Sugarloaf Loop: The Quick Sunset Summit
Sugarloaf is the short, sharp climb that gives you a panoramic Sedona sunset in under an hour. The loop is just over a mile, the summit is a flat sandstone bench with views in every direction, and the trailhead is five minutes from the centre of West Sedona. If you have one hour before dinner, this is the hike.
Trail overview
The Sugarloaf Loop is a 1.2-mile lollipop trail climbing 270 feet to the small flat summit of Sugarloaf, with a short loop around the top before descending the way you came. Most groups finish in 45 minutes to an hour at a comfortable pace. The climb is steep enough to count as a workout but short enough that even unfit hikers reach the top without misery.
What to expect
The trail starts on a wide sandy path through juniper and prickly pear, then turns up the south face of Sugarloaf on a steady switchback ascent over sandstone steps and loose gravel. The summit is a small flat bench — maybe 50 yards across — with a 270-degree view: Capitol Butte and Coffee Pot Rock to the east, the Mogollon Rim to the north, Doe Mountain and Bear Mountain to the west. The summit is one of the better in-town sunset spots; it gets a small crowd in the half-hour before sunset but never the shoulder-to-shoulder packing of Airport Mesa.
Permits + parking
The Sugarloaf trailhead is on Buena Vista Drive in West Sedona, off Sanborn Drive. A Red Rock Pass is required ($5 day). The lot is small (about a dozen spaces) and time-limited. Overflow parking along Buena Vista is legal where signed but space is scarce — arrive 90 minutes before sunset to secure a spot.
Best time to go
Sunset, almost any time of year. The summit faces west and lights up beautifully as the sun drops. Bring a headlamp for the descent; the trail is well-defined but the sandstone steps are easier to mis-step in low light. Sunrise also works but the view at first light is less dramatic than at sundown. Avoid midday in summer — the south-facing climb is fully exposed.
Difficulty + safety
Moderate by grade, easy by distance. The 270-foot climb in just over half a mile is steep enough that most groups stop once or twice on the way up. Manageable for kids age 7 and up; younger children can be carried. Carry one litre of water per person. Dogs welcome on-leash; the trail is good for dogs (no exposed scrambling), but bring extra water in summer.
Why locals use this trail
Sugarloaf is the trail Sedona locals walk when they want a quick hit of mountain air without committing to a half-day outing — it is short enough to do before work, scenic enough to feel like a real hike, and the descent is easy on the knees because it is only 270 feet of drop. The summit is one of the better spots in town for a phone call or a quiet half-hour with a book; the small flat bench is comfortable for sitting and the breeze keeps the bugs down. If you are staying for several days, do Sugarloaf on your first afternoon — it acclimates you to the elevation (Sedona sits at 4,500 feet) and gives you a sense of the surrounding landscape that will help you orient on bigger trails the rest of the week.
Stay nearby
Sugarloaf is a five-minute drive from our West Sedona properties — close enough that guests routinely walk the loop before dinner. See our Sedona vacation rentals for properties near the trailhead, and check Visit Sedona for current conditions.
