Sedona is a hiker’s paradise. I make the trek to Sedona every time I visit my cousins in Phoenix and Scottsdale. It’s truly an incredible place to explore, recharge and connect with nature. I’m sharing my four favorite quick hikes that showcase the beauty and serenity of red rock country: Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Doe Mountain and Devil’s Bridge. These trails are perfect for beginners or anyone short on time who want to efficiently experience as much as possible during their trip to Sedona!
Get ready to climb. Three of these hikes require rock scrambling, like the video shown below of the Cathedral Rock trail. With that being said, I recently completed all four of these hikes only 9 weeks after a meniscus repair surgery. All activity levels and hiking experience can complete these trails!
Always stretch before and after your hikes, especially if you’re planning to sit for long periods of time. Take your time, wear high quality trail shoes with grip (big shoutout to my Altra’s) and start early to avoid maneuvering rock scrambles with a crowd.
All four trails are relatively short and can be completed in a few hours. You can spend the rest of the day stopping at nearby trails like Fay’s Canyon, visiting the Chapel of the Holy Cross and exploring the new age shops in town. Let this be your guide as you start planning your trip to Little Hollywood!
Know Before You Go
As always, leave no trace and do not disturb the wildlife. Stay on the designated trails, pack up your trash and respect the wildlife along with their natural habitat.
Do not attempt off-roading if you do not have a high clearance, 4 Wheel Drive vehicle. Off-roading is a popular activity in Sedona, and my favorite way to get to the Devil’s Bridge trailhead. I have been off-roading with a rented Tacoma and Jeep, as well as riding with professionals on the Pink Jeep Tour. Every time I ride on one of these unpaved roads, I see multiple cars stuck with very unhappy passengers. There’s only one tow company in Sedona that is able to help you. As expected, its a headache and a hefty fee.
Many trailheads require a Red Rock pass to park in the designated lot, or you can pay a $5 daily fee. You can also use an America the Beautiful pass, or another National Parks membership pass. The crowds in Sedona have sky rocketed in the past few years. The town now offers free shuttles to popular trailheads, such as Cathedral Rock and Soldiers Pass. Thursday through Sunday, visitors are required to take the shuttle to these trailheads.
Start your hikes before sunrise or late afternoon to avoid the 9am – 2pm rush. Spring and fall are peak season for Sedona. I usually go in early spring or late fall for the best weather and to avoid the highest crowd volume. All of these hikes are exposed with no shade. Especially in the summer time, bring sunscreen, tons of water and a hat!
1. Cathedral Rock
1.2 miles out and back | Moderate to Strenuous | 741 feet elevation gain
Cathedral Rock is known for its steep but quick ascent, sweeping landscape views and access to one of Sedona’s vortexes. This popular trail requires technical rock scrambling throughout the hike, see video. If you’re afraid of heights or exposed rock faces, this might not be the trail for you. If you’re up for a challenging yet rewarding adventure, I highly recommend you add this hike to your Sedona itinerary.
Cathedral Rock earns its name from the massive spires that resemble a cathedral. Once you reach the overlook, continue on the trail up to the left and you’ll encounter another rock scramble that leads to the iconic spires and vortex.
On this hike, you’ll encounter one of Sedona’s energy vortexes. The vortexes are said to be a swirl of cleansing energy stemming from the universe. People say they feel inspired, recharged and enlightened at the vortex site. While my group did not experience any of these feelings, we did appreciate the amazing views from the site!
We arrived at the trailhead at sunrise on a Monday and snagged one of the last spots in the overflow parking lot. If you plan to hike Cathedral Rock on a Thursday through Sunday, you’ll need to take the Sedona shuttle to the trailhead.
2. Bell Rock Climb
1-3 miles | Easy to Moderate | 200 – 550 feet elevation gain
Bell Rock is one of the first and most recognizable red rocks to greet you on your drive into Sedona. There are a few trail options to explore the butte. The Bell Rock Loop trail is an easy 2.3 mile trail that offers sweeping views of the valley. I recently hiked the more challenging Bell Rock Climb route that takes you higher up the rock face. We decided not to attempt the difficult pitch to the summit since we were quickly losing daylight.
There are rock baskets at the beginning of the climb route to guide you, but they quickly disappear the higher you go. It was a blast finding our own paths and scurrying up the butte.
We began this hike one hour before sunset. It’s truly breathtaking to watch the valley and vibrant red rocks start to glow as they catch the setting sun. You don’t need to ascend much elevation to catch these spectacular views.
3. Doe Mountain
1.5 miles out and back | Moderate | 511 feet elevation gain
Doe Mountain is an easy to moderate hike with breathtaking views of the surrounding valley. After working your way up a short distance of switchbacks, you’re greeted with a stretching plateau to explore.
This hike was recommended by a local and it did not disappoint. It’s great for all activity levels and I found it to be one of the least crowded trails in Sedona. The plateau offers sweeping 360 degree views of the neighboring mountains and sprawling landscape.
I recommend starting this hike one hour before sunset. Be sure to head back down before dusk, or bring headlamps and flashlights. There are a few tricky sections of the switchbacks with a steep drop off. Take your time and be considerate of other hikers!
4. Devil’s Bridge
1.8 miles out and back | Moderate | 400 feet elevation gain
Devil’s Bridge is an iconic Sedona trail that features a natural sandstone bridge at the top. The bridge is wider than it may appear in photos, but it is nerve wrecking to walk out for the first time!
When I travel to Sedona, I typically rent a 4WD high clearance vehicle. This allows us to drive on the unpaved portion of Dry Creek Road to the official Devil’s Bridge trailhead. Do not attempt this drive unless you have a high clearance vehicle. Instead, you can park at the Dry Creek Vista Trailhead and walk the 1.3 miles on Dry Creek Road.
In recent years, this trail has blown up in popularity and draws in a massive crowd during peak season. This could mean a 2 hour wait to walk out on the bridge. I suggest arriving at the official trailhead 30 minutes before sunrise. Bring headlamps for the beginning of the trail. It’s mostly flat and easy to hike in the dark. Dusk will provide natural light by the time you reach the rock scramble portion. The moderate difficulty level becomes apparent at the sandstone rock scrambling section, especially if it’s wet from rain or snow.
In early November 2021, we arrived at the top 15 minutes after sunrise. We were third in line to walk out on the bridge. On a rainy Sunday in late November 2023, there was one family at the bridge when we arrived at sunrise. By the time we were finished walking out on the bridge, 20 people were lined up to take their turn. I personally think my experience would be hindered if I had to wait an hour to walk out on the bridge. The views are gorgeous as you wait, but I can’t justify an extra hour of sleeping in to stand in line at the top of a hike. It’s worth the 5am wake up call, trust me!
Let me know if you do any of these hikes on your trip to Sedona, Arizona!
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