Bandit Trail, AZ

Overview
The Bandit Trail is one of about 10 trails that make up the Carroll Canyon Trail System. Three THs provide access to the trails in the area: Shelby, Chavez, and Upper Red Rock. These trailheads have minimal parking and no amenities. They do have large maps of the Sedona trails, as well as a smaller map focusing on the Carroll Canyon Trails. The Shelby TH is not a well-known spot, but it is an ideal starting point for the Bandit, Old Post, Ridge, and Carroll Canyon Trails. However, there are only 3 designated parking spots, so you may need to be either early or flexible with your hiking plans.


Hike
The Bandit Trail is an interior trail so a little extra hiking is required to reach it. And by little, I do mean little. To reach the start of the Bandit Trail, hike about 50 yards on the Old Post Trail to the Ridge Trail. Then, take the Ridge Trail about 50 yards south to the beginning of the Bandit Trail. These trail junctures are signed and have maps so there should be no problems reaching the Bandit.The Bandit Trail takes off heading in a southeast direction. Within a few yards, the trail crosses a wash and passes a large rock foundation for a nearby building. Exiting the wash you’ll reach a mini-open expanse with abbreviated views to the southwest of Carroll Canyon and the east of “airport hill” stretching in front of you. The trail switchbacks up the “airport hill” slope first heading south, before climbing along the northern slope. The trail is composed of hard red clay with the typical scattering of loose stones and a couple of rocky sections on the climb. Visibility is minimal. This is good and bad. The foliage does a nice job of blocking most of Sedona but also minimizes views of the mountains to the north. The trail ends very quickly at 0.56 miles (about 0.07 are from the trails leading up to the Bandit Trail) when it intersects the Airport Loop Trail.

At this point, options are limited. You can return the way you came for a 1-mile hike. You can continue on the Airport Loop for a 5.5-mile lasso. Or, if you take the lower leg of the Airport Loop east you can take the Sunset Trail down to Sedona and use the sidewalks to get back to the TH.

Water Sources
There is no water along this route, so plan accordingly. Even Sedona can get hot and there is minimal shade in the afternoon on this trail.

Synopsis
There is not a lot that is going to bring you to this trail. Views are minimal and trail options are limited. However, it does provide a nice access alternative to the Airport Loop Trail. Parking can fill up fast at the Airport Loop TH, and many people would unlikely consider using the Shelby TH as an alternative. (People can also park at the airport to use the Airport Loop Trail, but I think there is a fee to park there).

2024-09-30 mt98dew