Cathedral Rock Trail No. 170
Cathedral Rock Trail No. 170 is an official trail in the Sedona Red Rock area, managed by Coconino National Forest (USDA Forest Service). Its published distance is 1.1 miles roundtrip. The managing agency rates it Strenuous. The trailhead is Trailhead parking turnout on Back O' Beyond Road. Fees or passes, as published: Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required to park at the trailhead. Every fact here was read from an official source on the date shown and has not been independently field-checked; conditions and fees change, so check the agency page before you go. This record was compiled on August 30, 2026.
The published facts, and when we read them
- Trail
- Cathedral Rock Trail No. 170Checked via: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/cathedral-rock-trail-no-170
- as of August 30, 2026
- Trailhead
- Trailhead parking turnout on Back O' Beyond RoadAs published: from the junction of state Routes 89A and 179, take 179 south 3.5 miles to Back O' Beyond Road on the right. Go 0.6 miles to the trailhead parking turnout on the left. Location: 38 miles south of Flagstaff in scenic Red Rock Country.Checked via: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/cathedral-rock-trail-no-170
- as of August 30, 2026
- Coordinates
- 34.825194, -111.788417Checked via: GPS printed on the trail page as 34°49'30.7"N 111°47'18.3"W, converted to decimal degrees only: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/cathedral-rock-trail-no-170
- as of August 30, 2026
- Route, as published
- Return by the same route for a 1.5-mile hikeChecked via: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/cathedral-rock-trail-no-170
- as of August 30, 2026
- Distance, as published
- 1.1 miles roundtripChecked via: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/cathedral-rock-trail-no-170
- as of August 30, 2026
- Elevation, as published
- Trailhead Elevation: 4,043 ft. Elevation Gain: 669 ft.Checked via: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/cathedral-rock-trail-no-170
- as of August 30, 2026
- Difficulty, as published
- StrenuousChecked via: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/cathedral-rock-trail-no-170
- as of August 30, 2026
- Dogs
- Not published by the sourceChecked via: No dogs or pets line is printed on https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/cathedral-rock-trail-no-170; nothing was borrowed from elsewhere.
- as of August 30, 2026
- Fees / pass
- Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required to park at the trailheadChecked via: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/cathedral-rock-trail-no-170
- as of August 30, 2026
- Managed by
- Coconino National Forest (USDA Forest Service)Checked via: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/cathedral-rock-trail-no-170
- as of August 30, 2026
- Facts compiled on
- August 30, 2026Checked via: Compiled verbatim from the official Coconino National Forest trail page (its footer showed 'Last updated July 30, 2025'); not independently field-checked.
- as of August 30, 2026
Guided options whose own sites name this trail
These operators' compiled records mention Cathedral Rock in their own published tour lists or permit statements — that is the only reason they appear here. Cairn sells no placement.
- Unverified
Wildland Trekking
Hiking tour. $175 USD per person, listed as starting prices.
Phone (800) 715-4453. Facts checked August 29, 2026.
Two figures on one official page
The at-a-glance block prints "Length: 1.1 miles roundtrip." while the description says "Return by the same route for a 1.5-mile hike." Both are reproduced verbatim; the discrepancy is unresolved on the source page. Published time: 1.5 hours roundtrip.
A climb more than a walk
As published: "More of a rock climb than a hike, this trail is unshaded and steep and difficult in places" and "Hot in the summer, so plan accordingly." The page suggests the free Sedona Shuttle, which serves specific trailheads Thursday through Sunday.
Report an error
Found something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we will check it. It is free, there is no account, and you do not have to be the business owner. Corrections go to Thomas Karl at thomas@sedonatechsolutions.com.
Email a correction about Cathedral Rock Trail No. 170 instead — opens a prefilled message.