Longshot-Turkey Creek Loop

LONGSHOT-TURKEY CREEK CIRCUIT

Slick rock segment on the Longshot Trail

Like many intriguing adventure stories, this one begins on a familiar launch pad then dives into things unknown with shiny new temptations and unexpected turns.

Longshot Trail

The legendary  Turkey Creek trailhead along Verde Valley School Road in the Village of Oak Creek has evolved from a somewhat remote, lightly used access point for its eponymous trail into a gateway to a growing stable of new hiking routes.

Longshot Trail 

The acres of hill-acious high desert west of the super popular trails orbiting Cathedral Rock are being developed with a 21-mile maze of loopy routes that diverge from the legacy Turkey Creek Trail. 

Ocotillos on the Longshot Trail

Over the past year, several of the planned routes of the Turkey Creek Trail System in Coconino National Forest  have debuted—-Del Sol, Third Rock, Rodeo, Lion King, Pony Up, Hyena and Giddy Up, to name a few.

Desert Four O'Clock bloom Mar-Sept

And, just when it seemed the system couldn’t get any better—it did. 

New trail ready for permanent signage 

Enter the Longshot Trail.  This one, which makes a U-shaped loop off the Turkey Creek Trail one mile from the trailhead, officially opened this spring. There’s never a dull moment on this fresh-cut, mile long single track. Every yard is a joy to hike. 

Big vistas on Turkey Creek Trail

From the first junction, the route hits a slick rock passage hugging the base of high, red sandstone cliffs. The edgy segment is packed with ocotillo-framed vistas and moderate drop-offs that overlook grasslands below the House Mountain volcano. 

Strawberry hedgehog cactus bloom Mar-Apr

The rocky section then dips into shaded juniper-pine-fir woodlands, passing the Pony Up junction at the 1.4 mile point. From here, the trail jogs over drainages that feed wildflower meadows rife with primroses, Miniature Wool Star, penstemons, Blackfoot daisies, and brilliant magenta Desert Four O’Clock.

Fragrant cliff-rose bloom Apr-Sept

 

View from Longshot Trail

A fringe of blooming cacti and shrubs add continuous splashes of color springing from the sandy soils.  The west end of the loop rejoins Turkey Creek at the 2.3-mile point.  For a 4-miler, head right and follow the basket cairns back to the trailhead.

Longshot trail junction

 

Kudos must go to the forest service and volunteer teams that constructed these trails.

Littleleaf Ratany blooms Apr -Sept

Clearly, they are experts in sustainable builds that deliver what trail users want—variety, customizable lengths, eye candy and enough challenge to get the heart pounding. 

Miniature Wool Star bloom Mar - Jun

The “new trail shine” on these recent additions to the Sedona area hike menu won’t be rubbing off anytime soon. 

Drainage crossing on Longshot Trail

LENGTH:  4.2 miles

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 3,901 - 4,022 feet

GETTING THERE:

Turkey Creek Trailhead

From State Route 179 in the Village of Oak Creek, go 4 miles west on Verde Valley School Road to Forest Road 216B on the left. Park in the dirt lot at the large forest service sign a few yards in. Follow the “trail” signs to  access the route.  There is another optional trailhead a mile down FR216B for those with high-clearance vehicles. There are no facilities or fees at this trailhead.

Roads are paved up to the last half mile which is maintained dirt suitable for all vehicles. 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino

Lion King-Hyena Circuit

LION KING-HYENA CIRCUIT

Hyena-Lion King Trail junction 

The new Turkey Creek Area trail system is a no-brainer candidate for your next hiking obsession. 

Blackfoot daisies on Turkey Creek Trail

The pocket of high desert in Coconino National Forest south of Red Rock State Park and Oak Creek has been consistently rolling out new non-motorized trails on its way to a 21-mile menu due to be completed in 2028. 

View from Hyena Trail

This March, two new routes debuted off the legacy Turkey Creek Trail.

Forested section of Lion King Trail

Purpose built for mountain bikers to test their mettle, the Lion King and Hyena trails are rife with technical elements, swooping flats and tight bends—features that are fun for hikers as well. 

Featherplume

View near hike high point

From the first Turkey Creek parking area on Forest Road 216B, (a second trailhead is a half-mile farther down the 4x4 road) the hike heads west on the Turkey Creek Trail.

