The Coconino Loop

• Spring and fall are the best times to ride the Coconino Loop. In the spring, you need to wait for the snow to melt in the higher elevations around Flagstaff. You also don’t want to go too late in the summer as Sedona can be really hot.
• Fall can be perfect, but you may run into cool temperatures near Flagstaff, and the sun sets very early.
• It’s a tricky balance as the temperature differs from being up on the Mogollon Rim to being just below it. Each year can be different, so make sure to pay attention to the weather. 
• Logistically, Flagstaff makes an ideal start and end point, as there’s an Amtrack station and it’s close to I40. Services include a range of hostals and affordable motels, and plenty of good quality bike shops. Revolution Bikes stocks bikepacking gear, and offers bike rental too. Basing yourself out of Sedona is another option. Both offer a network of trails to explore if you have the time.
• Segments of this trail are pretty technical, so best to ride the loop with a companion.
• Because of the technical nature of this trail, a hardtail is likely your best bike choice, with a suspension fork, larger volume tires, and a tubeless setup—parts of the Coconino Loop are rife with cacti and goatheads.
• All the relevant gpx files and waypoints can be downloaded at TopoFusion.com
• There is a misleading gate around mile 97; walk around to the left. This gate is here to limit motorized use.
• At mile 109, you will approach another gate. There is public access to non-motorized use after the gate. To open, lift the green gate or press the button on the motor on the right to open it.

• Flagstaff offers a range of hostals and affordable motels.
• Camping on top near Schnebly Hill overlook might be the best campsite view you will ever have.
• Camping is not allowed off of Sedona trails, so plan appropriately.
• Otherwise, camping is wildly abundant on this route, just pay attention to private property signage.

• Water can be tricky, but reliable and nicely spaced-out water sources are on the route. These include Sedona, Buddha Beach at Oak Creek, Red Rock State Park, Cottonwood, Spigot at Mingus Mountain, Verde River, Williams, and Parks.
• Sedona, Cottonwood, and Williams all offer a unique experience with downtowns that offer good food and unique shops.

Neil and Chris recently tackled the 250-mile Coconino Bikepacking Loop, journeying through the ponderosa-filled landscapes of northern Arizona, Sedona’s iconic red rocks, the legendary Mingus Mountain, and a super fun stretch of the Arizona Trail. Despite facing a sweltering fall heatwave, they completed the route in five days and had a blast doing so. In our latest route video, Neil and Chris bring viewers along for a wild ride.

Coco Lite – the Mingus Bypass

I’m all for shouldering my bike – but if there’s a good dirt road alternative, I’m happy to take that too. To avoid the route’s most infamous hike ‘n bike, take the Mingus Mountain Bypass (see separate gpx file), which skirts around the top of the mountain, keeping to more mellow forest roads. It meets the route some 10 miles later. We noticed that it’s also possible to turn off onto a graded dirt road at a couple of points en route to the Bill Williams Overlook, saving yourself some potential off-the-bike toils. If the trail on the other side of the overlook is littered with blowdown, you can follow a dirt road down into Williams too.

Timeframe

The Coconino loop is generally raced in 4 stages as part of the Arizona Endurance Series , though madmen tackle it in one fell swoop (for the grand prize of a box of donuts, no less). As mere mortals, we rode it in 4 and a half days. If traveling from afar, consider spending an extra day of mountain biking in Sedona, where technical trails abound – a few hours in Flagstaff could easily be put to good use too. I’d add to that our first day out of Flag was slowed down considerably by tacky, clay-like mud on the Anderson Plateau, thanks to rain the previous night. So keep an eye on the weather.