Coconino National Forest — Schnebly Hill Road Upper Rim Dispersed Camp

Pull off the upper shelf of Schnebly Hill Road where the terrain opens into wide benches of red dirt and broken sandstone above the canyon walls. You’re sitting on the rim of the Colorado Plateau here — ponderosa pines at your back, Sedona’s red rock towers spilling out below you to the west. No designated sites, no amenities, no signage. Find a flat spot off the main road, follow Leave No Trace, and keep your fire footprint minimal — fire restrictions are frequent in this zone during summer and fall. Cell signal is thin to nonexistent depending on your carrier.

Access is from the Sedona end of Schnebly Hill Road (FR 153), a notorious washboard and ledge route that requires high-clearance 4WD — especially the upper section. The road is often impassable after rain or snow. Check with Coconino National Forest’s Red Rock Ranger District before rolling. Spring and fall are the sweet spots; summer heat and monsoon rains are real factors.

Rim-top red rock camping above Sedona.