Deadman's Pass Trail

Branching off from the better known Boynton Canyon trail, this poorly named road less traveled is a quiet beauty when it snows

According to Sedona Area Names & Places by Jean Matthews Kindig, local lore attributes Deadman’s Pass Trail’s ominous name to a Native American grave found in the area. That must be the case because the trail’s short distance (just under three miles round trip), stellar views, and lack of major hills are anything but fatal. We hiked the trail just after a brief snowstorm passed through the area, making it all the more picturesque and adding just enough chill to our bones to make us look forward to a steaming cup of hot chocolate back at home.

Deadman’s Pass shares a trailhead with Boynton Canyon Trail but quickly branches to the northeast (follow the wooden sign posts). Excellent views of towering red buttes and shallow alcoves dusted with white snow sat on our left while Mescal Mountain, a flat mesa covered in trees and scrub, stood to the right. The trail is relatively narrow and dense with manzanita, prickly pear cactus, and juniper. While the trail seems to be a popular single-track for mountain bikers, it looks like hikers are more enticed by the renowned beauty of Boynton Canyon (or perhaps the “Deadman’s Pass” name scares them away) since we didn’t see any footprints on our hike. We had the trail all to ourselves; the silence, plus the fresh snow, was a welcome respite from all the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping in town.

The trail has a few small hills and crests gently at the “pass” but nothing that will take your breath away. Deadman’s Pass crosses a power line before it ends at Long Canyon Trail with views of the golf course at Seven Canyons. We backtracked to the trailhead at this point but hikers with more time can easily go on to explore Long Canyon (six-mile round trip) from here.

DIRECTIONS: Go southwest on Hwy 89A and north on Dry Creek Rd. Turn left at Long Canyon Rd. and right on FR152C toward Enchantment Resort and Boynton Canyon. The trailhead and parking area (with restrooms) are on your right before you reach the resort. A Red Rock Pass is required for parking; passes are sold at the trailhead.

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