Cococino Loop in May -Would like a new starting point.

[Dave-W]

My plan so far is to fly into Phoenix and drive to flagstaff and start the loop, but it looks to me I could cut off 30 - 40 miles of driving from the airport if I jumped on the loop somewhere near the highway 17, maybe by Sedona. Is this possible and where would you recommend parking the car and start the trail? Or is it just better to start in flagstaff, for what ever reason.

[AZTtripper]

I would say just go to Flag you won't save any time going to Sedona. Unless you really want to see the new highway and all of the traffic circles. The new highway with at least a dozen traffic circles is certainly an improvement but it's still slower then the Freeway.

You could save a few minutes by starting at Schnebly Hill and I 17 but that would throw you off of the standard 4 day camps (if that's your plan). There is no camping anywhere in the Sedona section so you would have to get past that the first day (should be easy enough if you start at Schnebly).

Otherwise it kind of depends on your game plan. How long to you plan on riding, standard 4 day stages, full on non stop, extended tour?