more stats
1.4 miles
Distance
146 ft
Climb
-52 ft
Descent
00:10:06
Avg time
94 ft
Altitude change
4,357 ft
Altitude min
4,468 ft
Altitude max
4,374 ft
Altitude start
4,469 ft
Altitude end
1.2%
Grade
-10.1%
Grade max
10.7%
Grade min
3,343 ft
Distance climb
1,621 ft
Distance down
2,628 ft
Distance flat
00:10:06
Avg time

Stirrup Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Western Gateway
    Sedona, Arizona
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (2 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    95 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 100 in Trail Running
    • 80 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Global Ranking
    #63785 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #82788 in Trail Running
    • #105288 in Hiking
    • #20112 in Horseback
  • State Ranking
    #827 in Mountain Biking · Arizona [+]
    • #1,239 in Trail Running
    • #2,000 in Hiking
    • #710 in Horseback
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical Rating
    Easy
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    All Season
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Year Opened
    2019
  • Land Owner
    USFS

Runs between the Girdner trail and the south end of the Outer Limits trail. The trail consists of 40% beginner trail and 60% intermediate trail. The steep sections of the Stirrup trail will challenge beginner riders. This is a multi-use trail, so beware of horses, hikers and trail runners. The Saddle Up trail intersects the Stirrup trail which offers additional loop opportunities for more intermediate riders.

Access Info

Girdner at the northwest end and the Girdner trail near the Cutural Center and the south end of the Outer Limits trail. Near the middle of the Stirrup trail the Saddle Up trail intersects Stirrup.

Tags

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 5 rides
  • 14 miles average
6 Months
  • 50 rides
  • 14 miles avg distance
All
  • 895 rides
  • Last: Oct 23, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
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Status:
on Apr 22, 2026
Dry
Avg: 4.06 (13 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (4,435)
close
      Directions to stirrup trailhead (34.868470, -111.838250)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      6 more »
      mtb
      230 |
      Apr 13, 2021 @ 8:58pm
      Apr 13, 2021
      mtb
      239 |
      May 16, 2020 @ 3:42pm
      May 16, 2020
      mtb
      241 |
      May 16, 2020 @ 3:42pm
      May 16, 2020
      mtb
      225 |
      May 16, 2020 @ 3:41pm
      May 16, 2020

      Videos

      2 more »
      Stirrup
      mtb
      7:13 | 254 | Feb 19, 2023 , Sedona
      Stir-up Trail - Sedona, Arizona - Dust Or Bust MTB
      mtb
      7:22 | 472 | Dec 21, 2020 , Sedona

      Routes with this trail

      458
      Mescal Double Barrel HugeB
      42 miles • 4,050 ft • 17 • Loop •
      Nice mix of flow and tech in NW Sedona. Ride consists of two loops connected by Mescal so you get to do...
      25
      VVCC - Inclement Weather - Western Gateway - 3
      6 miles • 494 ft • 3 •
      Another options for Western Gateway during Inclement Weather.
      90
      Stirrup > Girdner > Axis
      4 miles • 321 ft • 3 • Loop •
      Fun, beginner-friendly short loop in Sedona.
      3.9 ★★★★★
      13 Ratings
      5 ★ 23%
      4 ★ 46%
      3 ★ 23%
      2 ★ 8%
      1 ★

      5 Reviews & Comments

      ChrisPringle ChrisPringle
      The first half mile from the Cultural Park trailhead will scare off most beginners expecting an easy green trail. So expect rock gardens, drop-offs and ledges that are more commonly found in Sedona’s blue trails. It eases after half mile into a true green. Also, recommend doing Saddle Up trail which is marked as blue but it’s really an easy green with just a gradual ascent.
      OPJim
      Nice trail but more of a green with black diamond trail than a true green.
      straythots
      Pretty blown out right now exposing some intermediate jank, particularly on the north to south direction climb out Looped with Saddle Up and would actually rate this as slightly harder, excepting maybe the small ledges at the north end of Saddle Up.

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      Nearby Trails

      Western Gateway

      • By johnf0246TF Pro & contributors
      • #178431 - 5,548 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Stirrup located?
      Stirrup is located in Western Gateway, Sedona, Arizona, United States. It is part of the Western Gateway trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 34.86847, -111.83825.
      ▼ How hard is Stirrup?
      Stirrup is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Easy. The average grade is 1.2%. The climb difficulty is rated Green.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Stirrup?
      Stirrup has 146 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 52 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 4,357 ft to 4,468 ft.
      ▼ Is Stirrup a point to point trail?
      Stirrup is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Stirrup?
      Stirrup is 1.4 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Stirrup?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Stirrup. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Stirrup?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Stirrup are:
      • April (63 activities)
      • October (58 activities)
      • March (57 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Stirrup? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Stirrup are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Stirrup?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 10 minutes to ride Stirrup. The trail is 1.4 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Stirrup?
      Stirrup is a very popular trail. There have been 4,353 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 4,435 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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