4X4 to Honanki Heritage Site

One of Sedona’s best and most scenic drives, that happens to also lead to Native American ruins, has to be Loy Butte Road (FR-525). This route also forms the eastern half of the famous Outlaw 4×4 Jeep Trail.

The road is very rough in places, especially during the latter part of the drive. The road is not regularly maintained so you will encounter some deep ruts, sharp drop off's, and boulders to negotiate.

Once arriving at the site, along the red rock cliff are remains of a large Sinaguan pueblo called Honanki. The heritage site is very well preserved. Some walls still stand, and others are in showing sign of deterioration. 

Above the ruins are numerous pictographs. Some predate the cliff dwellings by several thousand years. Although sections of the rock art have faded over time and a number of pictographs have been obscured by vandals or destroyed by pothunters, there is still plenty of rock art left to admire.

Visitors can enjoy the ruins at their own pace. The looped path around the pueblo is three-quarters of a mile long, but the first leg up to the cliff dwellings requires a steady footing as the ground is steep and rocky. 

The site is managed by the U.S. Forest Service under the Red Rocks Pass Program.