Napoleon's Tomb (left) and Cathedral Rock (right)

This easy 0.7-mile segment moves through fir-juniper woodlands with an understory of scrub oak, cliff-rose and a riot of wildflower color. 

Cliff-rose

Fuzzy featherplume bushes add pops of purple while Blackfoot daisies and banana yuccas sprout brilliant cream-colored blooms throughout the hike.

Overlooking Oak Creek

At the signed Lion King junction, the route bends southeast and starts a gradual climb on alternating red dirt and slick rock staircases. 

The trail engineering here is amazing. Not only are the trails laid out for maximum visual impact, they also take advantage of the natural contours of the landscape with hand-built walls, steps and stabilizing structures that blend seamlessly with the terrain. 

Technical section on Lion King

After a couple of steep techie climbs, big views of Sedona area landmarks stretch out all around from the route’s high point at the Hyena trail junction at 0.9-mile. 

Texas Storkbill 

Overlooking the green corridor of Oak Creek, the pinnacle serves up vistas of Cathedral Rock, Capitol Butte and the House Mountain Volcano. 

Banana yucca buds

Hyena trail then twists slightly downhill. Milder than Lion King but still packed with some challenges, the 0.67-mile path rounds a prominent rock formation before reconnecting with Lion King. 

Turkey Creek Trail

For a 3-mile loop hike, head right at the junction and follow Lion King’s track back up to the pinnacle and retrace your steps.  Never intended to be boring, both new trails have just enough challenge and exposure to register somewhere between exhilarating and stupid—in other words, fun.

Lion King and Hyena opened March 2026

Besides, the day you let the distinction muddle your sense of adventure is the day you should stop hiking. 

LENGTH: 3 miles roundtrip

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 3,922 - 4,280 feet

GETTING THERE:

Turkey Creek Trailhead

From State Route 179 in the Village of Oak Creek, go 4 miles west on Verde Valley School Road to Forest Road 216B on the left. Park in the dirt lot at the large forest service sign a few yards in. Follow the “trail” signs to  access the route.  There are no facilities or fees at this trailhead.

Roads are paved up to the last half mile which is maintained dirt suitable for all vehicles. 

Third Rock-Rodeo-Del Sol Loop

THIRD ROCK-RODEO-DEL SOL LOOP

Exposed slick rock on the Third Rock Trail

If it were possible to mold adrenaline into a hiking path, it might look like the Third Rock Trail.

View from the Rodeo Trail

As one of the newest trail additions to the Turkey Creek area in Coconino National Forest, the twisted route is rife with heart-pumping fun. 

The new trails are well signed

For years, the only official trail in the hilly high desert around the House Mountain volcano was the Turkey Creek Trail, a 4-mile legacy route that’s part single track, part old livestock path.

An edgy segment on the Third Rock Trail

  It’s still a great choice for a slightly under-the -radar wander through a cottonwood cluttered basin and a climb up to the rim of an extinct volcano.  But the isolated route is getting some company in the form of new connecting trails.

A typical scene on the Third Rock Trail

The long under appreciated space in Coconino National Forest south of Cathedral Rock is undergoing a major renovation that will include 21 miles of non-motorized routes by its projected completion date in 2028.

A slick rock ledge on the Del Sol Trail

Opened in January 2026 the Third Rock and Rodeo trails spin off of the Del Sol Trail which was completed in summer of 2025. Del Sol connects with the Turkey Creek Trail and was designed to be a major artery for future trail development. 

Tufted Evening Primrose on the Del Sol Trail

To experience the Third Rock and Rodeo trails, start at the Del Sol trailhead on Verde Valley School Road in the Village of Oak Creek. 

Slick rock passage on the Third Rock Trail

A few yards in on Del Sol, the Third Rock trail bends west, heading easily uphill where it traces red rock cliff faces. The route is a series of hairpin turns, slick rock passages and a few high-steps. It hangs mostly close to the edge with some steep drop offs and excellent views of Cathedral Rock, Capitol Butte, Wilson Mountain and other famous Sedona geological landmarks. 

A steep jump on the Rodeo Trail

Where the trail dips into ravines, junipers, cypress and sugar sumac trees provide welcome shade from the sun-drenched exposed ledges.  At the 1.3-mile point, the Rodeo trail spins off to the right.  The short but tricky segment begins with an immediate 200-foot steep drop. 

