Slim Shady Trail

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

Slim Shady is a system trail in the Coconino National Forest. It is well marked with signs, easy to follow, and moderately used by both hikers and mountain bikes.

Because it connects to a number of other easy trails, Slim Shady is most often used to create a loop or point-to-point route, customized to whatever length YOU desire.

FINDING THE TRAILHEAD

Visitors staying in the Village of Oak Creek can access Slim Shady directly from their accommodations since it starts directly across the street from the Bell Rock Vista trailhead, and begins as a fairly nondescript singletrack right where the sidewalk ends.

Visitors staying in other parts of Sedona will most likely access Slim Shady from the Yavapai Vista parking area (at GPS 34.80752 -111.76956) located off Hwy 179 just north of the Village. A Red Rock or America the Beautiful Pass is required to park here.

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

Yavapai Vista is also a connecting point between the Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock hiking areas, with several trails that pass underneath Hwy 179. This interwoven network can be a little confusing as you leave the parking lot, so be sure you get on the right trail by paying close attention to the signs starting out.

LOOP #1:
SLIM SHADY to MADE IN THE SHADE

This popular loop heads south toward the Village from Yavapai Vista, traverses a gentle slope with short ups and downs, then turns back north on Made In The Shade. There is one tricky turn to get on Made in the Shade, otherwise the route is well marked with signs. The surface here is more dirt than rock, which is somewhat unusual for trails in the Sedona area. Mountain bikers describe this type terrain as "flowy".

HIKE RATING: Moderate
BIKE RATING: Easy to moderate

TOTAL DISTANCE
2.4 miles

ELEVATION GAIN
345 ft

EST HIKING TIME
1-2 hrs

BEST TIME TO GO
September-May

PET FRIENDLY
Yes. Must be leashed at all times. Please pick up after your pet.

LOOP #2:
SLIM SHADY to TEMPLETON to
EASY BREEZY to HERMIT

This easy route heads north from Yavapai Vista toward Cathedral Rock. Of course, you could be hiking or riding a nearly identical loop with similar scenery right across Hwy 179 (known as the Bell Rock Pathway), but you would be sharing the trail with a whole lot more people.

If you're not doing this hike simply because it's rated as easy, you could extend this loop with a side trip to the saddle of Cathedral Rock, adding approximately 1.5 miles (and 700 feet in elevation gain) the hike described below.

HIKE RATING: Easy
BIKE RATING: Easy

GPS FOR SLIM SHADY TRAILHEAD
34.80752 -111.76956

TOTAL DISTANCE
2.2 miles

ELEVATION GAIN
465 ft