Little Horse Trail Preview

Should you hike Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point? What the film settles

An easy first half, a steady climb at the end, and company at the top.

The first half is gentle. From the kiosk at the Bell Rock Pathway lot the film follows the wide pathway, then turns onto Little Horse at the signed junction at 8:30. Single track through the junipers, short slickrock crossings from 16:30 and the Two Nuns coming into view at 20:30 make up the easy half.

The climb is at the end, on cairns. The roughest footing on the way out, washes and rooty tread, comes at 28:30, and from 32:30 the trail climbs steadily on built steps and slickrock ramps toward the saddle. On bare rock you follow cairns; the guide covers finding your way.

Chicken Point is shared. The film reaches the slickrock platform at 44:30, with the view down Bell Rock Pathway. Near the top Little Horse meets the Broken Arrow route, and the Jeep tours come here too; for Jeep-free views, go before 9 AM or after 4:30 PM. More in sharing Chicken Point with the Pink Jeeps.

Turn around at the spires if your group wants an easy walk; the climb to Chicken Point starts after them.

What the full film shows, chapter by chapter

Timestamps read from the full 48:20 film. Owners can jump straight to any chapter.

1. 0:00 Little Horse trailhead The kiosk at the Bell Rock Pathway lot; about 4,275 ft.
2. 4:30 The wide pathway Flat, easy walking with storm light over the buttes (0.2 mi).
3. 8:30 Junction sign: Little Horse leaves the pathway The signed turn at about 0.4 mi.
4. 12:30 Red dirt through the junipers Single track, gentle grade (0.6 mi).
5. 16:30 Slickrock crossings Short stretches of bare rock to cross (0.75 mi).
6. 20:30 Shaded stretch with the Two Nuns ahead The spires come into view (0.9 mi, about 4,320 ft).
7. 24:30 Under the spires Open views of the formations across the valley (1.1 mi).
8. 28:30 Washes and rooty tread The roughest footing on the way out (1.3 mi).
9. 32:30 The climb begins The steady grade toward the saddle (1.6 mi, about 4,415 ft).
10. 36:30 Rock steps toward the saddle Built steps and slickrock ramps (1.8 mi).
11. 40:30 Slickrock to Chicken Point The last bare-rock approach (2.0 mi).
12. 44:30 Chicken Point The slickrock platform at 2.1 mi and about 4,585 ft, with the view down Bell Rock Pathway. The film ends here; the return is not shown.

Not in the film: the walk back to the trailhead.

Planning the real hike? Read the full Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point trail guide for difficulty, parking, permits and route-finding details.