Reviewed by: carothersenviro ,  Racer , from Sedona

Summary:
I can't believe these other guys are bashing the Bandit Trail! Bandit actually was a dog, he belonged to a friend of mine, and yes he did die on the trail. Anyway, this trail is at best "challenging" because of the basalt, however if you can get past the pain, the ride is epic. The initial climb gets you in the mood for back breaking basalt hopping on the top of airport mesa. The grand finale would be hooking up Bandit with a descent down windsurfer back to carol canyon and then on down for a dip in oak creek, but that is a secret. I LOVE the bandit trail, it is right behind my house.

Recommended Route:
Start at the top of Panorama in west Sedona near the big green water tanks. Hook up with the Bandittrail just above the tanks. Headwest and fllow the signs. You will take a mean left up the hill to actually access the Bandit trail about 1/2 mile after you get to the green tanks. From there, just buckle down and rid up the hill for about 20 minutes. You will then come to a top oout atthe top of the airport mesa. Follow that until you get to a junction and take a right. There are great signs. From here, you are on your own, but head out to the end of the mesa and find your way down to the creek. I finish off with a ride up carol canyon back to the recycling center at the end of Shelby road in Sedona.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Other recommendations, Huckabee, tea cup, Jordan's secrets.

Reviewed by: Bert-o-matic , from cottonwood

Summary:
hey,bypass the airport crap and jump in at the end of shnebly or elcamino and it is a fun trail. a slight uphill from elcamino and you have a truly knarly downhill thru carrol canyon. about 1/2 way down you can opt to taake a single track off to the left thaat takes you over toward airport mesa. it empties out on to chavez ranch road. much fun and a challenge coming off the ridge. you can loop it back to west sedona by going down the road and tying in thru the forest service gate to the right about 1.5miles down. the reeeel hard part will be the climb back up the canyon. only for the strong of will and body. if that is not for you take the upper loop to the top, which is all road. a very good ride for an intermediate to advanced rider. RIDE LONG AND PROSPER... :)

Recommended Route:
jump in at the end of elcamino and it is a much better trail

Other recommended trails in the same area:
BROKEN ARROW CATHEDRAL ROCK AND BUDDAH BEACH, TURKEY CREEK TOO MANY TO LIST

Reviewed by: cosmic ray , from flagstaff, az

Summary:
Bandit was a dog. He probably died from this trail and his owner buried him on the spot because it would be too hard to carry a dead dog back to town on this evil crap.
Sedona is located on the nice red dirt, but just go up a few hundred feet and you get into a gray basalt (busted up lava) layer. This stuff is hideous. It will make your ass ache. It will numb your nuts (or lips). However, I know that there is a certain segment of the mountain biking population (mostly Canadians) we shall call knuckleheads that thrive on this sort of abuse. This ride is for YOU! Airport Mesa Loop does not go on forever, it just seems like it. 3 mile loop.

Recommended Route:
Bandit leads up from the recycling center and hits the Airport Mesa Loop, but for you tourists the easy way to find it is to head up the road to the Sedona airport. You quickly get to a parking lot chock full of geeky looking tourists seeking the Airport Vortex. I'm not kidding, there are hundred of them. The lot is always full of cars. Across the road from the lot behind the guard rail find the trail and follow it all the way around the Airport Mesa contour until you get back to this vortex site.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
If you like this thing, you will probably also enjoy Scheurman Mountain, House Mountain, Hot Loop and the ultimate . . . The Casner Canyon Bloodbath, but I ain't gonna tell you how to get there.