Secret Sedona Ruins: Hiking the Wall of the Ancients

Most people stick to the crowded trails in Sedona, but today we are heading deep into the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness to find something special. Loy Canyon offers solitude, massive red rock views, and some of the best-preserved history in Arizona—if you can find it. My first stop was the "Wall of the Ancients," a massive petroglyph panel. Getting there was tough, but I was able to follow some faint game trails to the site. The real challenge began when I pushed on toward the "Warrior’s Wall" ruins. That section turned into complete bushwhacking with absolutely no trail until I started scrambling up the cliffs. During that bushwhack, I had a close encounter with a rattlesnake that I never saw but definitely heard. I had to backtrack immediately and find a completely new route up the limestone to bypass him. By the time I reached the ruins, I was racing the sun to get back to the trailhead. If you are looking for a quiet adventure away from the Pink Jeeps, this is the one. Just watch your step in the brush. Hike Details: Trail: Loy Canyon Trail (USFS Trail #5) Location: Coconino National Forest, near Sedona, AZ Distance: ~5 miles (with scrambling) Difficulty: Moderate/Hard (due to navigation) 00:00 Opener 00:36 Intro & Map 02:05 Hiking to the Petroglyphs 02:54 The Wall of the Ancients 04:48 The Kachina Mask 05:22 Bushwhacking to the Ruins 06:26 Rattlesnake Encounter! 07:11 Scrambling the Cliffs 07:37 The Warrior's Wall Ruins 09:08 Racing the Sunset 09:31 Outro & Recap Thanks for watching, and make sure to join us on our next adventure! SOCIAL: TWITTER: https://twitter.com/adventurewithbg INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/adventureswithbg FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/adventureswithbg BLOG: http://adventureswithbg.com #sedonahiking #loycanyon #ancientruins #warriorwall #walloftheancients #arizonaadventure #hiking #cliffdwellings #solohiking #sedona