Fay Canyon Trail & Cliff Dwellings

 

Featuring towering red cliffs in a deep, narrow box canyon, Fay Canyon is kid friendly, pet friendly and well shaded, so it can be hiked any time of year. The lush forest of oaks that provides shade in the summer months also makes this a great place to see fall colors in November.
 

 

 

The system trail ends 1.2 miles from the parking area, where the canyon splits at a massive rock fall that broke off from the point between the two forks. Social routes go beyond the system trail into both forks.
 

An easy side hike in Fay canyon leads to a sandstone arch (shown below). The arch is located on the right side of the canyon (see map) before reaching the end of the system trail. It is visible from the system trail, but it won't be obvious this is an arch unless the light is just right. From below it looks more like an alcove in the cliff.

 

 
The final approach to get underneath the arch is a bit steep, but here is where you can finally tell that what appeared to be an alcove from the system trail is actually an arch, since it is not connected to the wall behind it.
 

There are also a number of small cliff dwellings in both forks, none of which can be seen from the system trail. The first of these (shown below) is in the North Fork. Simply turn right at the end of the system trail and immediately start looking for a social trail heading uphill on the left. The route is short, but it's also steep and rocky, so reaching this first cliff dwelling is rated as moderate. The elevation gain is approximately 125 ft from the fork.

 

 

From this cliff dwelling there is a break in the cliffs (shown below) and the route climbs approximately 250 feet up a steep rocky chute to reach a big ledge directly above the fork. You are now approximately 375 feet above the end of the official system trail.

 

 

I call the very special ruin located directly above the fork "The House of the Rising Sun" due to its orientation to the east. This ruin is shown in the photo below. Climbing up here is rated as difficult, but the view into the main canyon, into both forks, and the ruin itself make the effort worthwhile.

 

 

This side hike presents Sedona at it's best. Not only is there plenty of scenery and solitude, you can also make a loop out of it by hiking from the House of the Rising Sun along the ledge, then down into the South Fork of Fay Canyon. Route finding on this loop is a bit of a challenge, but there is a social trail once you get down off the upper ledge.

 
GET THE GPS TRACK FOR EVERY TRAIL IN SEDONA INCLUDED WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE WANDERER"S GUIDE!

 

This social trail (shown in the two photos below) does not drop all the way to the dry creek bed, which would be difficult to walk in. Instead it takes a narrow ledge above just above the creek bed, and follows it all the way back to the system trail at the fork.

 

 

 

 Located in the North Fork, at the very end of the box canyon, is the Fay Canyon Kiva. When it's raining this cliff dwelling sits behind a waterfall. While we don't know what this structure was used for, the shape and style of it, as well as the acoustic properties of of the alcove, make it likely that this may very well have been an ancient kiva.
 

Fay Canyon Trail is a system trail in the Coconino National Forest, designated as Trail #53. Turn left at the intersection of Boynton Canyon Road and Boynton Pass Road. The parking area is on the left side of Boynton Pass Road. 0.54 miles from the intersection.

GET THE GPS TRACK FOR EVERY TRAIL IN SEDONA INCLUDED WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE WANDERER"S GUIDE!
 

A Red Rock Pass is required to park in this lot and can be obtained from the vending machine. There is no overflow roadside parking at this location. The trailhead is directly across the road from the parking area. Vaulted toilets are available at this parking area. A Red Rock pass is required and roadside parking is not permitted in this area.

SYSTEM TRAIL RATED: Easy
HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN RATED: Difficult
FAY KIVA RATED: Moderate

TOTAL DISTANCE
2.4 miles out and back

ELEVATION GAIN
190 ft

EST. HIKING TIME
2 hours round trip from the parking area for system trail

2-4 hours to visit the arch or the ruins.
About 4 hours for the House of the Rising Sun Loop

BEST TIME TO GO
All year. Hike early in the morning to avoid summer heat.

PET FRIENDLY
Yes for the system trail. Must be leashed at all times. Please pick up after your pet. Do not visit ruins with your pet!