This challenging, fun & exciting singletrack rewards you with some of the most scenic vistas of the Sedona area. Leaving the B.R. Pathway you twist & turn downhill through the forest and two tunnels under highway 179, a fast ride through the forest with great flow! At 1 mi there is an intersection with the HT tr, an alternate route to the B. R. Pathway, stay left here and follow the trail as it climbs and descends through the forest to the base of the Cathedral Rock. The trail turns more to slick rock and follows the contour of the mountain north sometimes a bit technical and exposed in some places. 1.5 mi later you will reach a large open, slickrock point & the intersection with the Cathedral Rock Tr, a hiking trail that starts at Back O'beyond rd and goes straight up the mountain. The ride gets more technical from here on so if your not up for it this is a good place to take a break and then head back. <br />
.5 mi past the Cathedral Rk tr you will go down a set of technical switchbacks to the river and follow it for another .5 mi. At an open field with a fence you will come to the 2.2 mi Baldwin tr and the beginning of the loop, although do-able either direction I recommend doing this counter-clockwise. Staying left at a couple intersections takes you to the top, around the mountain and back down to the river. This a very fun but challenging trail, once back at the river follow the Templeton trail back to the starting point.
Located between Sedona and Oak Creek the Templeton tr is accessed from the Bell Rock Pathway, I suggest parking at the middle Viewpoint parking area on highway 179 between Sedona and Oak Creek although you could also park at either end of the Pathway and ride to the Templeton trailhead. From the middle viewpoint ride north (downhill) on the B.R. Pathway aprox .7 mi to one of the only trails heading off to the left (west), there is a metal sign marking the trailhead.<br />
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