Overview
Boynton Canyon is among the best hikes near Sedona in Coconino National Forest, and it remains one of the more underappreciated ones given that Cathedral Rock and Devil's Bridge dominate most visitors' itineraries. The canyon draws you in quickly: within the first half-mile, the red sandstone walls close in overhead and the outside world disappears behind you. The trail follows the canyon floor for 3 miles, climbing gradually through juniper and pinyon pine before the canyon walls converge at a viewpoint looking back at the full length of the drainage you've just walked. The round trip is 6 miles with 900 feet of gain, manageable for most hikers in good condition.
The canyon's walls contain several Sinagua cliff dwellings, built by the people who lived in this region between roughly 700 and 1,400 CE. The most visible ruin sits in an alcove on the south wall around mile 0.5, high enough to require binoculars for a good look but unmistakable once you know where to search. This is part of the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness, and the ruins are protected: stay on the trail and do not attempt to reach them. The canyon has been a sacred site for multiple Indigenous peoples for centuries and continues to hold cultural significance.
Summer is not the season for this trail. Sedona's summer temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and the canyon provides limited shade in its upper reaches. The best hiking window runs from October through May, with October through November and March through May offering the most reliable combination of comfortable temperatures and clear skies. A Red Rock Pass is required at the trailhead, and no additional permit is needed.
The Route
Miles 0 to 0.5: Trailhead to the Enchantment Resort junction. The trail begins at the parking area and almost immediately splits. Bear right at the junction, staying on the main Boynton Canyon Trail rather than the spur that loops around the Enchantment Resort. Within a few hundred yards, the canyon walls rise around you and the character of the hike is established. The south wall holds the most visible ruin alcove. Scan the reddish cliff face on the right (south) side of the trail for a dark opening in the rock with what appear to be stacked stone walls below it. The ruins are about 150 feet above the canyon floor.
Miles 0.5 to 1.5: Canyon floor walking. The trail through the middle section of the canyon is the most pleasant stretch: relatively flat, shaded by the canyon walls in the morning hours, and carpeted with pinyon pine needles. The walls here reach 400 to 500 feet above the trail. Several side drainages enter the main canyon in this section, marked by dry streambed crossings that can run with water in March and April after winter rain or snowmelt. The footing is mostly packed dirt and loose rock.
Miles 1.5 to 2.5: The climb begins. The grade increases in the upper canyon as the walls begin to converge. The trail gains most of its elevation in this section, climbing through scrub oak and manzanita on a rockier path. The footing requires some attention: loose rock and embedded sandstone slabs alternate, and the trail is less worn here than in the lower canyon. Some light scrambling over sandstone ledges is required in the final half-mile to the viewpoint.
Mile 3.0: Canyon viewpoint. The trail reaches a saddle with views looking back down the full length of Boynton Canyon and out across the broader Sedona red rock landscape. The Boynton Canyon buttes rise on both sides, and on clear days you can see the San Francisco Peaks, including Humphreys Peak (12,633 feet, the highest point in Arizona), to the north. This is the turnaround point. There is room to sit among the rocks and eat lunch with a view.
Return: The descent retraces your route. The upper section requires care on the loose rock, and the lower canyon can be surprisingly warm in afternoon sun even in cool months.
When to Visit
October through November: The best window. Temperatures are in the 60s and 70s, the summer crowds have thinned, and the angle of the light in fall makes the red rock walls glow in the morning and evening hours. October mornings are often perfectly clear. Expect the trailhead parking to fill by 8 AM on weekends.
December through February: Sedona winters are mild by most standards, with daytime highs typically in the 50s and 60s. Occasional freezes happen, and snow dusts the canyon walls a few times each winter, which is photogenic and generally melts within a day or two. Weekday hikes in winter can feel almost solitary, a rare experience in Sedona.
March through May: Spring brings wildflowers to the canyon floor, and the winter rains sometimes leave standing water in the lower canyon's dry creek beds. March and April are popular months. By May, daytime highs begin approaching 90 degrees; plan early starts.
June through September: Not recommended. Sedona temperatures regularly hit 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit in July and August, and the canyon offers limited shade in the afternoon. If you visit in summer, start at sunrise, carry a minimum of 3 liters of water per person, and turn back by 10 AM.
Practical Details
- Red Rock Pass: Required at this trailhead. $5 per day or $15 per week. America the Beautiful annual pass (covers all federal lands, $80/year) is accepted and covers unlimited visits.
- Dogs: Allowed on leash. The trail is manageable for dogs, though the rocky upper sections require some scrambling. Carry water for your dog: there is no reliable water in the canyon.
- No camping: The trailhead and canyon are day-use only.
- Ruins: Visible from the trail, but do not leave the trail to approach them. This is both a legal requirement and a matter of basic respect for living cultural traditions. Practice Leave No Trace throughout.
- Water: No water sources on the trail. Carry at least 2 liters per person in cool weather; 3 liters or more in warm conditions.
- Cell service: Spotty to nonexistent in the canyon. Download an offline map before your visit.
Getting There
From Sedona's main intersection (SR-89A at Uptown Sedona), head west on SR-89A for approximately 3 miles to Dry Creek Road. Turn right (north) on Dry Creek Road and continue 3 miles to Boynton Pass Road. Turn left on Boynton Pass Road and follow it about 1.5 miles to the trailhead parking area at the road's end. Total from central Sedona: about 15 minutes.
From Flagstaff, take I-40 west to AZ-89A south, or take US-89 south to AZ-179 into Sedona, then follow the directions above. Total from Flagstaff: approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. The Sedona area road network is heavily congested on weekends between October and May: budget extra time.
The Bottom Line
Boynton Canyon rewards hikers who want more than a quick view: the trail builds gradually, the canyon walls grow more impressive the deeper you go, and the Sinagua ruins add historical depth that most Sedona hikes lack. It is the right choice for hikers looking for a half-day commitment with a genuine sense of arrival at the end. Visit between October and April, get to the trailhead early, and bring more water than you think you need.
Boynton Canyon shares the Dry Creek Road access corridor with Bear Mountain, which starts less than 2 miles south and is the most demanding trail in the immediate Sedona area. On the other end of the difficulty spectrum, Bell Rock Pathway near the Village of Oak Creek (5 miles south on SR-179) is an easy option for groups with varying fitness levels. For a canyon experience that contrasts with Boynton's open-top character, Vultee Arch in Sterling Canyon near Oak Creek Canyon is a shaded, cooler walk to a natural arch — one of the better options on hot days.
Coconino National Forest is one of the few places where you can spend multiple days hiking and encounter a new landscape on each trail. The best hikes near Phoenix guide covers the I-17/SR-89A corridor from the Valley through Sedona to Flagstaff. The America the Beautiful Interagency Pass covers the Red Rock Pass required here and at every Sedona-area trailhead, making it worthwhile for anyone visiting multiple times. For those interested in the Sinagua people whose ruins are visible in these canyon walls, understanding national forest vs. national park land management helps explain why cultural sites in national forests are protected under different rules than in designated national monuments or parks.