New trail signs made by the Friends of the Forest Trail, Maintenance & Construction crew, ready to be installed
When hiking on Sedona-area trails, you are likely focused on taking one step and then the next and at times viewing the remarkable surroundings. But much goes on behind the scenes that we often aren’t aware of, to keep these trails in shape and to create new ones that fit both the landscape and the trail user.
The Trail Maintenance and Construction (TM&C) crew of Friends of the Forest has wrapped up another productive season supporting the U.S. Forest Service in improving, protecting, and expanding the trail network of the Red Rock Ranger District. The volunteer crew, known for its hands-on stewardship of Sedona’s world-class trail system, once again played a critical role in keeping more than 400 miles of trails safe and sustainable for the public. Volunteers spent several days each week repairing damaged paths, building erosion controls, clearing brush, and helping the Forest Service implement new trail designs.
The 2025–2026 season brought a wide range of projects, from infrastructure upgrades to habitat protection to new trail construction. One of the most visible accomplishments was the removal of aging wooden kiosks and the installation of new, durable metal ones at the Arizona Cypress, Jim Thompson, Long Canyon, Lower Red Rock, Mystic, North Wilson, Schnebly Hill, and Woods Canyon trailheads. The new kiosks provide clearer information, withstand harsh weather, and reduce long-term maintenance needs.
The TM&C crew also partnered closely with the Ranger District’s seasonal trail crew to install hundreds of feet of new protective fencing at two high-use locations: the Bell Rock Vista parking area and the entrance to West Fork. These areas see heavy visitor pressure, and the fencing helps shield sensitive habitat from trampling and off-trail travel.
Another major focus this season was continued work on the new Turkey Creek trail system, one of the district’s most significant multi-year trail development efforts. With ten new trails built this year, the TM&C crew contributed to corridor clearing, tread work, and erosion control. The expanded system is designed to provide new loop options, improve connectivity, and add additional recreational opportunities for users. Much of the work entailed rerouting, decommissioning, and naturalizing social trails so that the new trail system avoids sensitive cultural and environmental areas and is more sustainable in the long run.
Over the course of the maintenance season — which runs from September through May — 35 volunteers contributed nearly 1,400 hours across 19 separate work events. This level of commitment reflects both the dedication of the volunteers and the increasing demands placed on Sedona’s trails as visitation continues to grow.
In addition to trail work, the TM&C crew is responsible for the fabrication, installation, and upkeep of the district’s extensive trail signage. Each year, dozens of signs must be replaced due to sun damage, weathering, or vandalism. With the expansion of the Turkey Creek system, the workload increased significantly. The sign crew custom cuts, routes, sands, stains, and installs each sign, a labor-intensive process that ensures consistency and durability across the network. We remind trail users not to deface or damage signs, which just creates more work for us.
The Friends of the Forest, Sedona, a nonprofit and nonpolitical organization, continues to play a vital role in supporting the Forest Service’s mission. With membership open to all, the group is dedicated to maintaining, protecting, and restoring the scenic beauty of our National Forest lands in the Sedona area. Through its partnership with the Red Rock Ranger District, Friends of the Forest helps bridge the gap between the Forest Service’s needs and its limited resources, ensuring that our area’s iconic red rock trails remain accessible and well-maintained for generations to come. Learn more at friendsoftheforestsedona.org.
Author, Glenn Kingsbury
Serving Sedona, written this week by Glenn Kingsbury, volunteer with Friends of the Forest, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.