RIDE WITH A GUIDE: Get The Most From Sedona's Trails
Sedona is flush with trails for all abilities. Riding with a local from Hermosa Tours is the surest way to enjoy them.
The first time I rode my bike in Sedona, I got hopelessly lost.
Despite copious signage and a sharp, red track line on my GPS for guidance, I still chose the wrong fork at every intersection. I’d pedal 50 yards up a trail, realize my mistake, reverse course, stop to hem and haw over choices, then finally set out again. Rinse and repeat at every junction.
In fairness, I was in the midst of the Coconino Loop Race, a multi-day epic that had my brain scrambled from exertion. But while I could blame my confusion on the heat or the mileage or even the vortexes, the real culprit was Sedona’s multitude of trails.
One of Sedona’s biggest assets, the extensive trail network, can also feel like a liability when you’re trying to negotiate the veritable spiderweb of singletrack.
“Even Sedona’s best-known trails are a mashup,” says Matt McFee, owner of Hermosa Tours. “Take Hiline, where the most basic loop involves riding three other named trails to get there, then four more to return. And The Hogs? I mean, how many swine product trials do you have to sample to get the best?”
McFee started Hermosa in part to ease the challenge for visitors. “Sedona’s one of the best riding spots in the country,” he says. “And it’s that much better if you’re not spending your whole day stopped at junctions staring at your phone to figure out where to go.”
The biggest part of Hermosa’s Sedona business is out-of-towners looking to maximize their experience. For some, that’s just keeping it safe. “I had a wonderful, first-timer tour on gorgeous scenery and terrain that challenged me,” says newcomer Stephen Kramarich. “And seeing that the riding gets way tougher than anything we did, I was grateful to have a patient, knowledgeable guide.”
But McFee says Hermosa definitely isn’t just for beginners. He points out that the city’s density of trails puts green trails in proximity to double black. “Bell Rock is a family-friendly path, but it connects to Made in the Shade, which is rocky and legit,” he says. “The rider who enjoys one won’t necessarily enjoy the other, which is where we come in. We craft rides to every ability.”
“I love technical DH, and Hermosa definitely brought it,” says Avi Mattikalli, who spent a day riding with Hermosa when he visited Sedona. “Not only did we hit some amazing downhill sections, but my guide also showed me new techniques and lots of bonus features.”
Part of Hermosa’s appeal is its partnership with Thunder Mountain, which means tours include bikes from TMB’s top-shelf rental fleet if visitors haven’t brought their own. “We have a reputation for demoing some of the best new bikes around,” says Mike Raney, owner of Thunder Mountain Bikes. “You can come to Sedona and check out the hottest models on some of the finest trails anywhere.” And if you book through Hermosa, your guide will have your rental of choice ready and waiting for your tour. Groups get discounts on rentals, as well.
McFee says the model works especially well for business visitors in Phoenix who want to sneak away for some riding in Sedona. “We get lots of people who have a morning off from a conference and just want to see the highlights,” he says. “They’ll likely see more with us and not end up running late like they might on their own.”
He says that Hermosa also sees lots of solo riders visiting with family or friends who just want to slip away for a little pedaling. “Sedona is the cruise ship, and biking is just one of many activities,” says McFee. “We let everyone enjoy their visit even if the rest of their party has no interest in riding.”
In addition to day tours in Sedona, Hermosa offers supported, multi-day trips on nearby stretches of the Arizona and the Black Canyon trails. They also operate at Gooseberry Mesa, Moab, and the Kokopelli Trail in Utah, as well as on passages of the Colorado Trail. McFee says that many guests who get their intro to Hermosa in Sedona end up booking longer trips with the company around the West, largely because of the local expertise and the service levels.
“We booked a tour in Sedona and had a blast,” says Aimee Hernandez, a recent Hermosa guest. “I highly recommend them as the tours are private (just your group) and they customize your route to exactly what you want. We couldn’t have been happier and will definitely be booking more trips with Hermosa in the future.”
For more information about riding Sedona with Hermosa, visit Hermosa online or give us a call at 928-282-1106.
