Sedona or Bust

Take a world-class trail system, throw it in the middle of some of the most beautiful landscape you can dream up, and you’ve got Sedona. While we were only able to sample a fraction of the goods in our short few days there, we’re already planning our next trip back.

The Route

With a week off from school and work, our plan was to loop through some of the most epic scenery the American Southwest has to offer. Departing from Park City, our drive would take us through Red Canyon near Bryce where we would spend a night before heading further south past the iconic Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell, continuing on to Sedona. After spending a few days in Sedona, we’d head northeast through Monument Valley stopping in Moab for a night before completing the loop back to Park City.

Days 1 & 2 – Red Canyon to Sedona

Our plan was to depart Park City and spend the night nearby Bryce Canyon in Red Canyon. After being treated, to a spectacular sunset over Red Canyon’s famous hoodoo’s, and clear star-filled yet somewhat chilly night’s sleep, we awoke to snow flurries. After toughing it out as long as we could next to the campfire, we packed camp and continued our journey south down HWY 89 skirting Bryce to the east and Zion to the west. Along the way, we stopped briefly for a quick hike to photo-opp at the famed Horseshoe Bend before motoring the rest of the way to Sedona.

Above: The Iconic Horseshoe Bend

Days 3-5 – Sedona, AZ

Sedona is the type of destination mountain bikers live for. Two majestic rides separated by a leisurely afternoon spent bathing in the Arizona sun, followed by giant margaritas and Tex-Mex leave us bleary-eyed and ready to pass out underneath a blanket of stars with giant smiles on our faces from a day well-lived. Surely this is the emotional state from which they derived the term “happy camper”.

Days 6-7 – Monument Valley to Moab

The last leg of the trip took us to Moab by way of Monument Valley on HWY 163 with an unplanned detour through the Navajo Nation for good measure. Racing through the desert along red rock spires, buttes, and plateaus with the radio on 11, it’s hard to help but feeling like an outlaw who’s got the Union Pacific schedule in his back pocket

Trip Notes

Total Mileage: 1,250 miles

Ride Days: 4 | Travel Days: 3

Route from Park City: Red Canyon, UT – Sedona, AZ – Moab, UT

Sedona Notes