Bikepacking The Coconino Loop

location Arizona, USA
We recognize Indigenous Peoples as the traditional stewards of this land. Moreflag On Hohokam, Yavapai Apache, Jumanos, & Hopi Land

  • Distance

    250 Mi.

    (402 KM)

  • Days

    5

  • % Unpaved

    90%

  • % Singletrack

    45%

  • % Rideable (time)

    96%

  • Total Ascent

    20,744'

    (6,323 M)

  • High Point

    8,893'

    (2,711 M)

  • Difficulty (1-10)

    8?

  • 5
    Climbing Scale Moderate83 FT/MI (16 M/KM)
  • -
    Technical Difficulty
  • -
    Physical Demand
  • -
    Resupply & Logistics
About Our Ratings

Contributed By

Cass Gilbert - While Out Riding

Cass Gilbert

While Out Riding
This challenging loop through Coconino County treats you to some of the best trails in Northern Arizona, including segments of the AZT, and a taste of the red rock (and mystical) world of Sedona.
Share Facebook 0 Twitter Pinterest

Knitting together some of the finest trails in Northern Arizona, the Coconino Loop is a 250 mile bikepacking journey linking Flagstaff with Cottonwood, the Verde River and Williams, via the mighty wall of Mingus Mountain and the towering red buttes of Sedona. The singletrack is top notch – the ride even incorporates a classic section of the AZT, and a spectacular traverse of the mountain biking mecca of Sedona.

Concocted by Bikepacking.net‘s Scott Morris and buddy Chad Brown – both well respected bikepacking fiends – the loop boasts over 28,000 feet of climbing. The terrain is unrelenting as it is varied: baking desert and dusty red rock, ponderosas pines, lava flows, flatlands, mesas and snowy peaks, to name just a few. Almost half of the ride takes place on challenging singletrack; the rest traces roughly hewn jeep tracks and gravel county roads. Of course, no bikepacking adventure worth its salt is complete without a couple of grueling hike ‘n bikes thrown in too… curses and all.

Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona Bikepacking The Cococino Loop, Arizona
Download GPX alert Submit Route Alert info Help

Submit Route Alert

As the leading creator and publisher of bikepacking routes, BIKEPACKING.com endeavors to maintain, improve, and advocate for our growing network of bikepacking routes all over the world. As such, our editorial team, route creators, and Route Stewards serve as mediators for route improvements and opportunities for connectivity, conservation, and community growth around these routes. To facilitate these efforts, we rely on our Bikepacking Collective and the greater bikepacking community to call attention to critical issues and opportunities that are discovered while riding these routes. If you have a vital issue or opportunity regarding this route that pertains to one of the subjects below, please let us know:

  • **Advocacy opportunities may include bringing awareness to a new trail project, conservation initiative, access potential, or local effort that we might help with or bring awareness to via our broad-reaching platform.

  • *By clicking submit, you're also subscribing to our email list. You'll receive an opt-in email before being added.

  • Highlights

    camera

  • Must Know

    alert

  • Camping

    home

  • Food/H2O

    drop

  • Resources

    link

  • Camping out at Schnebly Hill Overlook, above the red buttes and mesas of Sedona, before savoring the technical Munds Wagon Trail.
  • Experiencing Sedona (if time allows, put aside a day to explore the trails of this world-class mountain biking mecca).
  • Chilling out at Buddha Beach… home to a powerful vortex??
  • Flowering cacti in the spring.
  • Dodging volcanic babyheads atop Sycamore Canyon.
  • The 14 mile ribbon of singletack from the Snowbowl (9200ft) into Flagstaff (6900ft) – a highlight of the northern portion of the Arizona Trail.
  • Spring and Fall are best, to avoid the sweltering heat of Sedona.
  • 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.
  • It’s well worth going tubeless in this part of the world, as parts are rife with cacti and goatheads.
  • All the relevant gpx files and waypoints can be downloaded at TopoFusion.com
  • Camping in never an issue along the route, as much of the loop passes through National Forest.
  • Flagstaff offers a range of hostals and affordable motels.
  • Although Arizona can be hot and dry (so bring suitable water-carrying capabilities), sizable settlements, spread evenly throughout the ride, mean food and water are never a major issue. Stock up in Flagstaff, Sedona, Cottonwood and Williams.
  • There’s a ranger station along the Lime Kiln Road, and bring water treatment for pulling H20 from Cayote Springs and the Verde River.

More Info

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.

Terms of Use: As with each bikepacking route guide published on BIKEPACKING.com, should you choose to cycle this route, do so at your own risk. Prior to setting out check current local weather, conditions, and land/road closures. While riding, obey all public and private land use restrictions and rules, carry proper safety and navigational equipment, and of course, follow the #leavenotrace guidelines. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be used as a point of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence. In spite of the fact that this route, associated GPS track (GPX and maps), and all route guidelines were prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. BIKEPACKING.com LLC, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individual riders cycling or following this route.

FILED IN (CATEGORIES & TAGS)

USA

Arizona

 bikepacking-arizona  

Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.