Schnebly Hill Road Jeep Tours in Sedona: The Climb to the Mogollon Rim

What is Schnebly Hill Road and why do jeep tours climb it?

It is an 11 mile one-way forest road in the Coconino National Forest that climbs more than 2,200 feet from Sedona to the top of the Mogollon Rim, past rock formations most visitors never see from town.

Schnebly Hill Road leaves Sedona heading northeast and climbs onto the Colorado Plateau. The reward for the rough miles is the view back down over the red rock country from the Mogollon Rim. The road has history built in. It began as the Munds Road, and the wagon trail was completed in 1902 by pioneer J.J. Thompson with funding from Coconino County, following one of the first and most popular cattle trails out of the Sedona area. Sedona itself got its post office that same year, opened in the back of the Schnebly home, and the town was named after T.C. Schnebly's wife. For a jeep tour visitor the road delivers three things in one run. Steep, rocky, bumpy trail that makes the 4x4 earn its keep. Tall red rock buttes and canyon walls up close. And the payoff at Schnebly Hill Vista, where you stand at 5,980 feet and look out over Sedona and the whole red rock country below. The Forest Service lists eleven OHV routes in the Sedona area of the Red Rock Ranger District, from Easy dirt roads to Extreme routes where 4-wheel drive and high clearance are necessary. Schnebly Hill sits at the demanding end of that list, which is exactly why commercial jeeps run it and why it is heavily traveled by the Pink Jeep tours.

Sources: US Forest Service, US Forest Service.

Is Schnebly Hill Road drivable?

Yes, but only with a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle, and the Forest Service warns the road 'eats regular vehicles for breakfast'.

The road is open to public drivers when it is not under a winter closure. The question is what you are driving. The trail rating sits around 4.5 to 5 on a 1 to 9 off-road scale. High clearance and 4-wheel drive are necessary. Recent driver reports say the road is very rough. A stock SR5 4Runner, a vehicle many people assume is capable enough, scrapes its underside on parts of the road. Ordinary passenger cars do far worse. Uphill traffic has the right-of-way, so if you meet a jeep climbing toward you, give way. You will also share the road with commercial tours, which run it heavily. If you rent in town, be honest about the vehicle. Visit Sedona lists Sedona Jeep Rentals at 3009 W SR 89A, phone 928.282.8700, under ground transportation. Confirm in writing that the rental is allowed on Schnebly Hill Road before you set off, because many rental agreements forbid it. The rule that applies everywhere in the district is simple. No operating a motor vehicle off an open and authorized road, obey speed limits and keep noise down in neighborhoods.

Sources: US Forest Service, US Forest Service.

How long does it take to drive Schnebly Hill Road?

About 2 hours for the full 11 miles one-way at trail pace, and recent reports say to expect 1 to 1.5 hours just for the roughly 5.5 miles from the vista down to Sedona.

The full route takes about 2 hours because the surface forces a slow pace the whole way. Recent trail reports describe the road as very rough and suggest 1 to 1.5 hours for the roughly 5.5 miles from the vista down into Sedona. Do the math on that and you get a crawling average speed, which tells you what the surface is like. A guided tour compresses this neatly. The Schnebly Hill Road Jeep Tour runs 2.5 hours and covers the climb to the vista and back, so you get the whole scenic stretch without the long rough descent to I-17 that most visitors do not need. The Rim Run Express 1-Hour Jeep Tour trims it to a single hour if your schedule is tight. Allow extra time in your day either way. Tour departures, parking at the trailhead and photo stops all add up.

Is Schnebly Hill Road open?

It is open outside winter, and it closes roughly December through April from I-17 to Merry-Go-Round Rock.

