Sedona Day Ride

This is a great day ride to one of the most beautiful and memorable parts of Arizona. I have given you a few options, but if you take option #1 the total roundtrip is 318 miles. The total route should take you around 6 hours of actual riding. The rest of the time will be up to how much you stop. The first 169 miles will take you up I-17 to Cordes Junction where you will go West on Hwy. 69 through Mayer where you can stop at the new Hungry Bear Restaurant next to Grand Canyon Harley for some refreshments or food. You will continue on another 10 miles to Fain Rd. across from Prescott Country Club. You will go North on Fain Rd. to 89A where you will be 3 miles from the base of Mingus Mountain and only 14 miles from the old mining town of Jerome. Continue on 89A through Cottonwood and then on to Sedona. You can stop in Sedona for sightseeing or food. From Sedona you don't want to miss the next 24 miles through Oak Creek Canyon and the Coconino National Forest for the ride to the 7,000 feet elevation of Flagstaff. You can then take I-17 to I-40 West to Bellemont to the Grand Canyon Harley dealership and lunch at the Route 66 Roadhouse. You have now traveled 169 miles from the Loop 101 and I-17 in Phoenix.

Option 1: To return you can retrace your route back to Sedona down 89A. This is recommended because the scenery you will see coming back down the hill into Sedona is completely different than you saw leaving. You will get a great view of the Red Rocks most of the way in to Sedona. Once you reach Sedona take Hwy. 179 South back to I-17 and then South back to Phoenix. The trip back is about 150 miles.

Option 2: If you are still ready to ride and see some more country side you can continue on I-40 to Hwy. 89 South through Prescott and follow that through the Prescott National Forest to Yarnell and then on to Wickenburg. From there you will take Hwy. 60 to Hwy. 74 East back to I-17. This would be 356 miles total back to I-17 and Carefree Highway.

Distance:

Varies from where you start in the Valley. I left at I-17 & Loop 101 it was approximately 169 miles with the ending location at Grand Canyon Harley in Bellemont. You can take a look at the Garmin Emap trip computer to get an idea of travel times both stopped and moving, miles and total time. See the map below for the route that we took. Total roundtrip is 318 miles.

Directions:
Click Here For Map

Starting from I-17 and Loop 101, take I-17 North. 48 miles to Hwy. 69 at Cordes Junction.

Go 48 miles North on I-17 to Hwy. 69 at Cordes Junction.

Another good stop on the way is the restaurant next to Grand Canyon HD in Mayer just 8 miles West of I-17 on Hwy. 69. Stop for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner.

Go West on Hwy 69 about 21 miles to Fain Rd. Exit.

Take the brand new Fain Rd. North 8 miles and turn right on 89A North. This is a view of Mingus Mountain on your right as you make your way to 89A North.

You will now be making a 14 mile ride to Jerome through the Prescott National Forest cresting the scenic Mingus Mtn. at 7000 feet. The ride will take you through lush pines and many 15 mph twisty turns as you make your way into the old mining town of Jerome.

Follow 89A through Cottonwood for the 28 mile ride to Sedona.

When you reach Sedona there are lots of tourist type shops for you to go through. There are also a lot of restaurants if you choose to eat in Sedona. You now have gone 117 miles from the Loop 101 and I-17.

But your ride is not over. Some of the best scenery and riding is yet to come. Continue North through Oak Creek Canyon and the Coconino National Forest on 89A to Flagstaff. This will take you another 24 miles through pines and red rock as you make your way to 7000 feet in Flagstaff.

Scenes From Oak Creek Canyon North Of Sedona

At the end of your 24 mile ride from Sedona through Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff you can hop on I-17 North and go to the I-40 interchange and take I-40 West for 10 miles to the Bellemont exit #184.

Right before the exit on your left you will see Grand Canyon Harley and the Route 66 Roadhouse. This is a good place to eat and hang out at a dealership.

While you are there, you can go about 2 miles East of the dealership and see the old Pine Breeze Motel that was in the film Easy Rider. This is where the boys pulled up to the Motel and the old man looked out and saw that they were on motorcycles and turned on the NO Vacancy sign. A good photo op.

Your Return Home Options

Option 1: To return you can retrace your route back to Sedona down 89A. This is recommended because the scenery you will see coming back down the hill into Sedona is completely different than you saw leaving. You will get a great view of the Red Rocks most of the way in to Sedona. Once you reach Sedona take Hwy. 179 South back to I-17 and then South back to Phoenix. The trip back is about 150 miles.

