A Caricature of Red Rocks - Part 2

Sedona, Arizona, despite being a major tourist attraction, immediately captured my heart with its dramatic, red rock landscape. As I mentioned back in part one of “A Caricature of Red Rocks”, the mesas and buttes are almost cartoon-like in their appearance.

“Is this place for real?” I couldn’t help but wonder.

While many pictures of Sedona might seem enhanced to make the colors look more vibrant, it quickly became apparent that this was not the case. The spectacle is real. Whether you’re in a four-wheel drive vehicle, or on foot, there is a stunning tapestry of wilderness to explore.

Tour Jeeps of Smiles

I woke atop the ridge overlooking Sedona, only a stone’s throw from Schnebly Hill Vista. It had been an extraordinary place to spend the night, as long as one watched one’s step in the darkness.

As I was going about my morning routine, tour Jeeps started to wind their way up Schnebly Hill Road en route to the overlook. They were distant specs at first, but they would eventually pass directly under my encampment, where I would smile and wave, coffee in hand.

In every vehicle, whether it was a Pink Jeep, or a rental from Barlow Adventures, the occupants were grinning from ear-to-ear, as many were experiencing four-wheel drive adventure for the very first time.

Exploring Schnebly Hill

While I enjoyed hanging out near Schnebly Hill Vista, watching other Jeeps come and go, the forest road I was parked along continued up the ridge and invited exploration.

I stowed camp, let some air out of my tires, engaged four-low, and I was off!

According to my GaiaGPS basemap, there was a sparse network of forest roads that first followed the ridge, and then looped around Schnebly Hill, eventually returning to the main road. Traffic immediately become non-existent as I deviated from the popular tourist routes.

As the forest road ascended the ridge, the trail was particularly technical. Large rocks protruded from the grade which required thoughtful line picking, even with 3.5” of lift and 35” tires. Though it was still mild enough to tackle without a spotter, as long as I was close paying attention.

When the trail leveled out at the top of the plateau, obstacle size diminished, and the forest road transitioned into a rocky two-track.

A couple of miles had passed when I encountered a large, flat clearing along the ridge. There was a fire circle, and beyond that, a rocky outcropping that offered another spectacular view of Sedona and the valley below.

This was one of those opportunity campsites; an extraordinarily beautiful place, and one that I would deeply regret passing up. So I found a flat spot and settled in for another photogenic evening atop Schnebly Hill.

The Western Outskirts

The next day, I traveled back down into Sedona where I would run errands, resupply, and find a coffee shop or a library where I could catch up on some work.

It was a productive day, however as the evening drew near, it introduced a challenge. With limited daylight, I had to find another place to camp. I could have simply driven back up Schnebly Hill Road, and while this wasn’t far, it would have been slow-going on the rough road. I would have certainly arrived in the dark.

Instead, I opted to drive several miles via highway to the west of Sedona. On the western outskirts of the city, there is public land where free, dispersed camping is permitted.

With ample daylight remaining, I found a quiet place to camp along a lightly-traveled forest road. While it was outside of Sedona’s main attractions, it was extremely peaceful, and treated me to a marvelous sunset.

Saving the Best for Last

The Broken Arrow Trail is an extremely popular four-wheel drive loop within Sedona. It’s a trail that demands high ground-clearance, and maybe a little bit of experience with steep terrain, but it is not very challenging.

I think it’s best described as a low-speed, four-wheel drive rollercoaster that showcases some of Sedona’s most interesting terrain, scenery, and geographical features. During peak season, tour Jeeps run this loop in constant succession, only moments apart from each other. In this way, it’s akin to a log flume at an amusement park.

So if you decide to tackle this trail - and you should - go early in the day when the traffic is light!

The trail is unremarkable at first, but then it suddenly ascends a large slab of sandstone. This is your gatekeeper, as that first step onto the rocks is going to test your vehicle’s clearance and sure-footedness.

As it continues, you’ll enjoy geographical features such as Submarine Rock, and Chicken Point, which you’ll likely want to stop at for pictures.

Above Chicken Point, there is a steep slab of sandstone to climb, and not far beyond that is Devil’s Staircase, which is a harrowing descent back into the valley. This will test your intestinal fortitude more than anything else!

Unfortunately, the Broken Arrow Trail is unidirectional due to high traffic, so attempting any of the obstacles in reverse is not advised and can be extremely problematic. Don’t do it. Just go with the flow.

The Broken Arrow Trail is a delightful four-wheel drive circuit, and also a great social experience. It’s such a popular destination for tourists and other four-wheel drive enthusiasts, that it’s a great place to mingle and spectate. The Pink Jeep guides really like to put on a show!

It’s also a fabulous place to hike, so don’t hesitate to leave your Jeep in the parking area at the entrance and set off on foot!