Munds Mountain Wilderness Boundary — Schnebly Hill Saddle Viewpoint

About halfway up Schnebly Hill Road, the track crests a rocky saddle that marks the rough boundary between the red rock canyons of Sedona below and the ponderosa pine plateau of the Coconino above. From here on a clear day you can see back across the entire Verde Valley — Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, the whole red mess. It’s the moment the road stops being a canyon climb and becomes a high-country traverse. No sign marks it, but you’ll know it when you get there.

This stretch of road requires high-clearance 4WD — loose basalt, embedded ledges, and serious shelf exposure. The saddle area has a few wide spots where rigs have pulled over to take it in. Schnebly Hill Road is typically impassable after winter storms and can get loose and sandy during monsoon runoff. Call the Sedona Ranger District before committing in shoulder seasons.

Where the red rock world opens up beneath you.