Loy Canyon Trail

Loy Canyon is an interesting hike. It starts out in the trees without much to see and progresses through sand to a viewpoint atop the canyon. Along the way, you’ll be climbing in and out of washes and making your way through overgrown underbrush. Some hikers enjoy it a lot and some report not wanting to return. One thing’s certain though, if you want to get off the beaten path, this is a good pick.

This trail can be hard to follow at points, so a downloaded GPS map is highly recommended. Additionally, there is no water on the trail most of the year, so bring more than you think you’ll need, especially on hot days.

The trail begins from beside the road. The first 3.0mi–4.0mi miles are fairly flat and treed in. After you hit the sand and start to climb, things get more interesting. Most of the elevation gain happens in the last third of the hike as you climb up through the canyon, which can be quite rocky. Head up the left side canyon wall to cut across to Secret Mountain. The trail terminates up here, so find a viewpoint to rest up at before taking the same route back down.