We'll be staying in Sedona for two days next week. Any suggestions for easy trails/back roads to check out? The X will be in street trim so that's why I said "easy".

dave and xtoy - in addition, we'll be 'driving miss daisy' (remember the movie)

The only one I've done up there is Broken Arrow (about 6 times). It's excellent. A mildly challenging trail in spots, that a stocker can do without any damage, but depends on what you want to tackle.

Or for a more scenic drive, do all or part of Schnebly Hill Rd. (2WD-able)

Beyond that, there's Soldier Pass and Teacup Trails (Both off Soldier Pass road). Recently, I was turned on to Oak Creek Homestead, in Red Rock State Park. One steep, off camber shelf down a hillside, and that's it for that trail for "challenge". When you get to the water though, it's a perfect spot to relax and enjoy lunch.

Oh, and while you're up there, get across the valley if you can and spend some time up in Jerome. One of my favorite AZ towns to visit; shopping, eating, shopping, drinking, people watching, etc.
Don't know if anyone's told you either, bring your camera, this land is beautiful Dave..

Thanks for the suggestions! Found the roads on the GPS so I guess we'll get the X a little dirty.
If we have time Jerome will be on our list. IIRC someone told me that Jerome is a good alternative to Sedona and not as pricey.
The Canon's batteries are being charged and we'll bring enuf memory chips.

dave and xtoy - but first we have to stay in Phoenix

Schnebly Hill's a graded, dirt road. Aammaazing views..Broken Arrow is slick rock (like in MOAB, perhaps not as tacky though..) Both trails can be driven in a morning, and are more comfortable aired down. As you exit town again, the Mobil Station's got great, free air, right up by the ice machines

Happy Trails

Got back from Sedona this afternoon. The ride up Schnebly Hill was great. In a way, we felt sorry for the folks in the 'pink jeeps'. All that dust and stuff. We had filtered, AC'ed air in the X.
Then we went up 17 to exit 333 and took a ride on Nf-237 to 89A to finish the loop back to Sedona.
Today we came home via Jerome - reminds me of Bisbee. 89A out of Jerome made me wish I was driving a sports car. Instead we took a bunch of tread of Xtoy's front tires.

dave and Xtoy - covered in red dust

Like this?

DBAX -
Check the pic in my profile - a Datsun 1967 SPL311 (1600)roadster. In 1972 I bought a 240Z. Kept it around for 12 years. In 1992 I stopped smoking and got myself a Miata as a 'present'. http://home.att.net/~miatank/wsb/media/147946/graphic_org_pub.jpg
Miatank has been supercharged, has a fully adjustable suspension and lot's of other upgrades. You might say that we know our way around a turn.

dave and xtoy - pushing an X is fun too

You may want to continue up ove rthe mountain out of Jerome than.. It drops down on "Yarnell Hill" I think about a mile to the valley floor. Wicked twistys and another great view



Zoom-Zoom-Zoom

We turned off 89A to pick up 69 to 17. Looking at the map, 89 out of Prescott has some good sections. Is that the road, Yarnell Hill? Could not find that in the GPS.

dave and xtoy - too bad the area is 4 hrs from home

Whoops, 89a goes on to Prescott from Jerome. Yarnell Hill's on the other side of that mountain ...
Prescott-top right corner, Yarnell-bottom left corner


It's a big state, keep the top down and enjoy the ride

I fondly remember a few experiences with my previous, Rx7 and Toyota Supra... Those were the days. 89A must have been the funnest, except for maybe the road up/down south mountain. I was going so fast coming down that the rice bikes pulled over to let me pass.

We are heading up to Flagstaff on Saturday. What is the best way to do the Schnebly Hill Rd drive, from the I-17 or the Sedona side ?

Coming down, from I-17. Have a great time

Agreed. This is kind of coming 'down' the hill, with great views of the Sedona area below...

Mark

The other advantage of starting from the I-17 end is that you won't come across the 'pink jeeps' (out of Sedona) for a while. At the end of Schnebly Hill go south on 179, then after a bit, left onto Chapel road. Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

dave without xtoy - they picked a good spot

Been there before, it was a lot smaller than I was expecting.

An excellent way to approach Sedona and not too many pink jeeps to worry about. It was interesting to see several Ford Taurus's on this road especially going up hill.

We started out doing the Apache Trail, then Payson up to Flagstaff for the oil change, down Schnebly Hill Rd from the I-17 (tons of photos ), back up to Flag via the Oak Creek canyon road and back down to the valley.

Thanks for recommending Schnebly Hill Rd, next time we have visitors from overseas, this will be the 'standard' approach into Sedona.