Arizona · Hiking

Middle Verde Loop

Middle Verde LoopPhoto: cogdogblog, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)
12.2 mi
loop
135 ft
climb
3,738 ft
high point
Loop
route
Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
best months

Is Middle Verde Loop open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Red Rock Ranger District. It doesn't name Middle Verde Loop, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Red Rock Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Middle Verde Loop is a 12.2-mile hike in the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest in Arizona, on land managed by the Forest Service. The route gains about 135 feet of elevation, from a low point of 3,579 feet to a high of 3,738 feet, and is rated hard. It takes about four hours to complete. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show April highs around 79°F and October highs around 82°F, while summer highs climb to about 100°F. White Hills Loop lies about 1.4 miles away, and Loy Link is roughly 3.9 miles off. Montezuma Castle Trail is about 4.3 miles away, and Dry Beaver Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 4.8 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov

    Best time to visit Middle Verde Loop

    Best months: March–April and October–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      61° / 26°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      65° / 29°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      72° / 35°

      4 wet

    4. Apr

      79° / 40°

      3 wet

    5. May

      88° / 47°

      2 wet

    6. Jun

      98° / 54°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      101° / 64°

      6 wet

    8. Aug

      99° / 63°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      93° / 55°

      5 wet

    10. Oct

      82° / 43°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      69° / 31°

      3 wet

    12. Dec

      59° / 25°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Montezuma Castle Nm, AZ, 4.4 mi away at 3,180 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Montezuma Castle TrailPhoto: jasonwoodhead23, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Montezuma Castle Trail

~7 min drive

Easy walk to a stunning 12th-century cliff dwelling in Arizona.

Elmore WashPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Elmore Wash

~13 min drive

3.99-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 125 ft of elevation gain.

Long CanyonPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Long Canyon

~16 min drive

6.70-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,284 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Sacred Mountain

~15 min drive

Sacred Mountain is a 1.22-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 206 feet of elevation gain.

MOWE Pasture Interpretive TrailPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

MOWE Pasture Interpretive Trail

~10 min drive

0.92-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 77 ft of elevation gain.

Woods Canyon #93Photo: cafuego, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Woods Canyon #93

~14 min drive

10.40-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 434 ft elevation gain.

Three Sisters TrailPhoto: Coconino NF Photography, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Three Sisters Trail

~16 min drive

3.26-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 948 ft elevation gain

Golden GulchPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Golden Gulch

~11 min drive

1.50-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 149 ft of elevation gain.

Kel FoxPhoto: Mary P Madigan, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Kel Fox

~11 min drive

3.45-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 239 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

White Hills Loop

~2 min drive

17.61-mile loop trail in Arizona with 198 ft elevation gain.