Beginning in November, the Red Rock Ranger District and its partners will launch Year 2, Phase III of construction and restoration within the Turkey Creek Trail System, continuing the multi-year effort to transform this once largely informal network into a connected, sustainable trail system.

Last season brought a major expansion of the system, with new and adopted trails opening throughout Turkey Creek and significant progress made on Upside Dawn. This year, the work pushes farther into the system while completing and refining much of the upper-bench network.

The current 2026–27 work plan includes approximately 5.5 miles of construction, adoption, and major reroutes beyond Upside Dawn. An additional 0.38 miles of Upside Dawn remains unbuilt, while approximately 0.25 miles of the mostly constructed western section will require significant work. On the eastern end, another 0.98 miles of mostly constructed Upside Dawn will receive final refinement and tuning before opening.

Altogether, approximately 7.1 miles of trail will receive construction, completion, reroute, or significant refinement work during the 2026–27 season. This includes new and adopted trail construction, reconstruction of legacy corridors, sustainability-driven reroutes, completion of previously started trail, and final tuning of nearly finished sections.

The work will be accompanied by another significant round of social-trail and meadow restoration, helping consolidate recreational use onto sustainable designated routes, reduce erosion and sedimentation, and restore areas affected by the area’s extensive legacy network.

All trail names shown in this document are working names used for planning purposes only and are not final.

As the system develops, some trails may receive names that better reflect the overall theme and character of the network. Trail start points, end points, and alignments may also change as planning, field review, and construction progress. Community members should not add any names, routes, or endpoints from this document to Trailforks or Strava unless directed by the USFS or the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition / Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund. Please wait until the final names and alignments are officially approved and released.

Upside Dawn is the primary upper-bench backbone and signature trail experience of the Turkey Creek system. Traversing elevated terrain on both sides of Jedi Temple, the trail provides dramatic views across the Turkey Creek landscape while creating an important east-west connection through the larger trail network. It functions both as a destination trail and as the principal spine providing access to many of Turkey Creek’s more specialized trail experiences.

The character of Upside Dawn is defined by the landscape itself. The route moves through open red-rock terrain, natural benches, drainages, and substantial areas of exposed slickrock. Frequent elevation changes create a dynamic experience with steep climbs and descents, technical rock sections, and expansive viewpoints. For hikers, the trail provides a scenic upper-bench route and access to numerous loop opportunities. For mountain bikers, its combination of slickrock, natural features, steep terrain, and changing trail character creates a technically engaging ride.

Upside Dawn remains a non-motorized, multi-use corridor, although the natural terrain influences which portions are most appropriate for different users. The portion of the western leg between Jedi Temple and the Tofurky intersection is specifically recommended for equestrian use and is designed with equestrian suitability in mind. Other portions are not closed to equestrians; however, extensive slickrock, steeper grades, and technical terrain make it difficult to consistently meet preferred equestrian trail standards and make those sections less suitable for horse travel.

The Jedi Temple saddle, where Upside Dawn intersects Jedi Temple, provides the natural dividing point between its eastern and western sections.

East of Jedi Temple: Approximately 0.98 miles extends east from the saddle through the progressive slickrock zone. This section provides access to Psychedelic Slickrock, Turkey Wagon, Turkey Tumble, and other connections within the eastern portion of the system. The corridor is mostly constructed but not yet open, with relatively minor refinement, tuning, and selective rock work remaining. Extensive natural slickrock and technical terrain give this section a particularly distinctive hiking and mountain biking experience.

West of Jedi Temple: From the saddle, Upside Dawn continues approximately 2.51 miles west, forming the longer portion of the upper-bench traverse. The section between Jedi Temple and Tofurky provides the portion specifically recommended for equestrian use, in addition to hiking and mountain biking. Continuing west, the trail transitions into more technical terrain as it works toward the western Turkey Creek network. Most of the corridor is already constructed, although approximately 0.25 mile requires substantial work, along with localized finishing, drainage, rock work, and trail refinement.

Western Legacy Connection: A final short unbuilt section will complete the connection between Upside Dawn and the legacy Turkey Creek Trail. Although relatively short, this connection is important because it closes the gap between the new upper-bench network and the existing Turkey Creek system, improving circulation and creating additional interconnected loop opportunities.

Intended Experience: A signature non-motorized upper-bench trail characterized by expansive views, natural red-rock terrain, technical slickrock, substantial elevation changes, and strong system connectivity. Hiking and mountain biking are accommodated throughout, with the Jedi Temple-to-Tofurky section providing the recommended equestrian route.

