Pyramid Mountain Loop

There are dozens of great trails in the Sedona area, and some are justifiably famous and popularaDevils Bridge, Cathedral Rock, Chicken Point, and Doe Mountain to name a few. These trails are gorgeous, but solitude is often hard to come by. A surprising exception is the trail around Pyramid Mountain, which is very close to the popular Crescent Moon Ranch. The Pyramid/Scorpion Trail loop is an extremely scenic, moderately easy trail that offers great views of Cathedral Rock and the surrounding country. Very few people seem to know about this trail, and it may be a local secret. From the parking area, a short trail leads to the junction of the Scorpion and Pyramid trails. Either direction is good, but the best views of Cathedral Rock are found when returning on the Pyramid Trail, so taking a right on Scorpion Trail is the recommended route. The first part of the loop is a pretty gradual climb around the mountain and up to a saddle where it meets Pyramid Trail. From the top the trail crosses the drainage to the south of Pyramid Mountain, and there are great views of the mountain's steep cliffs from here. Parts of this trail are steep, and the views of Cathedral Rock up ahead are distracting, so care must be taken! The trail drops back down to the wash and climbs back up a bit to return to the trailhead. All along this route, the desert scenery is magnificent with all the variety of the Sonoran Desert vegetation and the deep red sandy soil. Be on the alert for mountain bikes because this trail is frequently used by them.