Bajada Lupine on the Del Sol Trail

Purpose built for mountain bikers, the twisty path features technical obstacles, jumps and tight turns before reconnecting with Third Rock. Hikers might want to skip this 0.34-mile leg to avoid bike encounters, and stay on Third Rock instead. 

Junipers on the Third Rock Trail

The route meets the Del Sol Trail at the 1.7-mile point. For a 3.7-mile loop, head right at the junction for the final leg back to the trailhead.  Throughout the hike, the sound of vehicles on Verde Valley School Road is a constant soundtrack, but the faint noise is swallowed up in visual distractions. Key points of interest on Del Sol are several slick rock ledges with unobstructed views. Myriad blooming shrubs, cacti and high desert wildflowers add color to all three of these newest additions to the expanding menu of Turkey Creek hiking trails.

The Del Sol trailhead

LENGTH:  3.7-mile loop

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 4, 056-4,304 feet (1,055 feet total elevation change)

NOTES: E-bikes are not allowed. Third Rock and Rodeo are not recommended for horses.

GETTING THERE:

Del Sol Trailhead:

From State Route 179 in the Village of Oak Creek, go 2.1 miles west on Verde Valley School Road to the parking apron on the left. There are no fees at this trailhead. 

Del Sol Trail

 DEL SOL TRAIL

Cathedral Rock and Wilson Mountain

An 

underappreciated slice of 

Coconino National Forest just got an upgrade.  

A slick rock overlook on the Del Sol Trail 

With the  opening of the new Del Sol Trail off Verde Valley School Road near the Village of Oak Creek, hikers, bikers and equestrians get a taste of what’s in the works for the Turkey Creek area south of the popular Baldwin-Cathedral Rock system of trails.  

Cliffs bolster the Del Sol Trail

The 3.3-mile, moderate-rated route which opened this summer is to be a main artery in a 10-trail, 21-mile matrix of non-motorized trails which are projected to be completed between 2026 and 2028.  

Sign at the Transept Trailhead

Beginning at the Transept trailhead, the Del Sol Trail never strays too far from the road and brushes up against private properties in spots.

Amazing rock formations throughout the hike

But the fringe of suburbs, ranches and the Verde Valley School visible below the trail doesn’t dilute the distinct Red Rock Country ambience.  

A shady patch on the Del Sol Trail

Patches of pinion pine, junipers, sugar sumac provide sporadic shade as the trails twists its way through shrubby high desert terrain.  

A sunny meadow on the Del Sol Trail

The, yucca-studded, easy-to-follow route gains over 400 feet of elevation, but hairpin turns that slingshot around scoured drainages and long switchbacks make the climb sections virtually sweatless.

Verde Valley School below the trail

Where the trail traverses slickrock, white arrows mark the way. Bolstered by soaring sandstone cliffs to the west and expansive vistas to the east and north, the trail is generous with eye candy.  

North terminus at the Turkey Creek Trailhead

White arrows mark the way over slick rock

About half way in, slick rock overlooks serve up gorgeous views of iconic rock formations including Capitol Butte, Cathedral Rock and Bear Mountain.  Beyond the highpoint photo opps, the path winds downhill ending with an easy stroll in soft pink sand to meet the Turkey Creek Trail—a legacy route that until now, was one of only a handful of sanctioned trails in the shadow of the House Mountain Volcano.

End of Del Sol trail near Turkey Creek trailhead

More trails are coming to the Turkey Creek area

Bear Mountain on the horizon

LENGTH:  3.3 miles one way

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION:  3,962 – 4,200 feet

GETTING THERE:

SOUTH (Transept) TRAILHEAD:

From the State Route 179 in the Village of Oak Creek, go 2.1 miles west on Verde Valley School Road to the parking apron on the left.

NORTH (Turkey Creek) TRAILHEAD:

From the State Route 179 in the Village of Oak Creek, go 4 miles west on Verde Valley School Road to Forest Road 216B on the left.  Go a few yards and park near the forest service sign on the left. To access teh Del Sol Trail, follow the generic "trail posts" to a major signed junction at about the 0.2 mile point. The last half-mile on Verde Valley School Road is graded dirt suitable for all vehicles.

There are no fees or facilities at either trailhead. E-bikes are not allowed.