more stats
2.0 miles
Distance
201 ft
Climb
-814 ft
Descent
00:33:00
Avg time
-613 ft
Altitude change
8,422 ft
Altitude min
9,156 ft
Altitude max
9,035 ft
Altitude start
8,422 ft
Altitude end
-5.7%
Grade
-52.9%
Grade max
34.7%
Grade min
2,536 ft
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
568 ft
Distance flat
00:33:00
Avg time

Sunset (Upper) Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    MEDL (Mount Elden Dry Lakes)
    Flagstaff, Arizona
  • Ref Number
    23
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (4 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    35 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 65 in Trail Running
    • 65 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Global Ranking
    #12040 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #71843 in Trail Running
    • #81312 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • TTFs on Trail
    Rock Garden

A fun, and often times, fast trail. Lower Sunset is easily ridden in both directions and is a Blue. Upper Sunset is primarily downhill and has some Black sections. The upper section is often referred to as "Hobbit Forest" between though the rocky switchback section below Heart and called "The Catwalk" between Upper Oldham and Heart. The Hobbit Forest section was realigned to its current alignment in 2018 by the Flagstaff Trail Faeries; Before the trail went directly down the hill in the section. Most sections of this trail are challenging uphill on a mountain bike.

Good trail for hiking and running as well; The section nearest to Elden Lookout Trail is for foot traffic only - no bikes or equestrians.

Trail Supporters

  • USFS
    Land Manager
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 7 rides
  • 23 miles avg distance
All
  • 24 rides
  • Last: Aug 10, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Sunset (Upper) Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Aug 3, 2026 @ 3:08pm (America/Phoenix)
Aug 3, 2026
Jul 27, 2026 @ 11:25am (America/Phoenix)
Jul 27, 2026
 Tree down across the trail when coming out of the chunky portion of hobbit forest before the flow. Careful, comes up quick!
Apr 13, 2026 @ 3:42pm (America/Phoenix)
Apr 13, 2026
 All clear!
Mar 21, 2026 @ 10:01am (America/Phoenix)
Mar 21, 2026
 10+ down trees on upper sunset
Jul 24, 2025 @ 7:47am
Jul 24, 2025
more »
Status:
on Aug 3, 2026
Dry
Avg: 4.51 (33 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
  • > 96%
  • > 90%
  • > 80%
  • > 70%
  • > 50%
  • < 50%
  • bi-directional trail
  • no data
Trail Last Ridden
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  • < 2 days
  • < 1 week
  • < 2 weeks
  • < 1 month
  • < 6 months
  • > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
Contribute Details
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  • Description & Photos
  • Videos
Trail Popularity ?
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Slope Aspect
Direction the slope faces
Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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        Directions to sunset-upper-16334 trailhead (35.244570, -111.601250)
        View on Discover Map

        Photos

        48 more »
        mtb
        158 |
        Sep 1, 2023 @ 8:07am
        Sep 1, 2023
        mtb
        207 |
        Jul 25, 2023 @ 10:21pm
        Jul 25, 2023
        mtb
        208 |
        Nov 4, 2021 @ 2:23pm
        Nov 4, 2021
        mtb
        188 |
        Sep 30, 2021 @ 4:59pm
        Sep 30, 2021

        Videos

        14 more »
        youtuber SUNSET TRAIL in Flagstaff Arizona ????
        mtb
        16:27 | 1146 | Sep 28, 2019 , Flagstaff
        Flagstaff Enduro: STAGE 3
        mtb
        5:14 | 99 | Nov 1, 2025 , Flagstaff
        Flagstaff Trail Guide: Upper Sunset
        mtb
        8:46 | 171 | Jul 1, 2025 , Flagstaff
        Who Needs a Shuttle? Big Mt. Elden Loop!...
        mtb
        13:44 | 179 | Aug 4, 2024 , Flagstaff

        Technical Trail Features (TTF)

        Routes with this trail

        84
        The Elden Sunset Schultz Classic
        ★ 5.0 • 14 miles • 2,134 ft • 7 • Loop •
        The Flagstaff classic. The climb up start as pavement but quickly transitions into dirt. You will gain...
        146
        Sunset Over Secret Middle Earth
        ★ 4.5 • 19 miles • 2,297 ft • 37 • Loop •
        Great loop with plenty of climbing to earn your downhill fun. Some techie but rideable bits on and but...
        127
        Elden Lookout Loop via Sunset, Heart, and Christmas Tree
        ★ 1.0 • 11 miles • 2,581 ft • 5 • Loop •
        4.6 ★★★★★
        33 Ratings
        5 ★ 76%
        4 ★ 15%
        3 ★ 6%
        2 ★
        1 ★ 3%

        11 Reviews & Comments


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        Nearby Trails

        MEDL (Mount Elden Dry Lakes)

        • By toddTF Pro Trailforks & contributors
        • #16334 - 10,022 views

        Frequently Asked Questions About Sunset (Upper)

        ▼ Where is Sunset (Upper) located?
        Sunset (Upper) is located in MEDL (Mount Elden Dry Lakes), Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is part of the MEDL (Mount Elden Dry Lakes) trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 35.24457, -111.60125.
        ▼ How hard is Sunset (Upper)?
        Sunset (Upper) is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 5.7%. The climb difficulty is rated Black Diamond.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Sunset (Upper)?
        Sunset (Upper) has 201 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 814 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 8,422 ft to 9,156 ft.
        ▼ Is Sunset (Upper) a point to point trail?
        Sunset (Upper) is not a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Primary. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ How long is Sunset (Upper)?
        Sunset (Upper) is 2.0 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Sunset (Upper)?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Sunset (Upper). Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Sunset (Upper)?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Sunset (Upper) are:
        • August (2 activities)
        • December (1 activities)
        • November (1 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Sunset (Upper)? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Sunset (Upper) are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Sunset (Upper)?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 27 minutes to ride Sunset (Upper). The trail is 2.0 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Sunset (Upper)?
        Sunset (Upper) is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 165 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 165 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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