Merry Go Round Rock: How to Find this Popular Sedona Cave

by daniellenfairbanks | Aug 25, 2023

Sedona’s natural beauty is out of this world. Between the caves, the unique rock structures, the warm temperatures, the plethora of activities- Sedona can’t be beat. One of these amazing features is Merry Go Round Rock, which has become popular in recent years, for good reason. It’s not easy to get to, or well marked, so I hope to help you find it SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY.

This post contains affiliate links that I do profit from, if you choose to support my business. These links are at no cost to you.

WHY SHOULD I HIKE TO MERRY GO ROUND ROCK?

Merry-Go-Round Rock is a great adventure for a day you have plenty of free time. I don’t suggest it for first timers, just because it’s not the easiest to get to if you aren’t used to the terrain- but I’ll get into that more later! Part of the fun of Merry Go Round Rock is just finding it. It’s elusive, and there aren’t many directions to it, which makes the experience more fnn!

two people standing on the red rock in sedona with a blue sky

WHERE IS MERRY GO ROUND ROCK?

Merry Go Round Rock is located East of Downtown Sedona. It’s only 5 miles away, but it takes 40 minutes due to rough terrain. DO NOT attempt to drive up Schnebly Hill road with just any old car, becuase you won’t be able to. Schnebly Hill Road is 12 miles long and connects Sedona to Highway I- 17 south of Flagstaff. Keep reading for options to access Merry Go Round Rock.

HOW TO ACCESS MERRY GO ROUND ROCK VIA SCHNEBLY HILL ROAD

BY CAR

The first option in reaching Merry Go Round rock is via your own car. I DON’T RECOMMEND THIS OPTION- unless you have a lift, offroad tires, and good suspension. You can access it from the Sedona or Flagstaff direction. I spent a weekend camping on Schnebly Hill Road from the Flagstaff direction, so we drove our jeep to it, and it was ROUGH. I don’t want to do it again. It’s so bumpy. Like driving 5 miles an hour bumpy.

BY OFF-ROAD VEHICLE

You can also rent an off-road vehicle to get there. They have 2-person and up to 6-person UTVs covered in a roll cage. These have amazing suspension. This is my NUMBER 1 RECOMMENDATION to get here. These are so much fun!! They’re just expensive. They run $150-500+ per day. You can rent via OUTBACK ATV, VORTEX ATV RENTAL, SEDONA ATV, and more. PLEASE be thoughtful while riding. Don’t blast your music. I was trying to sit in peace at the rock and I could hear musci from ATVs all the way down the canyon.

red jeep on a road surrounded by greenery in a canyon

BY JEEP TOUR

Doing a Jeep Tour in Sedona is a great option to go see Merry Go Round rock, especially if you’re in a group or with people who can’t hike for whatever reason. I’m not the biggest fan myself because they’re SOOO BUMPY (coming from someone who drives a Jeep LOL).

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JEEP TOURS?

I wrote a full blog post on this topic: Are Jeep Tours in Sedona Worth It?

I go over which companies there are, which tours I suggest, and what’s worth it! Only some Jeep Tours will go to Merry Go Round Rock and Schnebly Hill Road!

BY FOOT

Eventually, you will have to access Merry Go Round Rock by foot. You can access it from the East and the West. Whether you park up close, or you hike for miles, let’s help you find the cave you’re looking for!

HOW TO HIKE TO MERRY GO ROUND ROCK

Let’s get into finding Merry Go Round Rock. I’m going to start with finding it from the west side- just by foot. I’m guessing a majority of you don’t have an off-road vehicle, and renting is expensive, so the most plausible is to hike to it. The trail to Merry Go Round Rock starts at Huckaby Trailhead and you will hike Munds Wagon Trail.

The trail to Merry Go Round Rock starts at Huckaby Trailhead and you will hike Munds Wagon Trail

MUNDS WAGON TRAIL STATS

LENGTH: 6.5 RT

ELEVATION: 1,105 ft gain

TIME: 3-4 hours

DOG-FRIENDLY: yes

FEES: red rock pass

CONDITIONS: red rock platforms, maintained trail, some road noise

The Huckaby Trailhead is at the end of paved road on Schnebly Hill road, so there’s no off-roading needed. There will be a dirt parking lot that has plenty of space. There’s a pretty steady climb over the few miles and plenty of great views. This trail is great because it’s not very busy- you might only see a few people.

When you get to the end of the trail, around 3.2 miles, you’ll get closer to Schnebly Hill Road and you’ll start to make a U and face the direction you came from. You will merge with another trail- you’ll kow you’re almost there! I’ll review next steps in the next section.

multiple photos of the red rock and a trail

IF YOU DRIVE TO MERRY GO ROUND ROCK, YOUR HIKE IS VERY SHORT.

If you’re driving by your own car or off-road vehicle, use AllTrails to find the starting point. On the photo above- it’s the black trail off Schnebly Hill Road. This is where Jeep Tours stop. One thing I was confused about was realizing “Merry Go Round Rock” is NOT the rock you’re standing on that you see through the cave. It’s the peak marked above. This confused me- I was looking all around the rock and could NOT find the cave.

Follow the black trail and you will be met with Munds Wagon Trail. There will be a marked sign, and you’ll be surrounded by trees. Don’t go on that trail. You know you’re on the wrong trail if you start going down hill. If you go straight (following the green line on AllTrails, you’ll be on a ledge. It’s really hard to see the cave unless you’re coming from the Munds Wagon Trail. There are some side trails leading to the ledge that will give you the views you need. If you head to the ledge, you’ll be able to see the famous cave and rock.

woman in blue and white standing in a cave in a rock

NEED SOMEWHERE TO CAMP??

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girl with curly hair and a black shirt and yellow shorts in front of a canyon

MERRY GO ROUND ROCK- THE DESINATION

I hope you’re able to find the cave by heading toward the ledge. PLEASE, be careful. It’s steep going down to the winow to the cave, on both sides. Don’t bring a dog down there with you. It’s a beautiful view for sure.

In terms of the best time of day to shoot, I recommend sunrise. The glare of sunset coming AT the camera shooting through the cave was tough. Late morning would be great too!

WANT TO SEE OTHER SEDONA CAVES??

Sedona is full of them- it’s the red rock way. Here’s a few others to check out!

Check out my post: The Subway Cave (Boynton Canyon Trail)

Off-the-beaten path: How to Find Keyhole Cave

A Remote Cave: Robber’s Roost

FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT MERRY-GO-ROUND-ROCK

Merry Go Round rock and the cave are totally worth it! It’s a beautiful view, and it’s lesser trafficked than other areas in Sedona. PLEASE LEAVE NO TRACE, and happy hiking.

WELCOME TO MY PAGE!

I’m Danielle, a midwesterner turned desert rat with a passion for the outdoors.

I’ve lived in Phoenix, Arizona since 2014 and went on my first real hike in March 2015. Being in the middle of the mountains is an unbelievable experience. I promised myself from now on, I won’t live more than 15 minutes from a trail. I promise you’ll benefit from more time outside.

By career, I am a Physician Assistant, trained in Primary Care, Emergency Medicine, Sports Medicine, and Wilderness Medicine. I hope to use my knowledge to help prepare others to be safe outdoors. This is my prescription to you to GET OUTSIDE.