Few trails in the Sedona area offer as much variety with spectacular views of the famous red rock formations as Fay Canyon Trail. Here’s the kicker: it’s only about a mile long.
Quick take
The trail starts out gentle and stays that way until the end. That’s a good thing since the towering red rock walls continually distract your eyes from watching the trail. Variety comes in the way of mixed surfaces (sandy to gravel to hard-packed) and vegetation. There’s a good mixture of sun and shade.
Bonus: If you’re the adventurous type, there’s a natural stone arch you can climb up to from the end of the dirt trail. It’s about 90 degrees to the right of the “End of Trail” sign. Bummer: I didn’t find out about it until after I went.
Keep your eye out for interesting finds like this aged wood. 
One of many amazing rock formations you’ll see from the trail.
Hike summary:
- Length: 1.1 miles one way, 2.2 miles round-trip
- Difficulty: Easy, less than 200 feet elevation gain
- Highlights: Gentle slope, shade trees, seasonal waterfalls
- Precautions: Signs warn of bear activity
- Trailhead: Fay Canyon Trailhead
- Pass/permit required: Red Rocks Pass
Note: 1 mile = 1.6 kilometers
Video: What you can expect on Fay Canyon Trail
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Fay Canyon Trail is so short that you won’t need more than an hour to get the full experience. If you have more time, consider exploring one of the other nearby trails. Aerie and Cockscomb Trails are accessible from the same parking area. Doe Mountain and Boynton Canyon are also close by.
