hike to 1.6 miles round trip versus roughly 4 miles and 4 to 5 hours on foot. Four hours opens up the Outlaw Trail loop, Diamondback Gulch and the shorter end of Schnebly Hill Road. Eight hours, or a full-day rental, covers Schnebly Hill Road end to end at 11 miles one way plus a second route.

Guided tours solve the matching for you. The guided ATV tour of the West Sedona backcountry runs 4 hours with about 3 hours riding at $229.59 per person.

Booking rules to know

Sedona Off-Road Center is at 3075 AZ-89A, open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, and advises booking 2 to 3 weeks ahead for weekends and holidays. Its primary renter must be 21 or older with a credit card in their name, children must be 5 or older, a helmet is included for every rider, goggles are not provided, and a full refund applies for cancellations at least 48 hours ahead. Arizona ATV Adventures gives a full refund when cancelling at least 48 hours before the tour, and helmets, goggles, water and snacks are included on its ATV tours.

Its ATV tour drivers must be 15½ with a permit or license, drivers under 17 need a parent or guardian on the tour, and its RZR rental primary driver must be 21 or older with a valid license.

The gear laws

Under ARS 28-1179 a person under 18 may not operate or ride in an OHV on public or state land without a properly fitted and fastened helmet with a US DOT rating, and an adult may not allow a person under 18 to drive or ride without it. A child passenger is exempt only if secured in a child restraint system and the vehicle has a rollover protection system.

Beyond helmets, eye protection is required when operating an OHV on streets and highways under ARS 28-964A. An OHV must have seats and footrests for the operator and each passenger it is designed to carry. Lights are required from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise. The machine needs a muffler keeping sound under 96 decibels and a USDA-approved spark arrestor, and to be street-legal it needs brakes and a brake light, headlight and taillight visible 500 feet, a horn audible 200 feet, a mirror, license plate and a working muffler. Remember that Sedona Off-Road Center includes a helmet for every rider but does not provide goggles, so bring eye protection if you rent there.

Where to go beyond Sedona

AllTrails groups off-road driving trails around Sedona by nearby town, including Munds Park, Cornville, Cottonwood, Jerome, Camp Verde and Happy Jack. Munds Park and Happy Jack sit in the cooler pine country toward Flagstaff, while Cottonwood and Camp Verde hold the lower Verde Valley routes. Not stated on the pages we cover are difficulty ratings for these town networks, so pick per trail once you choose a town.

Cottonwood also works as a combined day. Day-use entry to Dead Horse Ranch State Park costs $10 for one person per vehicle, $20 per vehicle with 2 to 4 people, or $5 per individual or bicycle. For a machine for that area, the Vortex full-day side-by-side rental in Sedona and Cottonwood covers both towns in one booking.

Getting there

Sedona sits 113.4 miles and about 2 hours from Phoenix via I-17 and SR 179 or SR 89A, so a morning start from Phoenix still leaves most of a day on the trails. A proposed 15 mph OHV limit applies only on City of Sedona-owned streets signed by resolution, starting with Morgan Road, and never on ADOT-owned SR 89A or SR 179, so town streets and highways follow different rules.

Elevation, heat and motion

The pages we cover do not state Sedona's elevation figure, so the exact number is not stated, but the temperature data tells the story. Red Rock State Park near Sedona averages highs from 56°F in January up to 97°F in July and 94°F in August, with rain peaking at 2.47 inches in March and 1.94 inches in September. Riding a machine on rocky trails in 90-degree heat invites motion sickness and dehydration, so start early and carry more water than you think you need.

The seasons shape your ride. Winter rides run cool, with January highs of 56°F and lows of 30°F, so layer up. Summer afternoons are the hottest window, and the Honanki Heritage Site closes above 100°F, which tells you when sites start shutting. Spring and fall give the most comfortable trail temperatures.

How they connect to your ride

Visit Sedona publishes a Sedona Secret 7 collection of lesser-known hikes, one of which is the Palatki Heritage Site in its Ancient Trails grouping. The Red Rock Ranger District office that administers these sites is at 8375 State Route 179, Sedona, phone (928) 203-7500.

For your ATV day, the practical link is trailhead access. Riding Dry Creek Basin puts you at the Vultee Arch trailhead for a 3.6 mile round trip hike, cutting the walking time drastically. The Sedona Shuttle also serves trailheads for hikers, including Cathedral Rock, Little Horse, Soldier Pass, Dry Creek Vista and Mescal from free park-and-ride lots, roughly 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., so mixed groups can split between riding and hiking and still meet at the same sites.

Which map to use

The Coconino National Forest publishes a page of Sedona area OHV routes in the Red Rock Ranger District, highlighting 11 routes with difficulty ratings. That page is your official reference and the closest thing to a printable route list. Earth Trekkers provides its own Google map of six 4WD roads and notes that Broken Arrow is the only one of the six not on Google Maps, which is why a detailed map matters for that route.

Check conditions before you go. The forest service alert on the OHV page reports severe flooding with many closures in the Red Rock Ranger District, so confirm your route is open with the Red Rock Ranger District at 8375 State Route 179, phone (928) 203-7500. Forest closures elsewhere in the forest, near the San Francisco Peaks, Pumphouse Wash and Marshall Lake, sit in the Flagstaff district rather than Sedona.

Beginner picks

Earth Trekkers lists the six Sedona 4WD roads easiest to hardest as Schnebly Hill Road, Dry Creek Basin, Outlaw Trail, Diamondback Gulch, Soldier Pass Road and Broken Arrow. Dry Creek Basin is explicitly rated easy, an 11-mile drive of about 2 hours, and Schnebly Hill Road is rated easy to adventurous with a low thrill factor, so its lower miles suit a first drive. Save Broken Arrow and the adventurous Volcanic Rim Loop for a later trip.

A guided tour is the other beginner route. The guided ATV tour of the West Sedona backcountry runs 4 hours including about 3 hours on the trail at $229.59 per person, rated 4.9 from 1,885 reviews, and includes helmets, goggles, water and snacks. The Rim Run Supreme jeep tour up Schnebly Hill Road puts a driver in charge for 2.5 hours at $124 per person. On the state OHV safety front, at least one owner per vehicle must complete a free online OHV safety course, a 10-minute video with 20 questions, by June 1, 2027, a rule that applies to owners rather than renters.

Plan around the weather

Winter riding means cold mornings, with December highs of 57°F and lows of 31°F. Summer means heat, with July highs of 97°F, so book early slots. Spring and fall deliver the mildest trail conditions, with April averaging 73°F and October 77°F. Whichever season you pick, confirm trail openings with the ranger district, because flooding closures have been active in the Red Rock Ranger District.