Looking for some advice on some 4WD roads in the Sedona area. We'll be there from Thursday mid-day 12/22 to Sunday mid-day 12/25. Easy to moderate. I'm driving a Tacoma TRD Pro. No other vehicles in my company. I'm a reasonably experienced driver.

We're not going to wheel the whole time. Doing the tourist thing, and some hiking too. Staying in Camp Verde.

Is Schnebly Hill Road open and passable? I's like to come down it on Thursday.

Other suggestions welcome.

Thanks!

Paging 'Beancooker'...

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
Paging 'Beancooker'...

I know! He is the authority on all things 4WD in that area....

Broken Arrow would be my first choice on Sedona itself.

Did Broken Arrow in a rented Jeep earlier this year. Not sure I would rank it as easy to moderate though. But one heck of a good time.

Also did Diamond Back Gulch. Started easy and boring, but had some good stuff towards the end. I suppose it depends on which direction you enter.

Also did the road leading to Devil's Bridge. Great way to pass everyone walking in.

Schnebley Hill Road. The Pink Jeeps do that one, and I'd not want to try it in a standard car.

flashguy

I've done Schnebley Hill Rd years ago, but that was in summer.

Some photos of Schnebley Hill Road here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157622669929138/
(2009)

flashguy

Schnebley really requires something that can crawl over rocks to get through.

See this photo for an example: https://kritterspix.files.word...-vert_ir-2.jpg?w=768

Like I said (ETA: just looked, I didn't say, just thought I did), I've done Schnebley before, if memory serves in my old Nissan Frontier Nismo. My current ride is a Tacoma TRD Pro, so very similar. I'm more concerned with seasonal road conditions - is it snowed in yet, washed out, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:
Schnebley Hill Road. The Pink Jeeps do that one, and I'd not want to try it in a standard car.

flashguy

Had a friend do that with a rental

Schnebly Hill may be weather dependent, no idea if snow has fallen up there. Your TRD Tacoma should have no problem with it. Starting from I-17 the road is pretty much a washboard dirt road. There's some incredible views of Sedona and the valley from up there at a couple of overlooks. There is one technical section of the trail as you get close to Sedona. I've made the drive in both a stock F-150 and a stock SR5 4Runner. There are some rocks where Subarus and other lower vehicles have rubbed and ripped oil pans. Broken Arrow is another good trail. Go up to the airport to watch sunset from the mesa.

Jerome is kind of a funky little ghost town/artist colony. Mingus Mountain Road from Jerome down to Prescott is a fun windy mountain road. Prescott and the square downtown and Whiskey Row is always fun. Papa's restaurant in downtown Prescott is always good.

When we were choosing a Jeep experience in Sedona, I went to each provider website to look at the roads and trails offered. Their videos gave me an idea of excitement vs scenic.

Although weather not hot, water and food would be good to take.

There are some great trails around here. In a TRD Pro, you should be good to tackle just about any trail here. 9513 through Skeleton Bone Gulch is too washed out after the monsoons. I can’t even get through that in my Jeep. Smasher Canyon is another to stay away from.
Aside of those two, you should be fine on any trail in the Sedona area.
Schnebly Hill is most likely closed from the halfway point to the top. So the top half of the trail usually closes in the winter. It would be rather sketchy if it’s got snow. I don’t think I would want to drive it this time of year. Schnebly has some great views, but the drive sucks. It’s not technical and it’s like driving a cobblestone road where all the stones are half basketballs.
Broken Arrow has some pretty amazing views. It’s a super popular trail with the Jeep tours. I did it in my Tacoma with no issues. Just follow the pink jeeps and the lines you’ll be A-OK.
There is a road between Sedona (Village of Oak Creek) and Cornville Road. It’s called Beaverhead Flats Road. About halfway down there is a dirt road to the right and usually some RV campers out there. If you follow that road to the end, it takes you to the top of House Mountain. It’s a pretty fantastic view of the Verde Valley. You get all of Clarkdale, Cottonwood, and Camp Verde if you look to the west. To the East, you have all of Sedona and the VOC. You’re sitting up higher than the Sedona airport and it’s a pretty fantastic view.
The hike up Bell Rock is quite fun. So is the hike back to the Seven Sacred Pools at the end of Soldier Pass Road. You can also hike to the birthing cave from there which is a pretty amazing view.
If you head toward Cottonwood from Sedona, coming down 89A, turn Right on Forest Road 525. Follow that to 525c and follow that all the way to where the cars are parked. (I can send you map coordinates via text message if you like). The hike in to Robbers Roost or Hideout Cave is about 1/2 a mile. It’s pretty amazing scenery and a pretty awesome cave.
If you want river access and to see some river otters and the like, there is a trail out of Camp Verde that’s pretty cool. It takes you all the way out to a ranch property 20 miles out a dirt road. They set up a small parking lot and a trail to the river so people can enjoy their property also. It’s a pretty nice spot.
A lot of this really depends on what you’re interested in doing. Feel free to call me or shoot me a text. I’m happy to share pins to trails and advice on the trails and area.

***ETA***

Diamondback Gunch is pretty fun. It’s also called greasy spoon. This is because when it rains, it’s a whole world different if a trail. When it’s dry, I would rank it a 2-3. Super easy. When it’s wet, it is drastically different. It’s mostly easy, but there are a couple sections that when muddy, become solid 7-8.

Devils Bridge is a fun trail. It’s pretty easy. That said the hardest obstacle is the entitled tourists that don’t like your fossil fuel burner on their walking trail. The amount of people on that road make it an “avoid if possible” to me.

Schnebly is pretty easy. It’s a bunch of bouncing and uncomfortable ride. The views are pretty great. It shows that the trail is open today, but I would call Coconino National Forest to verify.

Broken Arrow is one of the more technical trails. It’s not that difficult. Just follow the lines that others have created. It’s a good trail for scenery and adventure. There are a couple spots that have some pucker factor, but it’s a pretty chill trail, especially in a Tacoma.

I don’t have very many pics of the actual scenery from where we go off road. Usually it’s just videos of the actual driving.

Here is a pic from Robbers Roost.



Here are a couple from Broken Arrow.





Here’s a couple from House Mountain






YouTube Channel with a few off road videos:

https://youtube.com/@beancooker

quote:

The hike up Bell Rock is quite fun.

Watch out for the aliens.

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:

quote:

The hike up Bell Rock is quite fun.

Watch out for the aliens.

Illegals or ETs?

flashguy

ETs. My folks retired to Sedona in the early 80s. Sometime back in the 90s (IIRC), I was talking with them and they stated all the hotels in the area were booked solid. Word was people were there to watch Bell Rock levitate and a UFO was to fly out from under it. Unfortunately, nothing happened.