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BEAVERHEAD FLAT TRAILS
View from Beaverhead Flat outer trail
The trails of Beaverhead Flat aren’t the easiest to follow. 
Typical scene on Beaverhead Flat
Encroaching creosote, sandy substates, random cattle tracks and drainages that scour the level landscape make picking out the maze of paths a challenge in places. 
Lizard-Tail bloom April - October
Located a few miles south of Sedona in a pocket of high desert flatlands in Yavapai County near Cornville, the Beaverhead Flat trailhead is a bare bones entry point to a series of old roads that have been repurposed into non-motorized routes open to hikers, bikers and horses. 
Sedona landforms to the north
The sparsely signed, sketchy paths circle an oblong ridge rolling out a carousel of unobscured mountain vistas. 
Trails are mostly unsigned and sketchy
When compared to the 15-mile Limestone Trail that passes to the north, linking Red Rock and Dead Horse Ranch State Parks and the White Hills Single Track mountain bike system across the way, the trails in this desolate parcel are primitive. 
Yucca on FR9205D
But that’s part of the site’s character, which oozes with old ranch flavor and open range braided cattle tracks. 
FR9205D
The trail system is came up of a 3-mile outer loop—sometimes called the Beaverhead Loop and a 0.57-mile crosscut also referred to as Juniper Ridge. 
Crucifixion thorn on outer loop
Based on faded road signs placed at junctions, the outer loop follows Forest Road 9205B and the crosscut is Forest Road 9205D. 
Blue gilia bloom May - November
A third road, FR9205C is a short spur out-and-back to a scenic overlook —-at least from what I could see. 
Mountain vistas on the outer loop
The lack of directional signs, cairns or consistent tread is a refreshing diversion from over manicured trails that remove any need for thinking. It’s undiluted rangeland road walking at its best.
A few feet past the trailhead gate, the (unsigned) outer loop splits.
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| Trails circle this ridge |
I took the right leg which headed out through acres of creosote, crucifixion thorn and a smattering of junipers that grow just high enough to tickle-frame hazy views Coconino National Forest mountain peaks to the east and Sedona’s iconic landforms to the north.
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| Silverleaf nightshade bloom May - October |
Unapologetically shadeless, the sun bleached plains peppered with cacti and scrub bursting from a limestone foundation would loose its mojo under cover of trees. The open-to-the-sky ambience is its currency.
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| One of the few signed junctions |
Along this leg, the trail vacillates among narrow single-tracks, rutted two-tracks and confusingly braided game trails. At the 0.9-mile point, the trail meets a metal water tank where the route seems to vanish.
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| Fractured flats |
I took the dirt road heading left from the tank and followed it to the 1.3-mile point where a sign for FR 9025D wrapped in creosote indicates a vague trail heading left.
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| Water tank on the route |
This short segment makes an easy uphill through fractured drainages and a tiny juniper forest.
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| Spreading Four O'Clock bloom Apr - Sept |
Topping out on a crest with some of the best views of the fringes of Sedona, the trail heads back downhill passing prickly pear cacti, rattan and magnificent yuccas that frame views of the Bradshaw Mountains.
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| Engelmann's Prickly Pear blooms April-June |
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| Trails start behind the gate |
The trail meets the junction with FR 9205C at the 1.8 mile point, then descends lazily back to the trailhead.
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| Trialhead entry |
LENGTH:
Circuit described here: 2.2 mile loop
Outer (Beaverhead) Loop: 3 miles
Crossover Path (Juniper Pass): 0.57 mile
RATING: easy
ELEVATION:
As described here: 3,744 - 3,603 feet
Outer Loop: 3,847 - 3,603 feet
GETTING THERE:
From Interstate 17 north of Camp Verde, take the McGuireville/Montezuma Well exit 293. At the end of the offramp, go left and continue 5 miles on Cornville Road (County Road 30) to Beaverhead Flat Road on the right. Turn right and go a few yards to the trailhead on the left. The dirt lot is huge with room for horse trailers. There are no fees or facilities at this trailhead. Roads are paved all the way to the trailhead.
