How To Get To Chicken Point Overlook In Sedona Arizona
Chicken Point Overlook is an amazing short and easy Sedona hike that’s suitable for beginners.
It’s a frequently visited site by pink Jeep tours because of the beautiful red rock vistas it has to offer. I recently discovered it when looking for a short hike in town, and was blown away by its beauty!
This article will cover where to park, and step by step directions to the overlook, including the quickest and the most scenic routes to take.
Here’s everything you need to know about hiking to Chicken Point Overlook in Sedona.
How To Get To Chicken Point Overlook
The easiest way to get to Chicken Point Overlook (besides a jeep tour) is to park at Broken Arrow Trail, and hike south towards the overlook.
You’ll start out hiking on a dirt road, and then alongside the mountain, following the trail signs for “Broken Arrow”. The hike is well-marked and relatively very easy.
There’s only a small incline portion right as you approach the overlook.
You can download Alltrails, and use their map to get to the overlook.
Keep in mind that the Alltrails map includes the Hog Wash and Hog Heaven Loop at the end of the trail.
You can do the loop on the way back to enjoy even more red rock views, and it’ll add a mile to the hike.
Chicken Point Overlook Via Broken Arrow Trail Hike
- Length: ~3.2 miles roundtrip
- Duration: 1-1.5 hour
- Difficulty: Easy
I hiked the Broken Arrow Trail to the overlook, and it only took me around 35 minutes each way. It’s a very easy, mostly flat hike, with a slight incline as you approach Chicken Point.
At the overlook, you’ll be walking over a smooth rock mound, and see small three rock formations side by side.
From here, you’ll have an excellent panoramic view of the red rocks.
When I hiked this trail on a Tuesday afternoon, I saw locals riding horses, biking, and two groups of pink Jeep tours!
The hike is short and easy, so I saw people of all ages hiking. Just keep in mind that there’s steep drop-offs at the overlook, if you plan on hiking with young kids.
Alternative Ways To Get To Chicken Point
Beyond Broken Arrow Trail, you can get to the overlook from the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Mystic Trail or Little Horse Trail.
Chapel of the Holy Cross and Mystic Trailhead have free parking lots, just keep in mind the gate’s to Chapel of the Holy Cross close at 5pm.
Little Horse Trail has a small dirt parking lot at the trailhead that requires a Daily Red Rock Pass ($5/day). All of these hikes are relatively easy and perfect for beginners, with Chapel Trail being the shortest.
Chapel Trail to Chicken Point (Shortest route)
- Length: ~2 miles roundtrip
- Duration: 1 hour
- Difficulty: Easy
The shortest and arguably the easiest route to Chicken Point Overlook is to take Chapel Trail, starting at the Chapel of the Holy Cross. From there, it’s a short one mile hike each way with beautiful red rock views throughout.
Just keep in mind there’s limited parking at the chapel, and the gate’s close at 5pm. If this parking lot’s closed, you can park down the street at the Mystic trailhead instead.
Mystic Trail to Chicken Point (Best route if you can’t find parking)
- Length: ~4 miles roundtrip
- Duration: 1.5-2 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
The Mystic trailhead is located right down the street from the Chapel of the Holy Cross, and there’s free parking at the trailhead.
To get to Chicken Point from Mystic Trail, you’ll hike along Hog Heaven Trail and part of High on the Hog Trail, which connects to Broken Arrow Trail. It’s around a mile longer hike than Broken Arrow, but you’ll have an amazing view while hiking on the Hog Trails.
Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point (Most Scenic Route)
- Length: ~4 miles roundtrip
- Duration: 1-2 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
The Little Horse Trail is one of the most scenic routes to Chicken Point. Throughout the hike, you’ll have a view of the twin butte mountains, and popular rock formations like the two nuns, madonna, and more!
This is the only trail that requires a Daily Red Rock Pass ($5/day) to park at the trailhead. However, you can avoid the parking fee by taking the Sedona shuttle from the North SR-179 Park and Ride Lot (Thurs-Sun) to the Little Horse trailhead.
The shuttle is completely free, and operates daily from 7:30am-5:30pm.
Best Time To Visit Chicken Point
The best time to hike Chicken Point is very early in the morning.
The Pink Jeep tours operate from 8am to around 5pm, so if you want to enjoy the trail away from crowds, aim to arrive before 8am!
Additionally, parking at the Broken Arrow trailhead is most difficult around sunset. There’s 12 parking spaces at the trailhead, so you may have to wait for a parking spot if visiting around then.
Chicken Point Overlook Trails Map
Sedona Hiking FAQs
Do you have to pay for parking at Chicken Point Overlook?
No, there’s no fee to park at the Broken Arrow trailhead or Mystic trailhead. Little Horse is the only trailhead that requires a Daily Red Rock Pass ($5/day), which you can avoid by taking the free Sedona shuttle to the trailhead.
Can you drive to Chicken Point Overlook?
Yes, you can drive all the way to Chicken Point Overlook if you have a 4×4 vehicle with high clearance. This is the most popular route for pink Jeep tours in Sedona.
Do you need a 4×4 vehicle to park at Broken Arrow Trail?
No, you don’t need a 4×4 to park at the trailhead for Broken Arrow if you’re hiking the trail. The trailhead parking lot is located on the left hand side, just a few hundred feet up the dirt road (Morgan Road), and is accessible with any vehicle.
What are the easiest Sedona hikes?
Chicken Point Overlook, Airport Mesa Vortex, and the Boynton Canyon Vista are some of the shortest and easiest Sedona hikes. All of these hikes have minimal elevation, take around an hour or less, and have rewarding red rock views.
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