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LITTLE
ROCK-RABBIT EARS LOOP
Creek crossing near thebeginning of Rabbit Ears Trail
Rerouted
and revamped in 2021, the routes formerly known as the Pine Valley and Dairy
Springs trails are the Rabbit Ears and Little Rock trails are the rising stars
of the Big Park Loop Trails system in the Village of Oak Creek. 
Boulders line the undulating Little Rock Trail
The two single track paths were moved off
areas that had become heavily eroded. 
Milkvetch color the Little Rock trail
The rehabilitated routes now include an
extra mile of scenic trail at the base of Lee Mountain southeast of the
uber-popular Big Park trails that wind around iconic Courthouse Butte and the Bell Rock vortex site. 
Rehabilitated trails add a mile of hiking near Big Park
Combined with a short stretch of the Big Park
Loop, the Rabbit Ears and Little Rock make a moderate-rated 5.7-mile loop with
lots of variety. The hike begins at the Jack’s Canyon trailhead, which
essentially serves as the less crowded “back door” to Big Park. 
This hike uses a short section of the Big Park Loop
After passing a gate and crossing Jacks
Canyon Road, the trail hops an ephemeral creek which may be difficult to cross
during heaving spring run off season. 
Mesa and valley views from Rabbit Ears Trail
Once over the creek, Rabbit Ears ascends
a sun-drenched mesa dotted with catclaw, yucca and cacti. 
White arrows point the way on Little Rock Trail
There’s little shade
along the first 0.7-mile which means unobstructed views of Lee Mountain and the
Munds Mountain Wilderness, Horse Mesa and the distant Bradshaw Mountains. At
the first junction, the loop splits. 
Rabbit ears formation at the loop's high point
To get in the climbing part first, follow Rabbit
Ears as it ascends a stepped mesa to the loop’s high point beneath the
eponymous bunny ears rock formation. Tucked into cleft below Lee Mountain, the ears
stand out as double sandstone pillars.
Stiffarm rockcress blooms Feb. - Oct.
The route then makes a gradual mile-long straight shot downhill overlooking
a gully where the faint scribble of Little Rock trail is visible on the red
ledges below. 
Rubble on the Little Rock Trail
Pinion-pine-framed looks at
Courthouse Butte, Cathedral Rock and the skyline of Red Rock Secret Mountain
Wilderness roll out all the way down. At the Big Park junction, the route heads
left on Big Park Loop for 0.3-mile, then heads left again on the Little Rock
Trail. 
Cathedral Rock viewed from Rabbit Ears Trail
This lower 2.4-mile leg of the
loop is dodgier than its ridgeline component. 
Rabbit Ears Trail descends toward Courthouse Butte
Twisted and undulating, the trail
is a combination of woodsy passages and sketchy slickrock traverses. 
Rabbit Ears Trail traces the edge of Lee Mountain
Where the trail
crosses solid rock, white arrows painted on the slick sandstone point the way. 
Fragrant Gregg's ceanothus blooms Mar. - May
While
never demanding too much of lung capacity or leg muscles, the trail’s unrelenting
dips and climbs add up to over 1,000 feet of elevation change mixing a mild
sweat in with sweet vistas and a quieter outdoor space. 
Vociferous scrub jays serenade hikers 
Snow capped Bradshaw Mountains seen from Rabbit Ears
It’s a recipe for
relaxed hiking in Red Rock Country.
LENGTH: 5.7 miles
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 4,222 – 4,709 feet (1,022 feet of total elevation change)
GETTING THERE:
Jacks Canyon Trailhead.
From Interstate 17 north of Camp Verde, take the Sedona/Oak Creek exit 298 and continue 6.5 miles on State Route 179 to the Jack’s Canyon Road/Verde Valley School Road traffic circle. Veer right and continue 2 miles on Jack’s Canyon Road to the trailhead on the right. Roads are paved up to the trailhead.
The trail begins at the Rabbit Ears sign at the north end of the huge parking area. There are no fees or facilities at this trailhead.
INFO:
Coconino National Forest
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=72017
