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+ 194

Chuckwagon Loop (Upper Dry Creek Area Upper Dry Creek Trail System Mescal Aerie )

Mountain Biking Trail

Hard
16.59 mi
1,723 ft
This intermediate-friendly primer to Sedona's red rock will entertain expert-level riders as well.

Trails like Hangover and the White Line have put Sedona on the map as an epicenter of gnarly, death-defying mountain biking... but not every ride has to risk life and limb. The Upper Dry Creek Area that this loop runs through is the perfect zone for intermediate riders looking to sample Sedona's famed red rock mountain biking and enjoy gorgeous views of the region. Even expert-level riders can use a break from max-level exposure, and these trails are entertaining enough that just about everyone will enjoy them!

This zone also provides more true singletrack riding, instead of just rock slabs all the time—Sedona's famous velcro rojo. Swooping through the low pinion pines and spiny cholla cactus, even the mellowest of trails offers up a fun, flowy rip!

The three main trails anchoring this loop are Chuckwagon, Mescal, and Aerie. While Mescal is a bit tougher and more exposed than the others and could warrant a black-diamond rating, confident intermediate riders should still have a blast. These sections of trail skirt the red rock slabs that Sedona is renowned for, with some of the upper reaches on Mescal especially offering jaw-dropping views from the side of Mescal Mountain of the greater Red Rocks Region.

Climbs and descents alternate back and forth in true Sedona style. Nothing kicks up for long... or descends for long, for that matter. Once you get into the rhythm of constant climbing and descending you'll come to enjoy the short, techy downhill rips, the gorgeous views, and the ever-changing character of this trail. Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes

Route and Elevation

Segments

NameDistanceElev. Diff.Avg. Grade
cdub to long rd5.15 mi-194 ft-0.5%
Chuck-wagon 1st DH 1.15 mi-187 ft-2.5%
chuck3.65 mi-194 ft-0.2%
Chuck Wagon from Parking lot to Mezcal4.86 mi-177 ft-0.4%
Chuck Wagon 1st DH to Mescal Cutoff0.64 mi-171 ft-5.1%
Vultee Arch Climb0.35 mi318 ft17.0%
Chuck Wagon from Devils Bridge turn off to Long Canyon rd3.11 mi-148 ft-0.6%
Chuckwagon switch back climb 0.29 mi95 ft6.1%
Long Canyon Road Climb0.51 mi338 ft12.5%
Long Canyon Connector0.29 mi36 ft2.4%
Mescal full climb - North start1.34 mi180 ft2.6%
Mescal All - North Start2.39 mi187 ft0.3%
Mescal2.25 mi253 ft0.4%
Mescalito0.30 mi410 ft25.7%
Mescal Jct to D.M.P Jct2.08 mi-144 ft-0.0%
Long Canyon Rd Climb0.51 mi282 ft10.5%
Mescal Trail0.72 mi62 ft0.4%
Mescal - NW Descent1.00 mi-121 ft-2.3%
Mescal Final Descent0.25 mi-95 ft-7.3%
Deadmans/Mescal jct out Boynton Trail0.42 mi-43 ft-1.3%
Aerie to Boynton0.13 mi-13 ft-1.3%
Aerie Down to Rupp4.23 mi213 ft0.1%
Aerie BMX Sprint0.11 mi-7 ft-1.3%
Aerie Rupp5.25 mi-371 ft-0.6%
Aerie to Cockscomb0.62 mi75 ft1.3%
Aerie2.58 mi217 ft0.3%
Aerie - Boynton Pass to Cockscomb0.70 mi82 ft0.6%
Aerie hill0.68 mi157 ft4.2%
aerie - cc to wc3.06 mi177 ft0.4%
Rock City0.46 mi-59 ft-2.2%
Aerie Traverse North to South0.97 mi-151 ft-2.9%
Escape from Doe Mountain0.57 mi-102 ft-3.3%
Cockscomb to Western Civilization1.02 mi85 ft1.3%
RUPP1.12 mi-197 ft-2.1%
Rupp DH0.85 mi-180 ft-3.8%
Sound of banjos0.28 mi66 ft4.5%
Garnet Hill Dr Climb1.24 mi328 ft5.0%
Anaconda Climb0.97 mi249 ft4.9%
The Whole Anaconda1.49 mi256 ft1.3%
anaconda descent W to E0.52 mi-161 ft-5.8%
Chuckwagon start0.16 mi39 ft4.7%