Check the status before any winter trip, because the closure gate sits low on the road and changes with the weather. The published pattern is a winter closure from I-17 to Merry-Go-Round Rock lasting approximately December through April. The Forest Service also says there can be seasonal closures from the Merry-Go-Round to the top, and from the Huckaby Trailhead parking lot upward, with no fixed gate dates given. In a winter release Coconino National Forest explained that it prohibits motor vehicles on many forest roads during the wet and snowy months, and named Schnebly Hill Road as a road that can start in desert conditions and end in deep snow. Practical advice for a jeep tour planner. Guided operators schedule around closures, so booking a tour removes the guesswork entirely. If you plan to drive yourself in the colder months, confirm the gate status with the Forest Service Red Rock Ranger District before you leave Sedona. Snow at the rim with sunshine in town is normal here, so a clear morning in Sedona proves nothing about the top of the road.

Sources: US Forest Service, US Forest Service.

What do you see on a Schnebly Hill Road jeep tour?

You climb through red rock canyons to Schnebly Hill Vista at 5,980 feet, with views over Sedona and the red rock country from the Mogollon Rim.

The tour is a climbing sightseeing run, not a flat bumpy loop, and the views improve with every mile of elevation. Leaving Sedona the road passes the Oak Creek area and starts up between tall buttes. The trail tightens into canyon narrows and ledges, which is the part that makes passengers hold on. Higher up the red rock opens out and the vista arrives at about 5.7 miles up the road from Interstate 17 exit 320. Schnebly Hill Vista sits at 5,980 feet and looks back over the entire Sedona red rock landscape. Beyond the vista the road continues to its high point of 6,522 feet at the top of the Rim descent. Tours on this road all stop at the same fixed point, so everything past that turn-around belongs to self-drivers, and photographers report solitude and unexplored photo spots out there, especially at sunset. Merry-Go-Round Rock is the named landmark on the upper section and marks the end of the open stretch in winter. Some guests add a vortex-themed run such as the Sedona Vortex Jeep Tour to their trip for a different angle on the same landscape.

Source: US Forest Service.

How do you get to Schnebly Hill Road?

From Sedona, turn left on Schnebly Hill Road just past the Oak Creek Bridge, and the trailhead reach reaches 5 miles up the road past the winter closure gate.

The road starts at the edge of town, which is why a tour needs almost no transfer time. The Forest Service directions for trail access are straightforward. Turn left on Schnebly Hill Road just past the Oak Creek Bridge and go 5 miles, passing 0.6 miles beyond the winter closure gate, to a turnout. From the highway side, Schnebly Hill Vista sits about 5.7 miles up the road from Interstate 17 exit 320. On a guided tour you skip all of this. You meet the jeep in town and ride from there. The Scenic Rim Pink Jeep Tour and the Schnebly Hill Road Jeep Tour both work this way. If you drive yourself, note that the Forest Service says non-street-legal vehicles should start at the top, coming down from the I-17 side rather than climbing from Sedona. Bring a map or offline navigation, because the road is FR 153 and signage on the upper sections is sparse.

Sources: Coconino National Forest Schnebly Hill Trail No. 158, US Forest Service.

How much does a Schnebly Hill Road jeep tour cost?

Tours that cover this road and the rim run from $76.18 per person for a 1 hour ride up to $150.41 per person for a 2.5 hour vortex tour.

You pay per person, prices vary by duration, and every tour listed here includes free cancellation 24 hours ahead. The direct run up the road is the Schnebly Hill Road Jeep Tour with Arizona Safari Jeep Tours, $134.81 per person for 2.5 hours, rated 5 from 928 reviews. The faster option is the Rim Run Express 1-Hour Jeep Tour, $76.18 per person, rated 4.9 from 608 reviews. Pink Jeep Tours runs the Scenic Rim Pink Jeep Tour at $138 per person for 2.5 hours. Longer backcountry alternatives include the 3 hour Outlaw Trail Off-Road Jeep Tour at $134.81 per person and the 2 hour Red Rock Backcountry Jeep Tour at $107.33 per person. For a private vehicle, Red Rock Western Jeep Tours offers the Private Soldier Pass Jeep Tour at $169 per person for 1.5 hours in your own jeep.

When is the best time to drive Schnebly Hill Road?

