The Pyramid
The Pyramid is a system trail in the Coconino National Forest. It's well marked with signs and easy to follow. One of the user-created trails that has been adopted by the Forest Service in recent years, the system trail makes a loop around the formation known as the Pyramid, and there is a short social trail leading to the top.
Once upon a time there was a small cluster of dwellings on top of the Pyramid, the foundations of which can still be seen (shown below). These are the only ruins in the Cathedral Rock Hiking Area that I know of. There are surely others, but the native people were building out in the open here, rather than up in the cliffs - in caves and alcoves - so there isn't much left after 700 years of weathering.
The loop portion of the system trail is used by mountain bikes, but they do not go to the top of the Pyramid, which gets few visitors. That makes it a wonderful place to find a little solitude very close to town. Like Baldwin Butte across the creek, this is also a great place to get a photo of Cathedral Rock, especially if the full moon is coming up behind it.
FINDING THE TRAILHEAD
Turn on Upper Red Rock Loop Road at Sedona High School and proceed downhill for 1.5 miles to the dirt parking lot on the left across from Chavez Ranch Road. The trail begins at this parking area, overlapping with the Scorpion Trail to the top of the pass.
The loop can be done in either direction, but the views of Cathedral Rock are better if you turn right on Scorpion at the beginning. After reaching the saddle between Pyramid Mountain and Scheurman Mountain, the trail begins dropping back to the parking lot, passing some nice cliffs on the backside of the Pyramid.
HIKE DETAILS
TOTAL DISTANCE
1.43 miles out and back
2.2 miles for the loop
ELEVATION GAIN
350 ft
EST HIKING TIME
1 hour roundtrip
BEST TIME TO GO
September-May. There is no shade, so avoid this trail during the mid-day heat of summer.
PET FRIENDLY
Yes. Must be leashed at all times. Please pick up after your pet.
1.43 miles out and back
2.2 miles for the loop
ELEVATION GAIN
350 ft
EST HIKING TIME
1 hour roundtrip
BEST TIME TO GO
September-May. There is no shade, so avoid this trail during the mid-day heat of summer.
PET FRIENDLY
Yes. Must be leashed at all times. Please pick up after your pet.