3 Amazing Sedona Hikes you Don't Want to Miss!

Hiking in Sedona is one of the most popular things to do in the Grand Canyon State. The striking rock formations and red tones that light up with each ray of sunshine is just one thing Arizona is famous for.

I have done many Sedona hikes over the years and have loved every single one. With sprawling landscapes, vibrant sandstone, and intriguing gorges as far as the eyes can see, it is easy to see why Sedona is a hiking lover’s dream. Hiking in Sedona can is enjoyed year-round but I love hiking in the wintertime when temps are cool, and there are fewer people on the trails. Hiking at sunrise is another fantastic time to get the best scenic views and beat the crowds which means avoiding the horrendous parking situation at may of the trailheads.

If it’s your first time in Sedona, choosing between so many great hiking options can be tough. It can easily take weeks to explore all Sedona has to offer, but if you only have a few days in Sedona, you’ll have to narrow down your hiking list. Some of my favorite Sedona hikes include these cave hikes; the Birthing Cave, Solider’s Pass Trail, and the Boynton Subway Cave. All of these were magical, and great options for a moderate hike since the caves can be tough to find.

In this post, I’ll be giving you all the details of three more of my favorite hikes.

Bell Rock Trail
Devils Bridge
Cathedral Rock

All of these Sedona hikes have the most amazing views, and are pretty easy to navigate and get to.

Below I’ve listed all the details you need to make the most out of each hike. These Sedona hikes can be done in a few hours, making them perfect for shorter stays in Sedona.

If you are planning a trip to Sedona, this 5 day Sedona itinerary is a helpful resource with many recommendations including, where to eat, places to stay, days trips to take, and more.

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Bell Rock Pathway, Loop + Climb

Details:

Distance: Bell rock loop trail is 1.8 miles. The Bell Rock climb is 0.75miles. Bell Rock out and back trail from parking lot is 3.5 miles (or 1.5 from Courthouse Vista lot). Courthouse Butte Loop is about 4-miles round trip.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate. While the loop path is mostly flat there will be a few rock steps and some necessary scrambling (walking up steep and rocky terrain involving the use of one’s hands) if you want to climb up Bell Rock. Hiking to the spire is much more difficult.
Elevation Gain: About 350 feet
Parking: About 35 spots at Bell Rock Vista Parking lot. Courthouse Vista has about the same but more space to park on the shoulder. Both provide access to Bell Rock and surrounding trails. Don’t forget to purchase your Red Rock parking pass for $5

Beautiful, easy, and short (well, only if you don’t stop to take pictures every five feet). This trail was a simple pick because I stayed less than 5 mins away from the trailhead at Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock. Every morning I walked around Bell Rock during sunrise, and even though it was freezing (15-20 degrees Fahrenheit), it was a great experience.

I opted to do a few different sunrise hikes, all on different trails at Bell Rock. Because it was early, I avoided crowds, parked easily, and saw the sandstone light up in brilliant hues in the morning sun.

If you can’t get to Bell Rock for sunrise (around 7 am in January), try to make it by 8 am or be prepared to wait for parking to open up closer to 10 am.

On Day 1 of my trip, I stopped by for a sunset hike. There was ample parking in early January at 5:30 pm, but in my opinion, the sun was much better for sunrise.

There are two parking lots with access to Bell Rock Trail about a mile apart from each other.

Once you reach the lower section of Bell Rock, you have an option to attempt to climb further up. Once I stopped noticing the rock cairns, I stopped climbing.

I spent 2-3 hours on this amazing Sedona trail enjoying the views and capturing tons of photos!

Experienced hikers may want to scramble all the way up to one of the spires of Bell Rock. Only do this if you don’t mind a steep and seemingly dangerous climb.

Marked trails past the upper section are very elusive, so if you decide to climb, do so carefully!

Mescal to Devil’s Bridge Trail

Details:

Distance: 4 miles round trip. If you have a 4×4 you can drive directly to the trailhead to cut 2 miles off of your hike
Difficulty: Moderate (there are some steep steps and this trail gets muddy and slippery)
Elevation Gain: 560 feet
Parking: 6 spots at the trailhead with a high clearance 4×4 vehicle only. 40 spots at the Dry Creek parking lot. You can also park at Mescal Trailhead (22 spots) and take the Mescal Trail to Chuckwagon Trail to the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead.

