Knoll Trail: What to Know Before You Go
Knoll Trail links two canyons LvLocal has already covered on their own — Oak Creek Canyon and Pine Creek Canyon — with a ridge walk along the base of the Rainbow Mountains. Sources genuinely disagree on how long it is: the official park page says 3.6 miles round trip, while a third-party trail database says closer to 2 miles, likely because they're measuring different turnaround points along the connector. A related connector, Arnight Trail, links Oak Creek Canyon to this same Knoll segment and is worth knowing about if you're building a longer loop. Welcome to Knoll Trail, a genuine ridge-walk option for hikers who've already done the two canyons it connects.
Trail Snapshot
Distance | Approximately 3.6 miles round trip per the official park page; a third-party source lists closer to 2 miles — likely different turnaround points, not a contradiction
Elevation Gain | ~50 ft (single-source, unconfirmed)
Difficulty | Moderate
Hike Time | About 2.5 hours
Fee | $20 per vehicle (Red Rock Canyon entrance fee)
Reservation | Required for Scenic Drive entry Oct 1–May 31, 8am to 5pm (free, via recreation.gov); not required June 1–Sep 30, or outside those hours any time of year
Restrooms | Not confirmed on Knoll Trail itself
Pets | Allowed, must be leashed (standard park policy)
Elevation Gain | ~50 ft (single-source, unconfirmed)
Difficulty | Moderate
Hike Time | About 2.5 hours
Fee | $20 per vehicle (Red Rock Canyon entrance fee)
Reservation | Required for Scenic Drive entry Oct 1–May 31, 8am to 5pm (free, via recreation.gov); not required June 1–Sep 30, or outside those hours any time of year
Restrooms | Not confirmed on Knoll Trail itself
Pets | Allowed, must be leashed (standard park policy)
How to Reach the Trailhead
Knoll Trail doesn't have its own dedicated named parking lot — the nearest confirmed parking is the Ice Box Canyon Trailhead, about 1.8 miles away. Since this is all within the Scenic Drive area, the standard $20 fee and Oct 1–May 31 reservation apply.
What to Expect on the Trail
The trail runs along a ridge at the base of the Rainbow Mountains, with small boulders along the way that make a good rest or snack stop. Because there's no dedicated trailhead, plan your access point and route before you go rather than expecting a single obvious starting point.
A Connector, Not a Destination
The trail may be related to or overlap with a nearby feature sometimes called "Potato Knoll" in park event listings — this connection isn't fully confirmed, so treat it as an interesting but unresolved detail rather than fact. A related connector, Arnight Trail, links Oak Creek Canyon to this same Knoll segment and is worth combining for hikers building a longer loop through this cluster of trails.
Best Time to Visit and Conditions
Fall through spring is most comfortable given limited shade along the ridge.
Practical Advice for New Visitors
- Bring at least 2 liters of water per person.
- Carry an offline map or GPS track, since there's no dedicated trailhead.
- Wear sturdy hiking shoes.
- Reserve your Scenic Drive time slot ahead of time in peak season.
- Plan for the longer official 3.6-mile figure to be safe, since sources disagree.
- Nearest confirmed parking is Ice Box Canyon Trailhead, about 1.8 miles away.
- Consider combining with Arnight Trail for a longer connector loop.
- Best treated as an add-on to Oak Creek Canyon or Pine Creek Canyon, not a standalone trip.
For hikers who've already explored Oak Creek Canyon or Pine Creek Canyon and want to link them on foot, Knoll Trail offers a genuine connector. Plan your access point carefully, since there's no dedicated trailhead, and stay on the established route.
