Sunset Trail to Brookbank Trail Loop is a 5.7 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Flagstaff, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, mountain biking, and snowshoeing and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Arizona Office of Tourism, 2702 N. 3rd St., Suite 4015 , Phoenix, AZ, 85004, Phone: 888-520-3434, Fax: 602-240-5432, mfioritt@pni.com
Directions from Flagstaff: Drive north from Flagstaff on US 180 to FR 420 (Schultz Pass Road). Drive east for 1 mile and, where FR 420 takes a hard left turn continue straight on FR 557 about 3 miles to the Brookbank trailhead.
beautiful views. some of the greenest trails in Flagstaff. will be coming back for sure.
A lot of it was burnt but made it clear for nice views. No water on this trail. Was a little over 6 miles
Love love loved this trail! It’s all open now. Dirt road but a small car can make it, no problem. This might be a new fave!
This was a fantastic hike! It was nice and cool outside and beautiful with the trees. Driving to the trail was on a dirt path up the mountain, very narrow so be careful if you’re not in a four wheel drive vehicle. Some of the trail was closed off when we went due to a fire. Moderately difficult in the beginning on the uphill but not bad overall. This is absolutely one of my favorites!
Enjoyed the loop - great views, good mix of easy and moderate. Recommend starting from the Sunset trailhead and going up to Brookline, then following the loop around to the Sunset trail and back to the trailhead. Got off track a few times, so the AllTrails app came in quite handy. Pup enjoyed it too!
Upper Brookbank was closed and all blowdown from the fire but the little pond was perfect and the rest of the trail was pretty.
Pre museum fire this would have been my new favorite trail. Upper brookbank is closed and runs through a burn area. The trail is still accessible but you just need to pay attention. I hiked it 4/16 and there was a fair amount of snow but I was fine in regular hiking boots. Otherwise, stunning views. I would suggest starting from Schultz loop and heading toward sunset, rather than starting from sunset. The views are nicer that direction
Absolutely beautiful loop. Dense trees, many birds and wildflowers. The pond at the halfway point is nice. Some inclines, mild-moderate overall. Great views of the San Francisco Peaks and the surrounding area. Many mountain bikers on the trail. I recommend knowing where you are going beforehand because this loop intersects with many other trails and we ran into a number of people who were lost and didn't know which trail they were on.
Great trail! Just beautiful all the way through. Squirrels, skunks, & a deer today. Not very many people (probably cause it was the day after a holiday). I would definitely take a power bank with me for my phone next time. The lack of service & running the app to record my trip sucked my phone dead 1/2 way through!
The hike was great with wonderful views and wasn't too trafficked. Getting to this trail is fairly easy but you'll pass several trail head parking lots on the way up, the dirt road is in good condition. Really this area is considered dry lake hills, but the trail is not called dry hills lake. Because it is a loop either follow this route or it in the opposite. I suggest also taking a photo of the map at the sunset trailhead Start on sunset trail (just left of the trailhead signage) and continue to the brook bank trail (take a right at the sign about wildfires), if you go left instead it's a short out and back with decent views. Continue on brooksbank and you will pass a small pond just off the trail. Past the pond you will end up on an out of service forest road (unsigned) and will see signs for Schultz creek loop where you can finish the loop. Be warned that there are many turn offs because of the trail system up there. There have also been an increase in bear sightings.
I did this hike with my husband and 1-year-old daughter in a pack this weekend. The drive to the trail included 5 miles down a dirt road. The road is fairly well maintained, and was not an issue with our very low sports sedan. As others have mentioned, the signage here is not good. Thankfully, I had the all trails app running which helped us when we got off track at the dry lakes. You start on the Schutz Pass trail, then when you get to the meadow you make a left. We ventured into the meadow and turned at the interpretive signage and cut back to the trail- I recommend doing this for the best views. Then follow the Brookbank trail to Sunset Trail. The hike was very nice. Great views of mountains, forests and meadows and lots and lots of wildflowers in mid August when we hiked. There were one or two technical spots, but nothing I didn't feel comfortable doing with a baby on my back. The trail is also popular with bikers, so be cautious. What I enjoyed about this loop hike is that it wasn't just up and then down, there is some undulation which keeps things interesting. All and all, a great hike, and highly recommended as a way to spend a few hours in the Flagstaff area.