Transept Trail
The Transept is a system trail in the Coconino National Forest. Most of it is well marked with signs and easy to follow. However, it's one of the newest system trails in Sedona. It started out as a user-created mountain bike trail that was adopted by the Forest Service in 2018. For this reason there are couple of spots that do not have signs yet.
Adoption of user-created trails into the system allows the U.S. Forest Service and volunteers to provide good signage, clear downed trees, and take steps to minimize erosion. Whenever I social trail is adopted in to the system that indicates it's a great route. Some day many of the social trails in this book will be adopted.
Traversing the less congested west side of Seven Warriors Mesa, the Transept connects a small parking area on Verde Valley School Road with the Hiline Trail.
Perhaps due to it's being such a recent addition, this is one of the least traveled trails in Sedona.
If you're looking for solitude close to the Village of Oak Creek, the Transept is a great place to look. It offers uncrowded views of Bell Rock (shown below), Cathedral Rock, and Thunder Mountain are rarely photographed.
It is possible to go "over the top" at the middle of 7 Warriors Mesa, and come out near Yavapai Vista on Hwy 179. This option is brushy, off trail, and not shown on the DETAIL MAP below. It is visible (as a break in the cliffs) in the photo above (directly behind the dead tree branch).
FINDING THE TRAILHEAD
Because the Transept Trail creates numerous opportunities to make a loop hike or a point-to-point hike, I've included surrounding parking lots on the DETAIL MAP below. The most likely parking areas to use in this way are Little Horse, Yavapai Vista, and Baldwin. Hiking just the Transept is an out-and-back hike from the parking area on Verde Valley School Rd.
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HIKE DETAILS
RATED: Moderate to difficult for hiking due to length, elevation gain, and lack of shade. Difficult for bikes due to elevation gain and rugged singletrack.
TOTAL DISTANCE
6.4 miles roundtrip
6.4 miles roundtrip
ELEVATION GAIN
900 ft roundtrip
900 ft roundtrip
EST HIKING TIME
3-4 hrs roundtrip
3-4 hrs roundtrip
BEST TIME TO GO
September-May. This trail can be extremely hot in summer.
September-May. This trail can be extremely hot in summer.
PET FRIENDLY
Yes. Must be leashed at all times. Please pick up after your pet.
Yes. Must be leashed at all times. Please pick up after your pet.