Guest Blogger: Rob
Meet the team! Rob Holeman, the General Manager here at the Real, has been with the Sedona Real Inn since it opened. He and his father have owned the hotel for more than 14 years and take pride everyday in our hotel. He is an avid mountain biker and recently went on a fun excursion on some biking trails that aren’t too far from our hotel. The trails here in Sedona are beautiful and are amazing from the seat of bike. We have a biking package available if you want to check it out. Here’s what Rob had to say:
About four years ago I started to mountain bike here in Sedona and just got addicted to it. I still do not ride enough. For about 8 months of the year I ride before coming into work a couple of days a week, about 6 to 10 miles depending on my pace; and on the weekends I do 10 plus miles.
Last weekend I was talking to some guests who just got off the trails and told me about how much fun they had riding the Mescal Trail which I had not rode in about 2 years, so many trails not enough time.
I went out and rode the Mescal trail this weekend and they were right, when I rode it last time it wasn’t much of a trail but the Forest Service has done a lot of work. This trail is well marked now with signage at intersections and at the trail heads. As you ride south from Dry Creek road you climb maybe 200 feet in elevation along a mesa then traverse along a Red Rock shelf underneath a taller mesa. In this area you can look straight up the rock face in parts. Where there is not so much of rock face you have caves. It makes you wonder, with all Indian dwellings in close vicinity, if there are more up there.
Close to the end you can see into Boynton Canyon, and then off to the west you see the Cockscomb, and behind you is Thunder Mountain. The trail ends on Deadman’s pass, which is the first trail I took a tumble over the handle bars on (fun fun). Deadman’s pass allows you to loop back to Long Canyon road or you can take the Aries Trail from Deadman’s pass to create a spectacular loop.
Until today, my favorite ride was the Templeton Trail which takes you from Bell Rock Pathway to the tip of Cathedral Rock Mescal Trail is less traveled by people which allows the rider to enjoy the ride more.
As I have talked with other bikers since my ride they have informed me that the Forest Service is working on lot of area’s condensing trails, installing signage and just making them safer. If you like to mountain bike or if you want to try, there is no better place to experience it then here in Sedona. The concierge is very knowledgeable on the trails and so is Over The Edge bike shop (has rentals available). If you are in for the weekend and want to ride with a local (not too crazy) just ask me. I have been considering putting together a weekend ride.
Photo of Mescal trail, courtesy of Over the Edge
