Sedona Trail of the Week: Merry Go Round Trail

Outdoors | Lifestyle By Barbara Myers

Photo courtesy of AllTrails

There are some places in Sedona where the land seems to perform for you, revealing one view after another like scenes in a storybook. The Merry-Go-Round Trail is one of those places. At just 1.4 miles out and back, with about 288 feet of elevation gain, it may be short in length, but it carries the drama and beauty that make Sedona’s trails unforgettable. The hike begins on classic red-dirt terrain, where juniper and manzanita frame the path. Almost immediately, the views start to open, and the air takes on that crisp, high-desert clarity that makes every color feel sharper, the greens of the shrubs, the deep rust of the rock, and the wide blue sky overhead. The trail itself is moderate, enough to get your legs working without overwhelming you, making it approachable for hikers who want big views in a smaller package. The star of the show is, of course, Merry-Go-Round Rock. Perched like a carousel frozen mid-spin, the formation feels whimsical and larger-than-life. Standing there, it’s easy to see why this place earned its name. As you circle around the rock and pause to take in the overlook, Sedona stretches out before you in dramatic fashion, sandstone cliffs layered in shifting light, Oak Creek Canyon cutting its way through the distance, and the sense that you’ve stepped into a painting.

Though this is a popular trail, timing is everything. Arrive in the early morning or late afternoon, and you may find the solitude that transforms the hike into something almost spiritual. The sun’s angle casts long shadows across the ridges, and the rock glows with that golden-hour fire that makes Sedona famous. It’s the kind of moment where hikers naturally fall silent, letting the land do the talking. Best from October through May, Merry-Go-Round offers the perfect cool-weather outing. With water, sturdy shoes, and perhaps a camera in hand, this little loop of trail delivers more than its share of wonder. It is proof that a hike doesn’t need to be long to be memorable, sometimes all it takes is one remarkable rock, a turn in the trail, and the simple magic of Sedona’s red desert. Check out Merry Go Round Trail here: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/merry-go-round-trail

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