Munds Wagon Trail: The 1902 Wagon Road to Schnebly Hill

By The Lowdown Guide Editorial Team · Updated April 2026

Getting to the Trailhead

From AZ-179 in the Village of Oak Creek, take Schnebly Hill Road east. The road is paved for the first 0.6 miles. The Munds Wagon Trailhead is on the left at the transition to dirt road — there's a small lot with roughly 15 spaces and a Red Rock Pass kiosk.

A standard 2WD vehicle reaches the trailhead with no issue. You do NOT need to drive any of the dirt road portion of Schnebly Hill Road to access this trail. (The dirt portion is a separate 4WD experience that climbs the same Mogollon Rim by vehicle — see Schnebly Hill Road viewpoint if that's what you came for.)

Parking: usually plentiful even on weekends. The trail's length and reputation as 'strenuous' filter out casual hikers, so the lot rarely fills.

The History You're Walking Through

Munds Wagon Trail follows the original 1902 wagon road. Before the road, settlers in the Verde Valley relied on a difficult Indian path called Munds Trail to reach Flagstaff and rail access. Theodore Carl Schnebly — Sedona's town founder, husband of Sedona Schnebly — promoted and helped engineer a wider wagon-grade route that became this trail. For decades it was the primary commercial route between Sedona and the high country.

As you climb, you'll notice the original wagon-grade engineering: switchbacks set at sustainable wagon angles (5–7% grade rather than modern hiking 10–15%), drainage cut into the rock, and several places where original retaining walls remain visible. The grade is intentionally moderate — wagons couldn't take steep climbs, so the route winds patiently up.

The road remained in commercial use until paved alternatives opened in the mid-1900s. The lower portion was decommissioned to vehicle traffic and converted to a trail. The upper portion of Schnebly Hill Road still exists as a 4WD route for high-clearance vehicles only.

The Trail Breakdown

Mile 0–1 (Riparian Wash): The trail begins along Bear Wallow Wash with cottonwoods, sycamores, and seasonal water. Mostly flat with mild climbing. This is a pleasant warm-up.

Mile 1–2 (Steady Climb): The trail begins climbing in earnest. Switchbacks engineered for wagons mean the grade is sustainable but constant. You gain about 600 feet in this mile. Views back into the Sedona basin start to open up.

Mile 2–3 (Cow Pies and Mid-Plateau Views): The trail crosses an intermediate plateau called the Cow Pies — flat slickrock domes that resemble their namesake from above. There's an optional spur to the top of one Cow Pie for views. The main trail continues climbing along the wagon road.

Mile 3–4 (Final Climb to Schnebly Hill Summit): The steepest section. About 800 feet of gain in this mile as you climb the final pitch of the Mogollon Rim. The trail tops out at the Schnebly Hill summit overlook — a panoramic viewpoint where you can see the entire Sedona basin laid out below.

From the summit overlook, you can connect to the rough upper Schnebly Hill Road and walk on to the main viewpoint area used by 4WD tourists, but most hikers turn around at the rim viewpoint and retrace.

The Shorter Option

If 8 miles is more than you have time or fitness for, the trail rewards a partial out-and-back. Common turnaround points:

• Mile 1.5 (Mid-climb overlook): 3 miles RT, about 600 feet of gain, 1.5–2 hours. Gives Sedona basin views.
• Mile 2.5 (Cow Pies plateau): 5 miles RT, about 1,200 feet of gain, 2.5–3 hours. Best moderate option — slickrock playground without the final summit climb.
• Mile 4 (Schnebly Hill summit): 8 miles RT, full strenuous experience. 5–6 hours.

Even the shortest version gives you views, history, and significantly fewer people than any pillar-of-Sedona hike. The Cow Pies plateau (mile 2.5) is the best value if you want one good photo and one good workout in a half-day.

Gear and Safety

• Footwear: Day hiking boots or sturdy trail runners. The trail surface is rocky and unforgiving on long descent.
• Water: 3 liters per person for the full out-and-back. The lower 2 miles are exposed wash; the upper switchbacks are partially shaded. Refills are not available.
• Calories: Pack lunch. The summit overlook is a great spot to eat. Allow 4–5 hours for the hike — you'll be hungry.
• Trekking poles: Highly recommended for the descent. Your knees will thank you on 2,000 feet down.
• Summer caution: June through August midday is dangerously hot. Start before 6am or skip until October.
• Winter caution: The upper switchbacks can be icy after winter precipitation. Microspikes are useful December through February if a recent storm has hit.

Who This Trail Is Right For

Good fit for: Fit hikers seeking a real workout, history-minded visitors who want to walk the original Sedona-to-Flagstaff wagon road, anyone who's already done the famous Sedona hikes and wants the road less traveled, and photographers chasing wide-basin views without crowds.

Not the right trail if: You have limited time and want to maximize Sedona's iconic photos, you have knee or hip issues that struggle with sustained descent, or you only have half a day for hiking.

For the iconic arch hike, see Devil's Bridge Trail. For another long quiet hike with summit views, see Cathedral Rock Trail. For a flat alternative with similar low-crowd character, see West Fork Oak Creek. For all 8 trails, return to the Sedona hiking pillar.