more stats
3.3 miles
Distance
321 ft
Climb
-310 ft
Descent
00:27:19
Avg time
9 ft
Altitude change
4,509 ft
Altitude min
4,649 ft
Altitude max
4,561 ft
Altitude start
4,570 ft
Altitude end
-19.7%
Grade max
16.2%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
5,056 ft
Distance flat
00:27:19
Avg time

Cockscomb Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Adaptive Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Upper Dry Creek
    Sedona, Arizona
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (1 vote)
  • Local Popularity
    70 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 55 in Trail Running
    • 55 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
    • 5 in Adaptive Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #72474 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #141688 in Trail Running
    • #141151 in Hiking
    • #3515 in Horseback
    • #15143 in Adaptive Biking
  • State Ranking
    #937 in Mountain Biking · Arizona [+]
    • #2,495 in Trail Running
    • #2,863 in Hiking
    • #220 in Horseback
    • #149 in Adaptive Biking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    Adaptive MTB
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No

The whole trail is 3.45 miles long and is rated as intermediate for the most part. There are several steep sections an intermediate rider will walk, but for the most part this trail offers a great loop potential when hooked up with the Aerie trail.

Much of the trail was once an old jeep road so several sections are wider than a normal Sedona singletack. Over the years the FS has been trying to narrow the trail by adding rocks and dead-fall on the edges of the trail. This is a multi-use trail, so beware of horses, hikers and trail runners.

There is one section of the Cockscomb trail that intersects the Dawa trail. This intersection is somewhat confusing due to poorly laid out signage. Please note that the Dawa trail is shaped like an L so make sure you are on the correct track when you exit the common trail area.

source: The UNPavement
Adaptive Bike Info
aMTB Green Rating: Beginner features and moderate terrain.

Most adaptive riders will be good. Some steep undulations, possibly requiring riders with front wheel drive to need assistance. There is a ride around under the fence at the Rupp junction rock barrier

Tags
Trail Supporters
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 5 rides
  • 16 miles average
6 Months
  • 59 rides
  • 12 miles avg distance
All
  • 632 rides
  • Last: Oct 18, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
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Status:
on Oct 13, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.05 (33 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (2,050)
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      Directions to cockscomb trailhead (34.899220, -111.855860)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      21 more »
      mtb
      496 |
      Aug 10, 2019 @ 7:07am
      Aug 10, 2019
      mtb
      506 |
      Nov 28, 2018 @ 9:54pm
      Nov 28, 2018
      mtb
      62 |
      Feb 12, 2026 @ 6:11pm
      Feb 12, 2026
      mtb
      79 |
      Jul 30, 2023 @ 8:49am
      Jul 30, 2023

      Videos

      6 more »
      Sedona Mountain Biking // Aerie to Cockscomb: Pt 2
      mtb
      9:31 | 407 | Aug 18, 2022 , Sedona
      Mescal Trails Sedona, Arizona
      mtb
      23:33 | 425 | Aug 25, 2021 , Sedona
      Cockscomb UNCUT - Adaptive MTB - West Sedona, AZ
      mtb
      14:57 | 495 | May 9, 2021 , Sedona
      Sedona Day Trip 04-25-2020 | Checking out some...
      mtb
      6:29 | 378 | May 18, 2020 , Sedona

      Trail Lists

      Routes with this trail

      298
      West Sedona 21 miler CCW
      ★ 3.9 • 22 miles • 2,043 ft • 10 • Loop •
      Park at cultural center, ride Girdner to Chuckwagon and continue long loop in a counterclockwise...
      212
      Westside Sampler
      ★ 5.0 • 10 miles • 825 ft • 7 •
      Starts and returns from the Aerie trialhead includes Cockscomb Upper Aerie Deadman's pass, Mescal, Fools...
      483
      Western Gateway Loop
      ★ 4.8 • 24 miles • 2,397 ft • 25 • Loop •
      A fairly difficult loop that has about 6 possible starting points as the loop passes numerous parking...

      Links

      4.1 ★★★★★
      33 Ratings
      5 ★ 24%
      4 ★ 58%
      3 ★ 18%
      2 ★
      1 ★

      4 Reviews & Comments

      anjulie
      This was a fun pedal! Lots of flowy down if ridden from Upper Aerie but enough up to keep you honest. A great workout and good variety of terrain.
      otbspecialist
      One of the easiest trails in Sedona. Aerie more technical. Dawa categorized incorrectly as a black diamond trail. It's actually easy blue. These trails make a great loop.
      bensgig bensgig
      From start to Dawa was good. Connector to aerie. The back side was decent too. Good to loop aerie.

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      Nearby Trails

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Cockscomb located?
      Cockscomb is located in Upper Dry Creek, Sedona, Arizona, United States. It is part of the Upper Dry Creek trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 34.89922, -111.85586.
      ▼ How hard is Cockscomb?
      Cockscomb is rated as Blue difficulty.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Cockscomb?
      Cockscomb has 321 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 310 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 4,509 ft to 4,649 ft.
      ▼ Is Cockscomb a point to point trail?
      Cockscomb is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Cockscomb?
      Cockscomb is 3.3 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Cockscomb?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Cockscomb. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Cockscomb?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Cockscomb are:
      • March (54 activities)
      • October (48 activities)
      • April (44 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Cockscomb? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Cockscomb are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Cockscomb?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 27 minutes to ride Cockscomb. The trail is 3.3 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Cockscomb?
      Cockscomb is a very popular trail. There have been 1,965 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 2,050 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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