The Coconino Loop is a 240 mile bikepacking route that weaves together some of Arizona’s finest trails, including the AZT and the iconic red rock singletrack of Sedona. The route immerses you in desert vistas, cholla cacti, and dirt roads that stretch into infinity. You will pedal your way through forests enjoying the wonderful smell of burnt Ponderosa pine. Controlled burns are a regular occurrence in this area and it is remarkable how much it improves the forest. There is very little deadfall and blowdowns to contend with on the AZT Section.
Requirements: Mountain bike (hard tail or full sus) with 2.5+ tires
4-6 liters water capacity (driest stretch is between Minugs and Cottonwood, only one water resupply on Verde river)
Strong legs/lungs
Timeframe:
4-6 days (6 is optimal)
Day 1 Flagstaff to Milos Butte 42 miles
Day 1 starts off cold with a low of 25 degrees. There is a huge change in altitude from Flagstaff to Sedona which also means a change in temperature. It is typically about 25 degrees warmer in Sedona. The section between Flagstaff and Sedona relies mostly on the AZT and you spend day 1 in the big ponderosa forests. There isn’t much climbing but the singletrack can be very rocky so be prepared to go slow. I pedaled for 12 hours and only went 42 miles. If you can make it to Schnebly overlook, that is the best place to camp (depicted in first picture)
Day 2 Milos Butte to Cottonwood 50 miles
Day 2 treats you to the most scenic portion of the route. You’ll start by pedaling between towering desert mesas as you make your way down a winding dirt road into Sedona. When you reach Sedona, there is an abundance of great mexican food so be sure to fill up and buy something takeout for the road. You’ll want to try to make Cottonwood on this day because it will set you up to do the Mingus Mountain hike-a-bike (hardest portion of the ride) first thing in the morning. The red rock singletrack between Sedona and Cottonwood is amazing and has to be some of the best mountain biking in the US. If you time it right (I didn’t), you can descend into Cottonwood as the sun is setting.
Day 3 Cottonwood to Woodchute Wilderness 32 miles
The infamous Mingus Mountain hike-a-bike which climbs 4500 feet in 10 miles. On a clear day, you can see the entirety of Cottonwood along with clouds cresting over the mountaintop you are slowly ascending. The climb begins on rocky but rideable fire roads and then becomes unrelenting singletrack for the final five miles. There are a few sections with switchbacks that require you to heave your bike up over giant boulders, but these are few and far between. When you finally make it to the top, you are treated to spectacular views of Goat peak and Hickey Mountain as you descend the flowy singletrack. The next portion of this route is a desolate 70 miles to Williams. There is only one water supply on this portion so be sure to carry 4-6 liters.
Day 4 Woodchute Wilderness to Williams 51 miles
Day 4 treats you to dirt roads only as you make your way through the desert and back into the Ponderosa forests. You will feel very alone on this day if you are doing this ride solo because there isn’t much between Mingus and Williams. The route affords you some downhill before starting a very long and gradual 15 mile climb. There are some short portions of hike a bike on this section because the road will become very rocky. When you finally make it back to the woods, you have the option of ascending the Bill Williams singletrac, or just riding the Tarmac into Williams. I chose the latter because I was starving and getting short on daylight
Day 5 Williams to Flagstaff 68 miles
Williams will likely be the coldest morning on your trip. Williams is a really nice town that survives on Grand Canyon tourism. There are lots of great restaurants and hotels to stay at if that’s your thing. One of the tougher parts of the route is Sycamore canyon, which is the rockiest singletrack you will encounter on the whole trip. I could ride for about 30 seconds and then had to hop off and push my bike over rocks. Rinse and repeat that for an hour or two and you’ll make it through the canyon. The route finally relents and puts you on some flat dirt roads and tarmac. In the final 10 miles, you’ll pedal singletrack up near the San Francisco peaks and enjoy the sights and smells of the ponderosa forest before you drop back into Flagstaff to reward yourself with pizza and beer.
