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DEVIL'S WINDPIPE
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| San Francisco Peaks from FR 9243N |
For the unindoctrinated, the thought of hiking in Devil's Windpipe might conjure images of a dark, thorny hellish tunnel. Dragons, maybe. Danger, certainly.
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| Sedona's red rocks and Bill Williams Mountain |
In reality, though, the narrow canyon in Coconino National Forest is a seamless montage of ethereal and earthbound beauty.
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| Sawlog Tank |
Tucked between State Route 260 and teh gorge of West Clear Creek 21 miles east of Camp Verde, the natural landform dubbed Devil's Windpipe whips mountain breezes into a frenzy.
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| Gate and cattle guard on FR9243N |
The unique geologic combination of rolling hills, mesas, canyons, and mountains creates its own weather system and its signature blasts of funneled air. Getting to the windpipe involves walking o on several rugged dirt forest roads.
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| Critter tracks in snow, Feb. 21, 2026 |
The hike is several degrees removed from the "Big Name Trails"---you now, the ones with in-your-face attractions and hundreds of people jostling for IG moments.
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| Looking north |
Hiking those kinds of trails are ostensibly the best way to mess up your day. Why not swap the air suck for clean breezes and plenty of elbow room. Beginning at the Forest Road 9243F gate on State Route 260, the hike ducks into juniper-studded woodlands, heading gently uphill.
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The lead up unfolds with a subtle string of reveals. Slow in the uptake, it takes about a quarter mile of trekking before the first of many mountain vistas pop up in all directions.
The landscape appears brittle yet resilient -- visually stark but poetic in its bleakness.
There's plenty of critter activity to observe here as well. While the local wildlife is stealthy, hiking the roads after a snowfall reveals game trails and tiny footprints of coyote, rabbits, deer, elk, birds and small animals.
Roaming domestic cattle can also be found grazing the slopes. At some unsigned point, FR9243F merges into FR 9243N and continues through scrubby rangeland passing a cattle guard and gate at the 0.8-mile point.
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| FR9243N heads into Devil's Windpipe |
Here, the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff sand out on the distant horizon. At the 1.3-mile point the road intersects FR9243P where FR9243N veers left and begins a downhill spiral into the shallow course of Devil's Windpipe. At this point, the road is part of the 200-mile General Crook Trail No. 130, a nineteenth century military supply route .
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| Critters leave their marks in snow |
After a half mile of walking, the red rock of Sedona and the hazy silhouette of Bill Williams Mountain show up straight ahead. Just below a rise, the waters of Sawlog Tank reflect sky and clouds.
The tank makes for a good turnaround point, however FR9243N continues downhill, bending away from the windpipe and eventually reconnecting with SR260 and the community of Clear Creek.
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| Trailhead on SR260 |
LENGTH: 4 miles round trip to the tank and back
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 6,148 - 5,800 feet
GETTING THERE:
From Interstate 17 in Camp Verde, go 21 miles east (toward Payson) on State Route 260 to Forest Road 9243F on the left between mileposts 238 and 239. There's parking behind the gate and across the road along FR9C.