1,362 ft / 0.26 mi

Psychedelic Slickrock is a short, concentrated technical trail built around natural slickrock, flow, creativity, and multiple line choices. The experience is somewhat comparable to Easy Breezy, but with additional gradient and a stronger technical component.

Rather than creating a single prescribed path across the rock, the natural slickrock allows users to explore different lines through the terrain. For mountain bikers, this creates opportunities for progression and repeated rides using increasingly technical lines. For hikers, the exposed rock landscape provides a distinctive and engaging route through an unusual part of the Turkey Creek system.

Psychedelic Slickrock establishes the first step in a progression of technical slickrock experiences that continues through Turkey Wagon and ultimately Turkey Tumble.

Intended Experience: Playful and technical slickrock with moderate-to-steep grades, natural flow, creative route finding, and multiple line selections.

2,504 ft / 0.47 mi

Turkey Wagon provides a longer slickrock experience with somewhat lower overall grades than Turkey Tumble while retaining the creative natural-rock character of the progressive slickrock zone.

Its overall character and difficulty fit between Psychedelic Slickrock and Turkey Tumble. The longer alignment allows users to develop more of a rhythm through the landscape, incorporating natural slickrock features, changing terrain, and creative line choices without the sustained steepness or commitment of Turkey Tumble.

For mountain bikers, the result is a technical but flowing rock-riding experience. For hikers, the trail provides another opportunity to explore the area’s exposed slickrock formations and connect through the larger upper-bench network.

Intended Experience: Intermediate-to-advanced technical slickrock with moderate grades, creative natural features, line choice, and a longer, more continuous experience.

1,062 ft / 0.20 mi

Turkey Tumble takes the concepts introduced on Psychedelic Slickrock and Turkey Wagon and pushes them into considerably steeper and more technical terrain.

The route uses the natural rock formation to create a steep, committing slickrock experience, including terrain that at times feels almost like traveling through a narrow rock or slot-canyon environment. For mountain biking, the concept is essentially a miniature Hardline-style experience: short, concentrated, technically demanding, and distinctly Sedona. For hikers, the same terrain provides an unusual opportunity to move through a dramatic natural rock corridor.

The experience is dictated primarily by the existing landscape rather than constructed features, allowing the geology itself to create the trail’s technical challenge and distinctive character.

Intended Experience: Advanced technical slickrock with steep slabs, confined rock terrain, natural features, and a substantially higher level of technical difficulty and commitment.

1.04 mi

Jedi Temple follows an existing legacy corridor around the prominent rock formation commonly known as Jedi Temple or Witches Tit. The project is intended to retain the established route and its backcountry character while improving sustainability and enhancing the overall trail experience.

Selective realignment and rock work will address drainage, erosion, and durability concerns while preserving the fundamental character of the legacy corridor. Where appropriate, improvements can also enhance the experience through the natural rock terrain without transforming the trail into something substantially different from the route users know today.

Jedi Temple also occupies an important position within the larger network, intersecting Upside Dawn at the saddle that effectively divides its eastern and western sections and providing connections into several surrounding trail experiences.

Intended Experience: A shared-use, natural-surface backcountry trail utilizing an established legacy corridor, with technical rock elements, distinctive views, improved sustainability, and close interaction with one of the area’s prominent rock formations.

0.80 mi + 781-ft Steeps Bypass

Wile E. Coyote creates a bike-specific technical connection from the Jedi Temple area down to Longshot Trail. The route is heavily influenced by available natural slickrock and uses steep rock slabs, rollers, transitions, and other terrain-driven features to create a distinctive mountain bike experience.

Rather than relying heavily on constructed features, the trail is routed to take advantage of the existing rock landscape. A short bypass around the steepest terrain provides an alternative line, expanding the range of riders who can use the connection while preserving the more advanced primary route.

Wile E. Coyote adds an intentionally bike-focused experience to a larger network that otherwise includes substantial shared-use mileage.

Intended Experience: Technical, bike-specific slickrock riding featuring steep slabs, rollers, natural transitions, and opportunities for progression through alternative lines.

1.31 mi

Tofurky traverses the lower portion of one of the basins west of Jedi Temple before climbing to connect with Upside Dawn.

Its overall character is intended to be similar to Longshot Trail, emphasizing natural terrain, sustainable contouring, and a continuous backcountry singletrack experience rather than concentrated technical features. The route moves through the basin before gradually gaining elevation toward the upper bench.

Tofurky also serves an important connectivity function. Its intersection with Upside Dawn marks the western extent of the portion of Upside Dawn specifically recommended for equestrian use and provides another connection between the lower trail system and the upper-bench network.