Spring, summer and fall are the best seasons, and sunset is the best hour for the views.

The road is listed as best in spring, summer and fall, which also lines up with it being open. Winter is out for most visitors. The closure from I-17 to Merry-Go-Round Rock runs roughly December through April, and even the open shoulders of the season can hold snow at the top while Sedona sits in sunshine. Within a day, morning tours give you cool air, softer light on the buttes and fewer vehicles on a road that commercial jeeps share. Sunset is the photographer's hour, with warm light on the red rock and long shadows across the canyon, though the popular tour stop will have company since every tour goes to the same point. If you drive yourself and want solitude for photos, go past the tour turn-around later in the day. Check the weather before booking in the shoulder months. Rain makes the ledges slicker and the washes run, and winter storms can close the upper road with little notice.

Source: US Forest Service.

What should you bring on a Schnebly Hill jeep tour?

Bring layers, sun protection, water, closed shoes and a camera, because you ride open-air through big temperature swings between Sedona and the rim.

The climb gains over 2,200 feet, so expect the air at the vista to be noticeably cooler than in town. A light jacket earns its place even on a summer run. Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat matter because you ride in an open jeep with full sun and dust. Closed shoes with grip handle the mounting step and any short walk at the vista. Bring water, especially on the longer 2.5 and 3 hour tours. A phone or camera with spare storage covers the view, and a strap or zip pocket keeps it secure on the ledges. Leave the big bags behind. Space in a tour jeep is limited, and everything you carry you also hold on your lap through the bumps.

Source: US Forest Service.

Who is a Schnebly Hill Road tour right for?

It suits anyone who wants big views and a serious 4x4 ride without driving it themselves, and it does not suit travellers who want a smooth, quiet ride.

This is a rough trail, and knowing that before you book makes the difference between a great trip and a sore one. It is right for visitors without a high clearance 4x4, since the road genuinely requires one and a stock 4Runner already scrapes. It suits photographers who want the rim view over Sedona, families staying on the standard tours, and anyone short on time who wants the biggest scenery in the fewest hours. The 1 hour express version works well as a first taste of off-road riding. Think twice if you have back problems, if very bumpy rides make you uncomfortable, or if you expect a gentle scenic drive. The trail rating of 4.5 to 5 on a 1 to 9 scale puts this well above a dirt road cruise. If you want milder options, the district also lists easier routes such as the 4 mile round-trip Broken Arrow, where the roads next to the trail are used by jeep tours and the going is gentler.

Source: US Forest Service.

Can you camp on Schnebly Hill Road?

No camping is allowed below Vista Point, and camping above it is not described in the published trail information.

The rule is short. No camping below Vista Point. If you plan an overnight anywhere in the forest around Sedona, confirm the spot with the Red Rock Ranger District first. Visitors who need help planning a stop on the way can also use the free Sedona Shuttle trailhead routes, which run Thursday to Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to Cathedral Rock, Soldier Pass and Dry Creek Road trailheads, though they do not serve Schnebly Hill Road itself. For photography, the published advice is that the tours all stop at one point, so drivers who continue past it find solitude and unexplored photo spots, especially at sunset. Tour guests get the classic vista shot, self-drivers get the empty frames beyond it.

Where can you check a Schnebly Hill Road map and current status?

The Forest Service publishes the road as FR 153 with status on its Red Rock Ranger District pages, and the visitor center in town can help in person.

Two official places answer map and status questions before you drive. The road is Forest Road 153 in the Coconino National Forest. The Forest Service pages for the Schnebly Hill area carry the access directions and the seasonal closure notes, and the district status pages carry the current road status. The published closure information gives no fixed gate dates, so anyone driving in the cooler months should confirm the gate status with the district before setting out. In person, the Visit Sedona visitor center at 331 Forest Road, Sedona, phone 928.282.7890, answers route questions for travellers. Bring a paper or offline map. Phone coverage drops in the canyon sections, and a wrong turn up there costs an hour of very rough road.

Sources: US Forest Service, Visit Sedona.