The Munds Mountain Trail is a challenging, remote trail in the Munds Mountain Wilderness in Coconino National Forest, Arizona.
The trail begins near Committee Tank in a remote area at 6,400' elevation where Schnebly Hill, Jacks Canyon and Hot Loop trails meet above Bear Wallow Canyon. The trail starts with a steep, switchback ascent, climbing 500 feet in a little over a half-mile. There are fine views over Jacks Canyon and the rim country all the way to the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff. The trail flattens out as it emerges on the broad, open, flat expanse of the mountain top. The trail continues on, but it is never close to the edge. Careful exploration of the mountain top provides fantastic views of Bear Wallow Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, and the surrounding area. A GPS, map, and compass are strongly recommended for exploring off-trail. The only way off the mountain top is via the trail, so it's vitally important to know how to get back to the trail to descend the mountain.
Munds Mountain Trail approximately 2.8 miles. The trail is extremely remote. Hiking to the trail access via Schnebly Hill Trail is the recommended route. Driving to the trail access near Committee Tank is an extremely rough, rocky, remote route requiring a high clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle and off-highway driving skill. The trail can be accessed via Schnebly Hill Trail (2.0 miles one way), Jacks Canyon Trail (6.5 miles), or Hot Loop Trail (10 miles). A high clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle is required to access Schnebly Hill Trailhead. Mountain bikes are prohibited in Munds Mountain Wilderness, which includes Jacks Canyon, Hot Loop, and Munds Mountain trails. Photo taken December 3, 2017. (Forest Service photo by Deborah Lee Soltesz)
For trail and recreation information, see Munds Mountain Trail No. 77 on the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. Original public domain image from Flickr