2 Comments
Link to my full video: [https://youtu.be/O5XuQSkX4Vs?si=8vC6FfgcElVuXhE-](https://youtu.be/O5XuQSkX4Vs?si=8vC6FfgcElVuXhE-)
Link to route: [https://bikepacking.com/routes/bikepacking-coconino-loop/](https://bikepacking.com/routes/bikepacking-coconino-loop/)
The Coconino Loop is a 240 mile bikepacking route that weaves together some of Arizona’s finest trails, including the AZT and the iconic red rock singletrack of Sedona. The route immerses you in desert vistas, cholla cacti, and dirt roads that stretch into infinity. You will pedal your way through forests enjoying the wonderful smell of burnt Ponderosa pine. Controlled burns are a regular occurrence in this area and it is remarkable how much it improves the forest. There is very little deadfall and blowdowns to contend with on the AZT Section.
Requirements: Mountain bike (hard tail or full sus) with 2.5+ tires
4-6 liters water capacity (driest stretch is between Minugs and Cottonwood, only one water resupply on Verde river)
Strong legs/lungs
Timeframe:
4-6 days (6 is optimal)
Day 1 Flagstaff to Milos Butte 42 miles
Day 1 starts off cold with a low of 25 degrees. There is a huge change in altitude from Flagstaff to Sedona which also means a change in temperature. It is typically about 25 degrees warmer in Sedona. The section between Flagstaff and Sedona relies mostly on the AZT and you spend day 1 in the big ponderosa forests. There isn’t much climbing but the singletrack can be very rocky so be prepared to go slow. I pedaled for 12 hours and only went 42 miles. If you can make it to Schnebly overlook, that is the best place to camp (depicted in first picture)
Day 2 Milos Butte to Cottonwood 50 miles
Day 2 treats you to the most scenic portion of the route. You’ll start by pedaling between towering desert mesas as you make your way down a winding dirt road into Sedona. When you reach Sedona, there is an abundance of great mexican food so be sure to fill up and buy something takeout for the road. You’ll want to try to make Cottonwood on this day because it will set you up to do the Mingus Mountain hike-a-bike (hardest portion of the ride) first thing in the morning. The red rock singletrack between Sedona and Cottonwood is amazing and has to be some of the best mountain biking in the US. If you time it right (I didn’t), you can descend into Cottonwood as the sun is setting.
Day 3 Cottonwood to Woodchute Wilderness 32 miles
The infamous Mingus Mountain hike-a-bike which climbs 4500 feet in 10 miles. On a clear day, you can see the entirety of Cottonwood along with clouds cresting over the mountaintop you are slowly ascending. The climb begins on rocky but rideable fire roads and then becomes unrelenting singletrack for the final five miles. There are a few sections with switchbacks that require you to heave your bike up over giant boulders, but these are few and far between. When you finally make it to the top, you are treated to spectacular views of Goat peak and Hickey Mountain as you descend the flowy singletrack. The next portion of this route is a desolate 70 miles to Williams. There is only one water supply on this portion so be sure to carry 4-6 liters.
Day 4 Woodchute Wilderness to Williams 51 miles
Day 4 treats you to dirt roads only as you make your way through the desert and back into the Ponderosa forests. You will feel very alone on this day if you are doing this ride solo because there isn’t much between Mingus and Williams. The route affords you some downhill before starting a very long and gradual 15 mile climb. There are some short portions of hike a bike on this section because the road will become very rocky. When you finally make it back to the woods, you have the option of ascending the Bill Williams singletrac, or just riding the Tarmac into Williams. I chose the latter because I was starving and getting short on daylight
Day 5 Williams to Flagstaff 68 miles
Williams will likely be the coldest morning on your trip. Williams is a really nice town that survives on Grand Canyon tourism. There are lots of great restaurants and hotels to stay at if that’s your thing. One of the tougher parts of the route is Sycamore canyon, which is the rockiest singletrack you will encounter on the whole trip. I could ride for about 30 seconds and then had to hop off and push my bike over rocks. Rinse and repeat that for an hour or two and you’ll make it through the canyon. The route finally relents and puts you on some flat dirt roads and tarmac. In the final 10 miles, you’ll pedal singletrack up near the San Francisco peaks and enjoy the sights and smells of the ponderosa forest before you drop back into Flagstaff to reward yourself with pizza and beer.
10/10 ride.Â
Road this in 19’. It was a good one.