When you donate to the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund (SRRTF), you’re helping put boots on the ground to maintain and improve Sedona’s trails. But there’s another important part of that investment you might not see: training the people who do the work.
Each season, the Red Rock Ranger District (RRRD) relies on its seasonal Red Rock Trail Crew (RRTC) to tackle the demanding work of maintaining and improving our trail system. With financial support from SRRTF donors and supporters, these crews help address erosion, repair damaged trails, build sustainable structures, and protect the landscape that makes Sedona so special.
But great trail work requires more than hard work and enthusiasm. It takes specialized skills, sound judgment, and an understanding of how trails interact with the landscape.
That’s why SRRTF and the Red Rock Ranger District have invested in professional training that helps crew members become more effective trail builders and maintainers.
Learning From the Experts
Professional trail builder and trainer Mark Loseth, through Flagline Trails and Raven Trails, has worked with Red Rock Ranger District crews on a series of hands-on training programs.
Rather than traditional classroom-only instruction, these sessions take place on Sedona’s trails, where crew members learn by evaluating real problems, developing solutions, and putting their new skills to work.
The training has focused on three important areas:
1. Trail Maintenance: Water, Erosion, and Sustainable Trails
One of the biggest challenges facing Sedona’s trails is erosion. Heavy rainfall can quickly turn a poorly draining trail into a channel for rushing water, washing away soil and damaging the trail surface.
During training on trails including Slim Shady, Hiline, Baldwin, Soldier Pass and Teacup, crew members learned to evaluate how water moves across the landscape, identify drainage problems, and develop solutions that protect the trail.
They also practiced dry stone masonry, using carefully placed rocks to build durable transitions between soil and bedrock, stabilize drainage areas, and protect vulnerable trail sections.
These aren’t simply cosmetic improvements. Proper drainage and thoughtful rockwork can help prevent recurring damage, reducing the need for future repairs.
2. Advanced Rockwork: Building Structures That Last
Anyone who has hiked Cathedral Rock knows how steep and challenging the terrain can be. Building durable stone steps and retaining walls in these conditions requires considerable technical expertise.
During specialized training at Cathedral Rock, crew members learned how to safely move large sandstone blocks using rigging systems, split and shape stone, and construct stable steps and retaining structures.
They also learned to plan projects, calculate loads, inspect equipment, and communicate effectively during complex operations.
The result is more than beautiful stonework. These skills help crews build structures that can withstand heavy trail use and the forces of water and gravity while blending into Sedona’s natural landscape.
3. New Trail Design: Building Sustainability From the Start
Maintaining existing trails is essential, but designing new trails correctly from the beginning is equally important.
In January 2026, Mark Loseth of Raven Trails led a four-day, 36-hour trail design training program at Turkey Creek, sponsored by SRRTF and the Red Rock Ranger District.
Working in small teams, participants learned how to evaluate terrain, assess soil and drainage conditions, measure trail grades, and design trail alignments that balance environmental sustainability with the experience of hikers and mountain bikers.
The training wasn’t just theoretical.
Crew members helped design approximately 0.7 miles of the new Hyena Trail, part of the growing Turkey Creek Trail System. They learned how to flag the proposed route, incorporate drainage features, navigate challenging terrain, and design climbing turns.
They even constructed a small section of trail, putting their new skills to work immediately.
Investing in the Next Generation of Trail Professionals
There’s another important benefit to this training: the investment in the crew members themselves.
Seasonal trail work offers young workers an opportunity to develop valuable skills in construction, environmental stewardship, problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership.
The training also emphasizes how to communicate these skills to others. Crew members practice explaining trail maintenance techniques, evaluating projects together, and learning how to lead volunteers.
These are transferable skills that can help participants grow professionally, whether they continue working in trail management, conservation, outdoor recreation, or related fields.
And because seasonal crews change from year to year, continued training helps ensure that new workers have opportunities to develop the expertise needed to maintain Sedona’s trails to a high standard.
Your Donations at Work — Today and for the Future
When you support SRRTF, you’re helping make this work possible.
Your donations help fund the seasonal Red Rock Trail Crew and support the training and resources needed to make that crew effective.
The benefits extend well beyond any single project. Better-trained crews can make smarter maintenance decisions, build more durable trails, protect natural resources, and share their knowledge with volunteers and future crew members.
It’s an investment in both the trails we enjoy today and the people who will care for them tomorrow.
Thank you for helping us build a stronger, more sustainable trail system – one skilled crew member at a time.