Moenkopi Loop Trail: What to Know Before You Go
You don't have to drive far into Red Rock Canyon to find real geology — the Moenkopi Loop starts right at the Visitor Center, just west of the weather monitoring station, and crosses a limestone ridge with visible Triassic-age fossils in about two easy miles. It's a good first stop for visitors still getting oriented to the park, an easy loop that doubles as an introduction to the rock layers you'll see everywhere else on the Scenic Drive. Welcome to the Moenkopi Loop, one of the most accessible trails in Red Rock Canyon.
Trail Snapshot
Distance | Approximately 2 miles
Difficulty | Easy
Hike Time | About 1.5 hours
Elevation Gain | ~200 ft (secondary source)
Fee | $20 per vehicle (Red Rock Canyon entrance fee)
Hours | Visitor Center open 8am to 4:30pm daily; the Scenic Drive reservation only applies if continuing onto the Scenic Drive itself
Restrooms | Yes, at the Visitor Center
Pets | Standard park leash policy applies
Difficulty | Easy
Hike Time | About 1.5 hours
Elevation Gain | ~200 ft (secondary source)
Fee | $20 per vehicle (Red Rock Canyon entrance fee)
Hours | Visitor Center open 8am to 4:30pm daily; the Scenic Drive reservation only applies if continuing onto the Scenic Drive itself
Restrooms | Yes, at the Visitor Center
Pets | Standard park leash policy applies
How to Reach the Trailhead
This trail starts right at the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center, open 8am to 4:30pm daily, with restrooms and parking on site. The standard $20 entrance fee applies; the Scenic Drive timed-entry reservation only matters if you continue onto the 13-mile Scenic Drive loop itself, not just for parking at the Visitor Center.
What to Expect on the Trail
This is one of the easiest trails in the park, suitable for nearly any fitness level, with a modest elevation gain over the full loop. The trail traverses a prominent limestone ridge before connecting toward the Calico Hills area, a good introduction to the park's varied rock layers.
Fossils in the Moenkopi Formation
The limestone ridge along this trail shows visible Triassic-age fossils, consistent with the reddish Moenkopi Formation found elsewhere in the region — a tidal-flat deposit generally younger than the park's dominant Jurassic-age Aztec Sandstone. It's a genuinely different rock story from the red sandstone that defines most of Red Rock Canyon's more famous views.
Best Time to Visit and Conditions
The short distance makes this workable in any season, though mornings are still more comfortable in summer.
Practical Advice for New Visitors
- Visit the Visitor Center exhibits before or after for extra context.
- Bring 1 to 2 liters of water per person.
- Pack sun protection.
- Bring a camera for the fossils and rock formations.
- This is a good first stop to get oriented before driving the Scenic Drive.
- The Scenic Drive reservation only matters if you continue past the Visitor Center onto the loop itself.
- Standard leash policy applies for the family dog.
- Combine with a Visitor Center stop for restrooms and trip planning.
For visitors who want an easy, informative first hike close to the Visitor Center, the Moenkopi Loop is hard to beat — short, accessible, and a genuine introduction to the park's geology. Stay on the marked trail and take advantage of the Visitor Center's exhibits while you're there.
