Agile Trekker: Chimney Rock Loop

December 20, 2014

Miles: 4.5
Time: 3 hours 7 minutes (includes a couple of stops)
Elevation gain: 2,246
Max elevation: 4,853 feet

Year to date miles: 521.2

Map: Sedona Outdoor Recreation Map

Parking: Thunder Mountain Trailhead, on Thunder Mountain Road
Red Rocks parking pass required.

Restrooms: None
Post Hike Dinner: Whole Foods

Hike Directions:
From parking lot, start on Lower Chimney Rock Trail heading left (clockwise).
After 1.1 miles, turn right on summit trail.
Ascend any way you can up to Little Sugarloaf (great view).
Descend back down Little Sugarloaf.
After heading down summit trail continue straight (i.e. briefly right then left) on Upper Chimney Rock Trail for 0.4 miles.
Turn right onto Upper Chimney Rock trail at intersection (instead of going on Lizard Head Trail), and continue 0.4 miles.
At that point stay straight on Thunder Mountain Trail for another 0.7 miles.
At sign for Andante Trail, turn right looping back in the direction you came from.
Stay on Andante Trail for .6 miles (passing a trailhead).
Turn left onto Thunder Mountain Trail (we believe this is where the Buddhist Stupa is).
After 0.4 miles at intersection, stay left onto Thunder Mounatin Trail.
At intersection stay left on Thunder Mountain Trail and follow .1 mile to the parking lot.

Notes:
This is a suburban hike, but we really enjoyed it. There were quite a few people walking their dogs. It is a great place to get a short hike in, right in town. There is a great 360 degree view from the summit of Little Sugarloaf. The climb up Little Sugarloaf is very steep with loose rock, but worth the short hike up. We took a rest at the top, and studied our map to try to identify the peaks we were looking at. We also enjoyed the Buddhist Stupa. There is information about what this is at the site.