Little Horse Trail
The best open option right now for an easy hike that still delivers. The Forest Service rates Little Horse "moderately easy — good for beginners," at 1.5 miles each way to Chicken Point with 330 feet of gain.
It's one of only two trailheads on the free Sedona Shuttle (Route 15, shared with Cathedral Rock), and crucially there's no private-vehicle prohibition here — you can also just drive up with a Red Rock Pass.
One thing to know: the City explicitly states Little Horse is not to be used as overflow parking for Cathedral Rock.
The facts
- Open right now?
- Open (outside the closure boundary)
- Forest Service trail
- Little Horse Trail No. 61
- Distance
- 1.5 miles one way to Chicken Point (about 3 miles round trip)
- Elevation gain
- 330 ft
- Difficulty (USFS)
- Moderately easy — good for beginners (USFS)
- Time needed
- About 1 hour each way
- Trailhead elevation
- 4,300 ft
- Pass required
- Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful
- Sedona Shuttle
- Route 15 — served, but not mandatory; you may drive
- Parking
- Paved turnout on SR 179 at milepost 309.8. Capacity not published.
- Restrooms
- Not documented on the Forest Service trail page
- Shade
- Minimal
Getting there
Get directions →Where it goes
The trail runs from SR 179 up toward Chicken Point, a broad slickrock saddle between Twin Buttes with — in the Forest Service's own words — "wonderful views." Chicken Point is also where the Broken Arrow route arrives, so it's a busy junction and you'll likely see jeep tours.
Along the way the trail passes the formation known as the Madonna and the Nuns, and intersects the Chapel Trail coming up from the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
Mountain bikes are permitted on the main trail. They're prohibited on the Jim Bryant extension into the Wilderness, as bikes are in any designated Wilderness.
Driving versus the shuttle
Route 15 serves both Cathedral Rock and Little Horse, running Thursday to Sunday about every 15 minutes from the North SR-179 Park & Ride. But unlike Cathedral Rock, Little Horse has no private-vehicle prohibition — the lot stays open to cars every day of the week.
So the shuttle here is a convenience, not a requirement, and it's a good one on a busy morning.
The City is pointed about one thing: Little Horse "IS NOT to be used as an overflow parking lot for the Cathedral Rock trailhead." If you can't get into Cathedral Rock, the answer is the shuttle, not parking here and walking over.
Frequently asked questions
Is Little Horse Trail easy?
The Forest Service rates it moderately easy and specifically good for beginners — 330 feet of gain over 1.5 miles each way to Chicken Point.
Can I drive to the Little Horse trailhead?
Yes, any day. Unlike Cathedral Rock and Soldier Pass, there's no private-vehicle prohibition here. You need a Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful pass.
Is Little Horse open during the fire closures?
Yes. The trailhead sits well south of the Pocket Fire closure boundary and isn't named in the order. Route 15, which serves it, is running normally.
What is Chicken Point?
A wide slickrock saddle between Twin Buttes with panoramic views, reached at 1.5 miles. It's also the destination of the Broken Arrow jeep route, so expect company.
Facts on this page last verified July 28, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.