Stats, trail tips and important information regarding this trail are located at the bottom of the blog post. Unless explicitly noted, all pictures in this blog are owned by me and should otherwise not be used without expressed written consent.

Sedona has become an immensely popular city to visit over the past several years. Consequently, some of the more popular hikes are inundated with people. Thankfully that’s less of a problem with out-of-town trails such as Robber’s Roost. Although you can probably traverse the road leading to the trail with an SUV, the distance from town seems to deter quite a few people. Does that make the hike a little known secret? Maybe. We were the only ones on the trail throughout the hike. Here’s Po (my truck) parked near the trailhead…

Although Robber’s Roost isn’t a particularly strenuous hike, it is an absolutely gorgeous and photogenic hike. We parked at the trailhead and immediately saw a herd of cows nearby (Note: Yes, I was derelict in my duties as a hiking blogger for not taking a picture). The hike starts out relatively flat with interesting desert flora and a view of the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness area…

Not too far along the trail the rock formation that encompasses Robber’s Roost drifts into the foreground…

The hike wraps around the rock formation and you’ll need to do some climbing. We had Howie with us and got by just fine. So if your fur pal is well-behaved, this shouldn’t be an issue…

As you get to the top of the rock formation, the broader, distant mountain views are evident…

We traversed the top of the rock formation and did some exploring. That’s why you’ll see our hiking distance more than the actual trail distance. I found this mini arch to be quite cool…

These pointleaf manzanitas are throughout the hike and on top of the rock formation. The bark is cool as hell. Check it out…

Indeed Howie was enjoying the hike too 🐶…

Some pics of me exploring above the cave at Robber’s Roost…

So what’s so unique about this hike, you ask? The cave…

This cave is above ground and frames the nearby Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness perfectly. This is where the hike becomes uber photogenic…

You can even pose within the nearly perfectly circular cave opening. Perfect…

And a video inside the cave (or “roost”)…

So yeah this hike is absolutely beautiful, absolutely photogenic and not as crowded as the “designer hikes” in Sedona that attract the big crowds. I loved it. One last picture for the road. 🙂 I found this root to be very unique, almost shaped like a planter…

What a damned good hike!

Total Distance/Time: 3.4 miles in 1 hr 55 min
Calories Burned: 640
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Trail Features: Dusty road, cows, desert flora, cave, modest rock scramble, mountain views, desert views
Best Time to Hike: Cooler months (November-March)
Difficulty Rating: 7/10
Trailhead Coordinated: 35.661, -113.153

Trail Tips:

• Bring the Right Transportation: The road to the trail is long and dusty. An SUV is probably ideal.
• Respect the Environment: The dust on these dirt back roads have started suffocating the plant life around them in the Sedona area (vehicles, side by side, etc ). Keeping your MPH below 25 will help keep the dust at bay.
• Moooooo! If you have a fur pal, watch for the cows!
• Seasonal Warning: This hike is probably quite hot during the heat of the summer. Bring plenty of water. It was moderately hot (but comfortable) in November.