Originally built to provide access for forest firefighters to Oak Creek Canyon’s wooded slopes, Cookstove Trail now offers nature lovers a scenic route to the canyon rim. The trail starts from the north end of Pine Flat Campground and immediately begins switchbacking up the steep slope of the canyon’s east wall. It climbs through an area forested with stands of mixed conifers, Gambel Oaks and both Utah and alligator junipers. The trees part at a number of points along the trail offering good views of the buff- colored cliffs of Coconino Sandstone and the remnants of an old volcano across Oak Creek. There are also some good views of the Route 89A switchbacks that lead into the canyon.
At the top of the climb, an outcrop of volcanic basalt provides a lunch stop where you can enjoy the view before heading back down the trail or continuing south along the canyon rim to the Harding Springs Trail for an alternate descent back to the highway.
The Hike House Sedona Trail Rating System provides actual hiker feedback and ratings of each of the Sedona hiking trails. The cumulative trail ratings for the Cookstove Trail submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. So please hike Sedona, help others, and rate a trail today!
I love this short, very steep, but generally well maintained trail. Sometimes you can hear water falling over rocks from the draw to the north, a rare treat in dry Arizona.
This is so steep that there are stairs installed in some spots. In one section the trail follows a ridge that is about 10 yards wide with steep drops on either side.
The trailhead is directly across from a spring on the west side of the road. The spring water is regularly tested.
Not good in winter due to snow and mud at the top section.
Good cardio Canyon hike! Short and straight up. Plan to combine with Harding Springs and make a loop.
We hiked up Cookstove Trail and back down Harding Springs Trail. The trailhead for Cookstove is located in the Junipine Campground. The trail starts out with many switchbacks and it is a pretty steep climb, But since it is only 0.7 miles or so to the top, it wasn’t that exhausting. We really enjoyed the workout and found the hike to be absolutely delightful. The trail is beautiful, green and shady. Great morning hike!! Once we reached the top, we looped over to the Harding Springs Trail to descend. It was about a 20 minute walk from Cookstove to Harding Springs. I am glad we looped around because both trails were beautiful but very different. It added a little variety to the hike.