Vultee Arch via Sterling Pass Sedona, Az(edit)

An alternative "shortcut" route to Vultee Arch, leading up and over Sterling Pass. The first mile of trail to the top of Sterling Pass is super steep, then more gradual on the Vultee Arch side. This took us through the last of the November autumn leaf colors. About half of the Ponderosa pines along the route have succumbed to beetles or wildfires, but still a beautiful hike through multiple sandstone layers. Note: parking at the Sterling Pass trailhead only has room for four or five vehicles, though the Manzanita Campground is only a quarter mile away. We saw only two other people on the trail all day.

The trip of Sterling pass is very steep and walking over the past and time to Val T arch is much more pleasant. Caution should be exercised on the way back down Sterling. loose sand is on top of the larger rocks. It can be quite slick and there’s very loose gravel between those rocks.

Hard on the front slope up. Arch is small, view from trail junction.

2.06 miles