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8 Hours, Zero Limits: The Ultimate Full-Day Self-Guided Jeep Itinerary in Sedona

Gray off-road vehicle in desert landscape with red rock cliffs.

There’s no shortage of ways to experience Sedona’s famous red rock country, but if you ask us, nothing beats the sheer freedom of taking the wheel yourself.

Renting a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon for a full day puts you in total control. You get to choose the music, dial in the climate control and heated seats, and set your own pace.

If you’re ready to trade pavement for dirt, here is your game plan to maximize 8 action-packed hours in Sedona behind the wheel of an SJR Jeep.

**8:00 AM – Pickup & Safety Briefing**

Arrive at our rental shop right when the doors open. We recommend grabbing a picnic lunch first thing in the morning to pack in your complimentary Canyon Cooler. We will walk you through maps and trail recommendations, 4WD shifting procedures, and trail etiquette. Sync your playlist and hit the road!

**8:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Dry Creek to Devil’s Bridge

A blue Jeep on a desert landscape with rocky red cliffs in the background.

Red vehicle driving on a dirt road in a desert landscape with trees and mountains.

Red rock arch with scenic canyon view under blue sky and clouds.

View from a car window of a rocky, desert landscape with trees and mountains under a cloudy sky.

While hundreds of visitors hike the full 4.6-mile round-trip distance along the dusty dirt road, our Jeep allows you to drive past the crowded lower parking lot straight to the trail head. Within about 20 minutes, you’ll reach the upper parking lot and trail head for Devil’s Bridge. You’ll climb up a series of natural stone staircases to the largest and most iconic natural sandstone arch in Sedona.

**11:00 AM – 1:30 PM: Bradshaw Point, Honanki Heritage Site & Outlaw Trail**

**The Vibe:** Sweeping desert vistas, mild trail obstacles, and rich Indigenous history.

SUV parked with red rock formations in the background on a sunny day.

Scenic view of red rock formations under a blue sky with clouds.

Picnic lunch in tow, head west towards the Honanki Heritage Site, home to some of the best-preserved Native American cliff dwellings in Arizona. Along the way, take the turnoff for Bradshaw Point. It’s a short, easy climb that rewards you with sweeping, elevated panoramic views over Loy Canyon, Secret Mountain Wilderness, and the Verde Valley.

Once you’ve taken it all in, head back to FS525 and continue a short distance to the Heritage Site. Park your Jeep rental in the designated parking lot, show the site host your Red Rock Pass or National Parks Pass and take the short, shaded path along the red rock wall to learn about what life was like in Sedona nearly 1,000 years ago. After, take advantage of the picnic tables on site to enjoy your lunch.

From there, take a left out of the parking area and head down The Outlaw Trail which flows through red dirt roads, dry wash crossings, and open cattle range with vast views and massive sandstone formations.

Red dirt road through canyon with rocky cliffs and sparse greenery under blue sky.

SUV on dirt road with red rock formations and cloudy sky in background.

Off-road path on rocky terrain with shrubs and blue sky in the background.

Green Jeep off-road in rocky desert landscape with red rock formations.

**1:45 PM – 3:45 PM: Schnebly Hill**

**The Vibe:** Iconic Hollywood landscapes and high-altitude vantage points.

Head across town to Schnebly Hill Road. It’s a famously bumpy ride, but the scenery pays off tenfold. Movie buffs will recognize these dramatic red cliffs from classic Westerns like Angel and the Badman, Broken Arrow, and The Last Wagon, as well as National Lampoon’s Vacation.

Pull over for an easy 10-minute walk out onto Cow Pies – a series of wide, circular sandstone formations offering one of the best panoramic perspectives in all of Sedona.

Desert rock formations under a clear blue sky with vegetation.

Scenic view of a desert landscape with red rock formations and sparse vegetation under a clear blue sky.

Red rock formations under a blue sky with sparse vegetation in the foreground.

Continue a couple of miles farther up the road to Merry-Go-Round Rock, the number one spot in Sedona for wedding photos, an expansive limestone island framed by soaring canyon walls and some pretty dramatic drops. Once you’ve taken plenty of photos, head back down Schnebly Hill the way you came.

Red rock formations and blue sky in a desert landscape.

Panoramic view of Sedona's red rock formations and greenery under a clear blue sky.

Green off-road vehicle on a dirt trail in a rocky, hilly landscape under a blue sky.

Scenic view of red rock canyons and green vegetation under a clear blue sky.

**3:45 PM: Fuel Up & Drop Off**
Top off the gas tank at a local station and head back to the shop to return your Jeep, wrap up your rental, and share your favorite trail moments with our team. Remember there are many other trails in the area for you to explore next time you’re in Sedona!

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