Located in northern Arizona, Schnebly Hill Road is one of the most well-known and scenic routes in the Sedona area, with twists and turns, steep cliffs, wash out areas and great views from the pull off spots. It’s one of the premier drives in Arizona. This infamous road is tightly hairpinned and bumped, an exquisite winding mountain drive with sharp and blind curves and hairpin switchbacks leading the traveler over the mountains. Also known as F/S Road 153, it's a steep, twisty, unpaved and wonderfully scenic route that drops more than 2,000 feet from a wooded mesa into the wonderland of Sedona.

The drive is definitely worth it. There are many excellent photo opportunities here. Don’t forget your camera! Along the way, narrow turnouts provide an opportunity for travelers to marvel at the unfolding landscape. Schnebly Hill Vista, at 6,000 feet, overlooks the Verde Valley and Sedona below the summit, Steamboat Rock at the mouth of Oak Creek, and the mineral-rich Mingus Mountains to the west. The views from the back of Sedona are awesome, and the view from the top of the trail can't be beat. The overlook at the top of Schnebly Hill Road provides on of the most spectacular views in Arizona. It's especially good in the early morning when the sun is at your back, making it worthwhile to get up for sunrise and endure the very rough drive.

The road is 16.6 miles long, but when I made this photograph, the drive from beginning to Sedona took 5 hours! The journey begins just South of Flagstaff on I-17 and at the beginning it's on asphalt, but after the pavement ends you have about 2 miles before it gets really rough and there are few turn arounds. The road is dirt, steep and bumpy. People take cars and crossovers on it but the hubcaps and mufflers lying on the side of the road prove it is better to have a truck or off road type vehicle. The road is very bumpy and not meant for average cars. Not for the faint of heart. It’s somewhat like an amusement ride at times.