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Hike Cookstove Trail in Sedona [TRAIL GUIDE]

    Hike Cookstove Trail in Sedona.  You’re welcome.

    Cookstove Trail is a 1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Sedona, Arizona that features beautiful wildflowers and is rated as moderate.

    LengthElev GainRoute Type
    2.5 Miles1420 ftOut and Back

    Getting There:

    The parking lot is off Squaw Peak drive and leads to many more hiking trails in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. The route starts on a short connector trail and then goes straight up to the summit.

    The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from April until November. It is a less-traveled short jaunt up a gorgeous, but steep trail with sick views down Oak Creek Canyon looking towards Sedona offering a rare solitude in this area.

    Scenic overlook of Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona, Arizona

    Trail Info:

    Either a compliment to a night spent at the Pine Flat Campground or a quick day hike to top off your Sedona/Oak Creek adventure, this short hike will give you an alternative, but a comparatively gorgeous view of the Sedona Area.

    This trail starts just north of Pine Flat Campground, near milepost 387. It’s a steep climb through a forested area filled with conifers and a mix of juniper trees. There are amazing views of the East Face of Oak Creek Canyon. The trail continues up to the very edge of Cookstove Draw. The summit is nice and flat with ample opportunities for picnics or photography.

    Girl hiking up Cookstove Trail in Sedona Arizona
    Magical Sun burst over the cliffs of Oak Creek Canyon being watched by a girl and her dog on Cookstove Trail in Sedona

    Originally built to provide access for forest firefighters to Oak Creek Canyon’s wooded slopes, Cookstove Trail now offers nature lovers a scenic route to the canyon rim. The trail starts from the north end of Pine Flat Campground and immediately begins switchbacking up the steep slope of the canyon’s east wall. It climbs through an area forested with stands of mixed conifers, Gambel Oaks, and both Utah and alligator junipers.

    The trees part at a number of points along the trail offering good views of the buff-colored cliffs of Coconino Sandstone and the remnants of an old volcano across Oak Creek. There are also some good views of the Route 89A switchbacks that lead into the canyon. 

    At the top of the hike up cookstove trail in Sedona, an outcrop of volcanic basalt provides the perfect lunch stop. Enjoy the view before heading back down the trail or continuing south along the canyon rim to the Harding Springs Trail for an alternate descent back to the highway.

    Guy standing on a cliff edge overlooking Oak Creek Canyon after hiking up Cookstove Trial in Sedona

    There’s a good chance you will have this trail all to yourself. It’s a beautiful and serene hike as long as you can overlook the traffic noise from 89A below. You can either do this as an out-and-back or as a loop connecting to the Harding Springs Trail (1.6 miles is the full loop distance). 

    Once you’ve rocked this hike and got your sweat on, find one of the many swimming holes along 89A to cool off. 

    PERMIT

    Make sure you have your Red Rock Pass if you are planning on parking along 89A. A night spent at either Cave Springs Campground or Pine Flat Campground leaves you steps away from the trailheads for this loop. 

    Trail Map