Forget The Grand Canyon, Visit Arizona's Lesser-Known Hiking Trail For Dramatic Canyon Views And Fewer Crowds

Arizona's nickname, the Grand Canyon State, is not exactly subtle about what the state considers its defining feature. But the state's large, complex landscape protects a wealth of strange and beautiful natural features that match the Grand Canyon in allure, if not in size. About 130 miles south sits a lesser-known canyon with similar grandeur on a miniature scale. Loy Canyon's name isn't quite as evocative, but this magnificent stretch of canyon, mountain, and desert ecosystems creates one of Arizona's most immersive hiking experiences — all within easy reach of one of the state's best resort towns. 

The main trailhead for Loy Canyon excursions is just 16 miles outside of downtown Sedona, buried among the dazzling red rocks that have made the town so famous. The full hike through Loy Canyon is fairly challenging, but a dedicated hiker should be able to complete it in a few hours. Because of this, Loy Canyon offers a fully encapsulated Arizona canyon experience for anyone who wants a taste of the Grand Canyon's majesty in a smaller and more convenient package. 

Loy Canyon's wonders are not merely geological. Among its red cliffs are some well-preserved Native American petroglyphs and cliff dwellings. If you're willing to put in a bit of effort, the Loy Canyon Trail will reward you with dramatic views of the Arizona landscape that rival those of the Grand Canyon — only without the infamous crowds!

The Coconino National Forest in and around Sedona has plenty of superb canyon hiking routes that can make up for the most common tourist complaints about the Grand Canyon. Loy Canyon, however, features a premium sampling of everything that makes Sedona scenery so famous, with high cliffs of red and orange sandstone carved by wind and water into strange natural artwork. The canyon's lush vegetation, consisting of manzanita, cholla, prickly pear, and other desert plants, creates a green contrast to the fiery red canyon walls. Beginning under the haunting monolith of Loy Butte, the canyon gradually becomes even greener as the trail ascends nearly 2,000 feet to a forest hidden in a canyon-adjacent plateau. 

The Loy Canyon Trail's distinctive blend of forest and rocky gorge creates a one-of-a-kind Arizona hiking experience. A tranquil stroll through the woods at some points and a daring trek over harsh rocky terrain at others, Loy Canyon arguably represents a particular type of mystical beauty more than even Sedona's family-friendly spiritual vortex hikes and swimming holes at Buddha Beach. 

Yet Loy Canyon's significance is also strongly grounded in regional history. The canyon takes its name from 19th-Century rancher Samuel Loy, but its deep rocky corridors have been used by area inhabitants long before that. Native Americans lived and traveled through the canyon for generations before Europeans arrived, and Loy Canyon still features ruins of cliffside dwellings and intricate petroglyphs left by native tribes on the red rock walls. 

The hike through Loy Canyon is a bit more challenging than easy Sedona red-rock routes like Margs Draw Trail, but also more immersive. The complete route covers just under 12 miles round trip. Helpfully, the trail's difficulty level grows as you go further into the canyon, so hikers can choose the challenge that works best for them. The first 3 miles or so of the trail are mostly flat and manageable for the average hiker. If you limit your hike to this first section, you can enjoy the canyon's magical red rocks and desert plants without exerting too much effort. Alternatively, if you're looking for a challenge, you can continue on to the canyon's last few miles, where the trail takes on a more strenuous ascent up steeper terrain and thicker vegetation. 

The forest cover near the trailhead is a perfect home for wildlife, particularly songbirds like the Steller's jay. Farther along, the canyon trail begins to ascend up to the Mogollon Rim escarpment. While this part involves steep climbs and sharp, zigzagging switchbacks, it will ultimately reward your effort with superb views of the canyon you just crossed. Loy Canyon's natural rock formations also make great places to stop for a break (or a picnic). 

Keeping a Sedona-area hike secret is probably a losing effort, but the Loy Canyon Trail has a reputation among area hikers for having fewer crowds compared to the more popular routes. Part of that, of course, is the canyon's remote location and more strenuous-than-average difficulty level. Still, the trail offers a rare chance to explore Sedona's world-class canyon backcountry without Sedona's world-class crowds.