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Cliffhanger
Sedona,
Arizona
(Yavapai County)
Last Updated:
10/03/2023
Trail Information
Highlights
Sedona is a fantastic destination for offroad enthusiasts. It offers a variety of trails with varying degrees of difficulty. One of the top 10 iconic 4x4 trails in Sedona is the Cliffhanger Trail, which has a name that instills curiosity and intrigue. Once you make your way down the narrow and suspension-banging Cliffhanger hill, you will want to take a 1/2-mile hike to the old homestead along Oak Creek and dip your feet in the water. Remember to bring your hiking shoes, as the hike back to your vehicle will be a bit of a climb.
Apart from the offroad trails in Sedona, the Coconino National Forest extends to Flagstaff, offering endless trails in the pine forests that reach up to 7,000 feet in elevation at the top of the Mogollon Rim. It is a perfect escape from the summer heat in the Verde Valley.
Sedona has over 200 hiking trails covering more than 400 miles, providing plenty of options for hikers. You can venture deep into the wilderness of Red Rock Secret Mountain or Sycamore Canyon or explore the urban trails just a stone's throw away from downtown Sedona.
If you are interested in history, Sedona is home to several ancient ruin sites where you can glimpse life in cliff dwellings dating back to AD 1150 - 1350. Honanki, located at the end of the Outlaw Trail, and Palatki, just down Loy Butte Road, are two such sites.
Trail Difficulty and Assessment
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Todd Harkins
Official Crew
Trail Navigation
Trail Reviews
Open
Rated
5/5
Visited: 09/22/2023
Fun ride down the Cliffhanger obstacle, and even better coming back up!
Open
Rated
5/5
Visited: 05/29/2023
Difficulty Accuracy:
Spot On
It was a very scenic and fun trail with little to no traffic for a busy Sedona holiday weekend.
We actually ran the trail the reverse way, started from Waypoint 19, because I had misread the GPX I loaded onto onX. We came out from 525 after doing Diamondback Gulch and hopped onto Waypoint 19 from 89A. The narrow rocky off camber shelf road going to and from the Oak Creek locked gate area had me, the passenger, get out to prevent screaming in the Jeep because of my fear of heights. But it was actually relatively easy for us with 3.5” lift on 37s.
Short hike to the Oak Creek Homestead was well worth it for us since the water was flowing in the creek and a nice break from our day of wheeling in the area.
Both starting points have Cliffhanger Trail OHV signs. And definitely no camping anywhere along the trail after the new camping restrictions put in place in 2022 to help restore some heavily damaged areas in the ever growing popular Sedona.
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Open
Rated
5/5
Visited: 03/01/2022
Difficulty Accuracy:
Harder
Apparently the heavy rains last year didn't do this trail any favors. There were several spots where the dirt had washed away, leaving very rocky step-like areas that required some good tire placement. A couple of times I hopped out to be a guide. We have a lifted Jeep, and even in 4W low there was a spot or two where we did a little skidding on those rocks. They get a thin coat of gravel on them and whoopsie! So I was a little bit nervous on a couple of spots near the end, but the hike to the creek was great, and there was literally not a single person on the trail once we got past all the campsites at the beginning. My husband loved this road, and he was driving. He says I'm a nervous old lady, and that's true! As we left, the Verde Search and Rescue was heading up the trail in about 5 vehicles. BTW, across 89A there is a cool place to visit - the Sedona Wetlands Preserve. I'm having trouble getting photos to upload, so I could only share 3, but it's beautiful country!
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Open
Rated
5/5
Visited: 11/09/2019
This trail was surprisingly fun and decently challenging. The rocky hill climb at waypoint 13 was probably the most difficult but a fun section of trail that required you to climb some small steps while going up the steep hill. It was also nice to get out and take the short hike down the the creek halfway though the drive.
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