Boynton Canyon Trail

Boynton Canyon Trail is the one Sedona hike locals actually recommend without hedging — a red-rock route through Coconino National Forest that racks up a 4.8 rating across more than 1,500 Google reviews, which is a rare number for a trail this popular. The path threads the canyon floor beneath towering buttes, mixing sandy desert walking with rock scrambles as it climbs.

What you'll find on the trail

Most hikers are aiming for two landmarks: the Boynton Canyon Vortex, a short spur climb to an overlook that reviewers consistently call worth the extra effort, and the Subway Cave, a rock formation about two miles in that's become the trail's signature destination. The turn for the cave isn't well signed — reviewers note it's marked informally on the ground — and the final approach involves scrambling that not everyone will want to attempt. Beyond the cave, crowds thin out and the trail turns into shaded forest walking before ending at a cliff-ringed viewpoint.

• Distance: roughly 6.2 miles round trip if you do the full route, vortex included
• Trailhead: restrooms and parking for about 50 vehicles; a parking fee applies
• Terrain: sand and rock, with scrambling required near the Subway Cave

Go early — reviewers who arrive by mid-afternoon get the trailhead lot as morning hikers clear out. It's administered by the Coconino National Forest, so check fs.usda.gov for current conditions before heading out.