Little Horse Trail Best of the Red Rocks in Sedona Arizona

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Little Horse Trail in Sedona Arizona is in the Coconino National Forest. This hiking, biking, and horseback riding trail offers scenic views of the beautiful Sedona red rocks. I did this hike on an October afternoon, but during the hot summer months, it’s best to do the hike early in the day to avoid the excessive heat.

Bring water and snacks, sunscreen, sunhat, and sunglasses and enjoy one of the best hikes in Sedona.

Little Horse trail has stunning panoramic views of the gorgeous red rocks of Sedona.

Bookmark this page for when you do the hike. Alternatively, if you are looking for a Sedona hike with shade, I highly recommend the West Fork Trail at Oak Creek. There are lots of amazing things to do in Sedona.

Now let’s go over the essentials for hiking Little Horse Trail in Sedona.

Little Horse Hike Info

Distance: 4.3 miles (7 km)
Type of Hike: Out and back
Elevation Gain: 564 ft (172 m)
Difficulty: Moderate
Duration: Allow about 2 hours
Dogs Allowed: Yes, but all dogs must be on leash
Facilities: Restroom at trailhead

Trail markers Little Horse Tr Red Rock Sedona

Watch for the trail markers at the start of Little Horse Trail Red Rock Sedona

Little Horse Trail Fee

$5 per day is the fee for Little Horse Trail parking lot. If you already have a pass you are covered for this hike.

Pay the fee at the vending machine next to the trail map and info.

Accepted Passes

America the Beautiful – get more info at the National Park Service website
Red Rock Pass – Daily, weekly, or annual passes are available from the vending machine at the trailhead.

This is one of the most beautiful Red Rock hikes in Sedona Arizona

Trailhead Address

There isn’t an exact street address for the Little Horse trailhead location but it’s easy to find.

Directions from Sedona

From Sedona take Hwy 89A south to AZ 179 S and continue for about 3.5 miles (5.6 km). Turn left after the United Methodist Church and cross AZ 179 northbound lane to get to the parking lot.

Allow about 10 – 15 minutes driving time from Sedona.

Little Horse Trail is popular with mountain bikers

Description of Hike

First, you should know that this trail is not strictly for hiking. You will probably see a lot of cyclists on the trail and maybe people horseback riding.

And at the summit you will likely see several of the Pink Jeep tours or dune buggies parked at the top. This is the turnaround point for the jeep tours. They don’t hang around very long at the summit though.

I had the place almost to myself, only 1 other hiker, after the jeep tour people left.

Pink Jeep tours of Sedona AZ drive up to the summit of Little Horse Trail

Also note that the trail does not offer a lot of shaded areas and it gets extremely hot in the summer.

Watch for birds and wildlife such as lizards, rattlesnakes, and hummingbirds to name a few.

Agave, yucca, and various cactus species are visible along Little Horse trail. I also saw several large juniper trees towards the end of the hiking trail.

You will see prickly pear cactus at Little Horse Trail

Yucca Sedona Red Rock Little Horse Trail

Yucca plants are common at Sedona Red Rock Little Horse Trail

Juniper Trees Sedona Arizona Little Horse Trail

Little Horse Trail starts out at the Bell Rock Pathway then branches to the left – watch for the signs and cairns during the first quarter mile or so.

Little Horse Trail and Bell Rock Pathway trailhead in Sedona

You will see the Chapel of the Holy Cross to the left. Later in the hike, the Chapel Trail intersects with Little Horse Trail. As you continue the hike, you’ll get a close-up view of Madonna and the Nuns spire rock.