Intended Experience: Shared-use backcountry singletrack with natural flow, moderate climbing and descending, sustainable grades, and strong connectivity between the lower basin and upper Turkey Creek system.

1,857 ft / 0.35 mi

Several portions of the legacy Turkey Creek Trail currently follow steep fall-line alignments. These sections concentrate water directly down the trail, contributing to erosion, soil displacement, and recurring maintenance needs.

The proposed reroute will replace these problematic sections with a more sustainable sidehill and switchback-style alignment, allowing users to gain and lose elevation more gradually while improving drainage and reducing the concentration of runoff.

The objective is not to fundamentally change the Turkey Creek experience, but to retain the connectivity and backcountry character of the legacy trail while improving its long-term sustainability for hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers, and other non-motorized users.

Intended Experience: Sustainable shared-use backcountry trail that preserves the character and connectivity of the legacy Turkey Creek corridor while replacing problematic fall-line sections with more durable climbing and descending alignments.

0.51 mi

The Turkey Tank area presents one of the more significant sustainability challenges along the legacy Turkey Creek corridor. The existing alignment passes through highly erosive soils, where concentrated runoff has contributed to head cutting, soil loss, degradation of the trail tread, and continuing maintenance concerns.

Approximately one-half mile of Turkey Creek Trail will be relocated onto a more appropriate sidehill alignment. The new corridor will allow water to move naturally across the landscape rather than becoming concentrated along the trail itself, substantially improving drainage and reducing the potential for continued erosion.

This project is primarily a trail sustainability and watershed-resilience improvement. It addresses a problematic legacy alignment while maintaining Turkey Creek’s important role as a shared-use connection through the larger trail system.

Intended Experience: Natural shared-use backcountry singletrack with improved drainage, reduced erosion, greater long-term resilience, and continued connectivity along the legacy Turkey Creek corridor.

Together, these projects create a network with a clear hierarchy rather than simply adding individual trails. Upside Dawn forms the upper-bench backbone, while the legacy Turkey Creek corridor provides a lower connection through the landscape. Jedi Temple, Tofurky, and the Turkey Creek improvements strengthen the shared-use network and provide opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and appropriate equestrian travel.

Branching from that backbone are increasingly specialized experiences. Psychedelic Slickrock → Turkey Wagon → Turkey Tumble provide a natural progression through increasingly technical slickrock terrain. Wile E. Coyote adds intentionally bike-specific experiences without defining the character of the entire system around mountain biking.

The result is intended to be a connected, sustainable non-motorized trail system that provides different experiences for different users and ability levels while allowing the unique terrain and geology of Turkey Creek to remain the defining feature of the experience.

As the Turkey Creek trail system is developed and improved, restoration of redundant social trails and adherence to new and rerouted alignments will be critical to the long-term sustainability of the area. We recognize that many residents and longtime users have deep connections to this landscape and a sense of ownership in the routes and trail experiences they have known for years. However, these changes are being thoughtfully planned to create a more cohesive and sustainable trail system while providing a high-quality experience for residents and visitors.

New alignments and reroutes are designed to address drainage, erosion, sensitive soils, user conflicts, connectivity, and long-term maintenance needs while responding to the substantial recreational use this landscape receives. Continuing to use or reopen restored social trails can unintentionally undermine significant professional trail crew and volunteer work, reestablish erosion pathways, increase sedimentation and soil loss, fragment the landscape, and ultimately degrade both the natural environment and the user experience. Successful restoration therefore depends not only on closing and rehabilitating old routes, but on the community embracing and using the new system as intended.

Turkey Creek should also be understood as one part of the much larger Red Rock Ranger District trail and recreation system surrounding Sedona and the Verde Valley. Improvements made here contribute to a broader, interconnected network that allows residents and visitors to disperse across a variety of landscapes, trail types, difficulty levels, and recreational experiences. The quality and sustainability of each individual area ultimately affects the health and function of the system as a whole. Thoughtful planning in Turkey Creek can provide additional high-quality recreation opportunities, improve connectivity, and help distribute use while complementing established trail systems elsewhere around Sedona.

The goal is not to erase the history of recreation in Turkey Creek, but to carry that connection forward through a trail network that better balances recreation, access, sustainability, and stewardship. Viewed at the larger scale, this work is part of maintaining a cohesive recreation system that supports quality of life for local residents, provides memorable experiences for visitors, protects the landscape that makes those experiences possible, and helps Sedona remain a sustainable community and recreation destination for the long term.