Devil’s Bridge is one of the most popular hikes in Sedona, 1/2 way into the trail you will understand why. Parking lots easily fill by 8am, earlier on weekends. The bridge is a popular spot for photos, and lines will form to take your photo on the bridge by 8am.

This is a great sunrise hike to avoid the crowds and have the views all to yourself. I’ve hiked it a few times and arriving before 8am to the bridge is the best way to enjoy the calmness of a Sedona morning. Later in the day the trail gets sooo packed hikers it can sucks the enjoyment out of the experience.

The Devil’s Bridge Trail is only 1.2 miles one way but because of the limited parking, you will need to add on another 2 miles round trip to the hike (unless you have a high clearance 4×4 vehicle and can park directly at the trailhead).

You can get to Devil’s Bridge Trail via the Mescal Trail off of Long Canyon Rd. Park at the Mescal lot and take the Mescal trail a short way to the scenic Chuckwagon Trail whihc turns in to the Devil’s Bridge trailhead (you will cross the 4×4 road), there are signs to guide you. This route also involves crossing Oak Creek. Water is usually ankle deep but there are stepping stones. A waterproof hiking boot is recommended.

You can also park at Dry Creek Trailhead parking lot off of Dry Creek Road and walk the mile to the start of Devil’s Bridge Trail. You will share the road with the off-roading buggies, Pink Jeep tours, and any other high clearance vehicles that dare to make it over the boulders.

The 4×4 only road to the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead.

All in all, it is a moderate trail with amazing views of Red Rock Country. There are plenty of lookouts as you ascend, revealing unique landscapes. The trail can be quite steep in places, but there are stairs.

I didn’t have to scramble, but some less mobile hikers may feel comfortable on all fours going up the steep stairs. Also, with recent rainfall, it will be muddy.

It took me about 3 hours round trip to complete this hike, but I stopped for many photos. It can definitely be done in less time, especially if you beat the crowds.

Cathedral Rock

Details:

Distance: About a 3 miles round trip from Cathedral Rock trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate to hard. Very steep at some points. Some scrambling is a must
Elevation Gain: 645 feet
Parking: About 50 spots between two lots and road parking off of Back O’Beyond Road. It gets full quickly!

Cathedral Rock is one of the most iconic Sedona hikes there is.

You can access the trail in a few different ways and views are stunning no matter what time of day you make it to the summit, however a sunset hike to the Cathedral Rock Summit is a fantastic way to watch a Sedona Sunset.

The main trailhead from the parking lot of off Back O’Beyond Road and gets full quickly. Thursday – Sunday the Sedona Shuttle is operating and the trailhead parking lot is closed. Check shuttle times at SedonaShuttle.com for a free and convenient way to reach the trailhead.

You can self park at the Baldwin Trailhead lot if you don’t mind adding a few more miles to your hike. The lot is off of Verde Valley School Road. The last section of this road where the parking lot is, is unpaved but easily passable.

Pro Tip: There are vault toilets at the Baldwin Trailhead lot -just don’t forget your biodegradable toilet paper!

To get to Cathedral Rock, cross the road and hike left down the Baldwin trail to Templeton Trail.

This route takes you through the forest along a river before it intersects with the Cathedral Rock Trail.

The views throughout this route are really nice. In my opinion, with an easy switchback route, being partially shaded, and views galore, it’s the better route. The best part was I practically had it all to myself!

I started this hike just after 11 am and made it to the top by 1 pm. Unfortunately, it got very crowded on the scrambling section up to the summit.

There may be a line to take photos on the edge, but the wait is worth it. There is a short rocky path to the left of the “End of Trail” sign that will put you right up against the central pillar of Cathedral Rock. Unfortunately, I forgot to find it during my hike, but I’ve seen photos, and it is another great viewpoint if you want to look for it.

This Sedona hike is a phenomenal spot for sunsets. The sun descends right between the rocks into the valley.

If you do a sunset hike, make sure to bring a headlamp. Without one, the moon will be the only thing lighting your way down, which can be dangerous.

***

These three Sedona hikes surpassed all my expectations of what I thought hiking in Sedona would be. The red rocks are stunning, especially when the sun hits them just right. No matter what trail you choose, you can’t go wrong. There is so much beauty in Sedona waiting around every bend you will start planning your trip back before your even leave!