Option 2: If you are still ready to ride and see some more country side you can continue on I-40 to Hwy. 89 South through Prescott and follow that through the Prescott National Forest to Yarnell and then on to Wickenburg. From there you will take Hwy. 60 to Hwy. 74 East back to I-17. This would be 356 miles total back to I-17 and Carefree Highway.

My Review Of This Ride:

Pros: A great day ride to one of the most beautiful and unique parts of Arizona landscape. If you go all the way to Flagstaff and back down 89A and home via Hwy 179 you will get your fill of beautiful riding for the day.

Cons: None about the ride. My only critique is that the ride isn't longer and more great riding to take advantage of.

Conclusion: I give this ride 4.5 spokes out of 5 for the shear beauty, changing landscapes and cooler weather to ride in during the Summer months. A must ride for anyone. You can do it again and again without getting tired of it.

Click Here For A Complete Detailed Map

Distance: Varies from where you start in the Valley. I left at I-17 & Loop 101 it was approximately 169 miles with the ending location at Grand Canyon Harley in Bellemont. You can take a look at the Garmin Emap trip computer to get an idea of travel times both stopped and moving, miles and total time. See the map below for the route that we took. Total roundtrip is 318 miles.

Directions: Click Here For Map
Starting from I-17 and Loop 101, take I-17 North. 48 miles to Hwy. 69 at Cordes Junction.
Go 48 miles North on I-17 to Hwy. 69 at Cordes Junction.
Another good stop on the way is the restaurant next to Grand Canyon HD in Mayer just 8 miles West of I-17 on Hwy. 69. Stop for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner.
Go West on Hwy 69 about 21 miles to Fain Rd. Exit.
Take the brand new Fain Rd. North 8 miles and turn right on 89A North. This is a view of Mingus Mountain on your right as you make your way to 89A North.
You will now be making a 14 mile ride to Jerome through the Prescott National Forest cresting the scenic Mingus Mtn. at 7000 feet. The ride will take you through lush pines and many 15 mph twisty turns as you make your way into the old mining town of Jerome.




Follow 89A through Cottonwood for the 28 mile ride to Sedona.
When you reach Sedona there are lots of tourist type shops for you to go through. There are also a lot of restaurants if you choose to eat in Sedona. You now have gone 117 miles from the Loop 101 and I-17.
But your ride is not over. Some of the best scenery and riding is yet to come. Continue North through Oak Creek Canyon and the Coconino National Forest on 89A to Flagstaff. This will take you another 24 miles through pines and red rock as you make your way to 7000 feet in Flagstaff.
Scenes From Oak Creek Canyon North Of Sedona



At the end of your 24 mile ride from Sedona through Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff you can hop on I-17 North and go to the I-40 interchange and take I-40 West for 10 miles to the Bellemont exit #184.
Right before the exit on your left you will see Grand Canyon Harley and the Route 66 Roadhouse. This is a good place to eat and hang out at a dealership.
While you are there, you can go about 2 miles East of the dealership and see the old Pine Breeze Motel that was in the film Easy Rider. This is where the boys pulled up to the Motel and the old man looked out and saw that they were on motorcycles and turned on the NO Vacancy sign. A good photo op.
Your Return Home Options
Option 1: To return you can retrace your route back to Sedona down 89A. This is recommended because the scenery you will see coming back down the hill into Sedona is completely different than you saw leaving. You will get a great view of the Red Rocks most of the way in to Sedona. Once you reach Sedona take Hwy. 179 South back to I-17 and then South back to Phoenix. The trip back is about 150 miles.
Option 2: If you are still ready to ride and see some more country side you can continue on I-40 to Hwy. 89 South through Prescott and follow that through the Prescott National Forest to Yarnell and then on to Wickenburg. From there you will take Hwy. 60 to Hwy. 74 East back to I-17. This would be 356 miles total back to I-17 and Carefree Highway.
My Review Of This Ride: Pros: A great day ride to one of the most beautiful and unique parts of Arizona landscape. If you go all the way to Flagstaff and back down 89A and home via Hwy 179 you will get your fill of beautiful riding for the day. Cons: None about the ride. My only critique is that the ride isn't longer and more great riding to take advantage of. Conclusion: I give this ride 4.5 spokes out of 5 for the shear beauty, changing landscapes and cooler weather to ride in during the Summer months. A must ride for anyone. You can do it again and again without getting tired of it.
Click Here For A Complete Detailed Map