How to Hike Fay Canyon in Sedona, Arizona
Fay Canyon was a big surprise for me – I had heard it was a nice hike, but I was not prepared for how beautiful this little corner of Sedona was. Truly, it’s the definition of a hidden gem – stunning views, just down the road from popular spots like the Subway Cave, but with very few visitors.
Fay Canyon certainly isn’t a difficult hike (in fact, I’d call it one of the best easy hikes in Sedona, similar to West Fork Oak Creek which I also did), but there are a few things to be aware of when hiking. So in this guide, we’re sharing some tips and details about hiking Fay Canyon, and sharing lots of beautiful pictures to convince you to do it 😉
Getting to the Trailhead
The Fay Canyon Trailhead is located off of Boynton Pass Road and is just 12 minutes from West Sedona. Cell service is pretty spotty in this area, so it’s a good idea to download offline maps before heading out so that you can continue using maps and navigation even if you’re in a dead zone.
The trailhead parking lot is shared with the Cockscomb Trail, which starts directly from the parking lot. You’ll actually cross the street to start the Fay Canyon trail.
There are vault toilets at the parking lot.
Birthing Cave, the Boynton Canyon + Subway Cave, Bear Mountain, and Doe Mountain are also all located off of this road.
Trail Stats
- Distance: 2.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 298 feet
- Difficulty: Easy, but climbing to the arch is moderately difficult
- Cell Reception: Spotty
Starting the Fay Canyon Hike
Cross the road from the parking lot to find the trail. Overall, this is a very leisurely and easy trail to walk. You’ll mostly be walking on an open, flat trail, with some trees around you, and views of red cliffs in front of you (and around you as you get farther back in the canyon).
The Arch
The Fay Canyon Arch is a must-do pit stop when hiking in Fay Canyon. The arch is located off of a short but very steep spur trail from the main trail.
It’s actually pretty easy to miss the turnoff for this trail if you aren’t actively paying attention, as the spur trail is unmarked and relatively narrow. The trail will be on the right after about 0.6 miles (approximately 10-15 minutes of hiking, depending on your pace).
I use the paid version of the AllTrails app so that I can navigate and track my progress while hiking, and we would have been sore-pressed to find the turnoff without the app telling us where to look. So, either get AllTrails, or pay very close attention so you don’t miss it.
Almost all of the elevation gain on the Fay Canyon trail comes from the climb up to the arch (over 200 feet in about 0.15 miles), and it’s a steep, rocky climb, but the payoff is definitely worth it!
The Arch is right in front of the cliff wall – make sure you go behind the arch, looking out towards the canyon, for the best views.
Continuing on the Trail
After you reach the arch and come back down the spur trail, continue on the main trail. It’ll be about the same as the first 0.6 miles – flat, easy, and scenic. The canyon walls will surround you more the farther you hike.
The Trail End… Or Is It?
After hiking for about 1.2 miles, you’ll come to this little sign nailed to a tree in the middle of the path:
Don’t listen to the sign! It’s trying to take away all the happiness in your life!
Jokes aside, the section right after the official trail end is absolutely spectacular and you definitely shouldn’t miss it.
Right behind the tree is this large, anvil-shaped rock formation. Continue towards the anvil and then scramble up the side of it – you want to get at least halfway up to really enjoy the insane views back down the canyon.
For even more fun, keep walking deeper into the canyon following a little path on the left side of the anvil rock. This path isn’t particularly defined, but there are easy ways to keep walking back.
You’ll eventually arrive at the bottom of this really cool rocky overhang, but there’s a decently steep scramble up a slanted hill to get to the ledge.
While most of the hill here felt too steep to climb, there were a few areas that we felt were flat enough/had some decent little spots for hand and foot holds that we could safely scramble up the side. Just walk up the cliffside a little bit until you find an area that looks promising.
But also! For sure only do what you feel comfortable and confident with – no view is cool enough to risk falling or injuring yourself.
The ridge under the rocky overhang was so cool! The way the mountain curves around you and the red rock canyon stretched in front of you was truly gorgeous. We did this hike an hour or two before sunset, so the rocks were glowing beautifully!
The Wrap Up
Once you’re done exploring beyond the end of the trail, it’s quick and easy to head back out the way you came. Overall, Fay Canyon was a highlight of my recent trip to Arizona and a great spot to enjoy nature without the crowds, and I really enjoyed this lovely yet easy hike in Sedona.
Other Hikes to Do in Sedona
Check out my other Sedona hiking guides – these are all top bucket list hikes and experiences in Sedona:
