Desert Spire Loop

Ready to leave Sedona’s busiest trails behind? This private guided adventure leads into one of Red Rock Country’s lesser-known landscapes, offering a rare opportunity to experience the dramatic beauty of Sedona without the crowds that surround many of its famous hiking destinations. If you’ve already explored the area’s most  iconic trails and popular viewpoints, this is the kind of adventure that can make a return visit feel completely new. The Desert Spire Loop ventures into a quieter corner of the red rocks, where sandstone formations stretch across the landscape and the experience feels less like following a well-worn tourist trail and more like discovering a local secret.

A Backdoor to Red Rock Country

The route winds through an extraordinary collection of buttes, spires, monoliths, towers, and sculpted sandstone formations. Rather than presenting one famous landmark after another, the landscape unfolds gradually, with new formations appearing throughout the journey. That constant variety is what gives this hike its immersive character. 

You’re not simply walking toward a viewpoint — you’re moving through the geological landscape itself, surrounded by formations that reveal different shapes, textures, colors, and perspectives as the trail progresses. For visitors who have already experienced Sedona’s main attractions, this provides an opportunity to see a side of Red Rock Country that feels distinctly different from the better-known hiking corridors.

A Local Secret When Sedona Gets Busy

During Sedona’s busiest seasons, popular trails and viewpoints can become crowded, making solitude increasingly difficult to find. This lesser-known route offers an alternative for travelers who would rather trade the crowds for a more peaceful and exploratory experience. Its relatively low-profile character is part of the appeal. Instead of competing with large numbers of visitors for photographs or viewpoints, you can spend more time immersed in the landscape itself.

For repeat visitors especially, this can be an ideal way to rediscover Sedona. Once you’ve checked the famous hikes off your list, stepping onto a less-traveled route can reveal an entirely different personality to the region — one that feels quieter, contemplative, more rugged, and closer to the experience locals seek.

A Different Kind of Challenge

Despite being rated as a hard hike, the difficulty is not primarily the result of a major elevation gain. Instead, the challenge comes from the higher mileage and the nature of the terrain. Sections of the route travel across uneven, rugged, and sometimes less-defined cross-country terrain, requiring greater awareness and endurance than a typical established trail. The journey rewards hikers who enjoy covering more ground and navigating varied desert terrain rather than simply climbing toward a high summit.

That distinction makes this a particularly appealing adventure for experienced hikers looking for something different. The physical challenge comes from the journey itself — the miles beneath your feet, the changing terrain, and the need to stay engaged with the landscape around you.

An Immersive Wildlife Experience

The quieter surroundings and diverse terrain also create opportunities to encounter some of the wildlife that inhabits Sedona’s Upper Sonoran Desert. As you move away from the heavily traveled trails, the experience becomes less about checking landmarks off a list and more about observing the environment around you. Keep your eyes ready as you travel through the sandstone formations. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but the variety of habitats and relatively quiet character of the area can make every bend in the trail feel full of possibility.

Explore Sedona Beyond the Familiar

As a private guided hiking experience, the Desert Spire Loop provides an opportunity to explore this lesser-known landscape with someone who can help you navigate the terrain and better understand the surrounding geology. For experienced travelers, repeat visitors, photographers, and anyone looking to avoid Sedona’s busiest trails, this adventure offers something increasingly difficult to find: space to explore. If you’re searching for a hard Sedona hike that emphasizes exploration rather than elevation, a secluded Red Rock Country adventure, or a local-style alternative to Sedona’s most popular trails, this hidden gem offers an unforgettable way to venture beyond the familiar. 

Leave the crowds behind. Follow the backdoor into Red Rock Country and discover a wilderness utopia where every mile brings another formation, another perspective, and another reason to keep exploring.

Outing Includes

• Private Hiking Guide
• Red Rock Pass
• Sedona Resort/Airbnb/VRBO Transportation (Sedona, Village of Oak Creek, Oak Creek Canyon)
• Healthy Packaged Trail Snacks
• Bottled Water
• Ultima Electrolytes
• Osprey Daylite Hiking Backpack
• Trekking Poles (By Request)
• 500 Lumen Black Diamond Headlamp
• Gloves, Beanies, Neck Gaiters (During Winter Months)
• UPF 50 Sun Hoodies
• Disposable Rain Ponchos
• Micro Spikes for Snow (If Needed)
• Osprey Poco Plus Kids Carrying Pack (By Request)
• Kids Car Seats & Booster Seats (By Request)
• Full List of Supplies Included

Logistics

• Duration: 3 Hours of Hiking & 1 Hour of Logistics
• Distance: 5.8 Miles
• Elevation Change: 725ft
• Capacity: 1 - 14 Hikers
• Difficulty: Upper Moderate
• Transport: 1 Vehicle
• Sites Visited: 1 Site
• Map of Hike: View Map of Three Hour: Desert Spire Loop
• Hike Type: Scenic Loop,  Sunrise/Sunset Hike
• Trails Used:  Rabbit Ears Trail & Little Rock Trail (Scenic Loop Hike)
• Best Season: All Year
• Start Times: 5AM, 5:30AM, 6AM, 6:30AM, 7AM, 7:30AM, 8AM, 2:30PM
• Upcoming Availabilities: Desert Spire Calendar
• Cost: $215 + Tax/Hiker (Private Group) & $425 + Tax (Private Solo Hiker)

*PRIVATE ONLY TOURS: TWO PERSON MINIMUM FOR PRIVATE GROUPS OR PLEASE REFER TO SOLO HIKER PRICING

**WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND CONSIDERING PEEK PROTECT COVERAGE AND REVIEWING OUR CANCELLATION POLICY BEFORE BOOKING YOUR RESERVATION

***WE REQUIRE ALL HIKERS/ATTENDEES TO HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE TO ATTEND ANY OF OUR OUTINGS OFFERED