So you are looking to go hike in Sedona, Arizona. First off, you are off to a good start for picking such an incredible location. Sedona is home to some of the most stunning red rock views, but the downside to its beauty is its popularity. Depending on when you go, these hikes are heavily trafficked and can get crowded. If you are looking to get that Instagram shot of yourself, alone, on the edge of the Birthing Cave, or standing on the Devil’s Bridge, get ready to stand in line. This could take longer than the hike itself! Or, and this is my recommendation, go during off-peak seasons.
We decided to take a girls trip out to hike these beautiful sandstones in the peak of summer (during May thru October), and let me tell you… WARM! But so worth it. The nice thing about Arizona is the dry heat. Although temperatures teeter in the 90s to over 100, since it is a dry heat, it feels like it could be in the 80s, which let’s be honest, is still warm but tolerable. The best part was, and maybe we just got really lucky, there were very few people on the trails we explored. Seemingly having the trails and photo opportunities to ourselves.
Without further ado, here are my top 6 hikes in Sedona.
Best Hike #1: Cathedral Rock
- Trail Information
- Location: 399113 Cathedral Rock Trail
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 1.4 Miles Round Trip
- Elevation Gain: 774 ft
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
- Best time of day: Sunrise and Sunset
- Parking: Lot with limited spots and Parking Pass required
The quintessential must-do hike out in Sedona. There is a reason why this hike is rated number one on so many Sedona hiking lists.
Cathedral Rock is home to one of Sedona’s major Vortex spots. These vortexes can be found throughout Sedona and are said to be alive with conductive energy. An energy so strong that people have claimed to feel rejuvenated, inspired, or energized after passing through. People have traveled from all over the globe to explore this seemingly cosmic energy.
The most traditional way of getting to Cathedral rock is through a small parking lot off of Back O Beyond Road. The lot fills up quickly so be sure to plan accordingly.
Best Hike #2: Bell Rock
- Trail Information
- Location: 34.791531664007756, -111.76161899116434 (Bell Rock Vista Parking)
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Distance: 4.4 miles round trip from the Bell Rock Vista parking turnout; 1.1 miles round trip from the Courthouse parking turnout
- Elevation Gain: 380 ft
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
- Best time of day: Sunrise
- Parking: Lot with limited spots and Parking Pass required
Get ready for a scramble! This hike was a really pleasant surprise for us and ended up being one of our favorites. We had just finished hiking Cathedral rock, exhausted from the weekend’s activities, and were looking for something chill to get some mileage in. Right by our Airbnb, the Bell rock/Courthouse loop looked like it would be a nice, flat cool down for the day, and it was exactly that… flat. Parking at the Bell Rock Vista turn out, we started on the loop and then looked up to the right of us and thought “we want to be up there!” So much for a relaxing hike. We scrambled our way up to the highest point we could go without climbing shoes and were delightfully surprised at how much we enjoyed that hike. It had everything: the scramble, the mileage, and the views! We were so ecstatic by the hike that we decided it would be our sunrise hike on our last day in Sedona. This time we parked at the Courthouse parking turnout just before sunrise. We started a little later than we wanted and were on a mission. We charged to the top, just in time for one of the most beautiful sunrises I have seen. If you are looking for a place to take sunrise pictures, the lighting here is on point and not one to miss!
Best Hike #3: Devil’s Bridge
- Trail Information
- Location: 34.89185352325376, -111.82061404264729 (Parking)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 4.2 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 564 ft
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
- Best time of day: Sunrise
- Parking: Lot with limited spots and Parking Pass required
A large portion of this hike is going to be a road meant for high clearance 4 x 4 cars. You may see the occasional pink jeep tours pass by you or a giant raised truck. Eventually, you will come upon the entrance for the hike itself. Covered in trees, this is a good hike for those warm days. Ahead of you will be some natural staircases taking you up to the bridge that all the travel Instagrammers are posting. Unassuming from the approach, you won’t even notice the bridge until you get to the top even though the side of the bridge is visible from the trail, you won’t even realize it until the descent, after having stood on the Devil’s Bridge yourself. During peak seasons, be ready to wait as it is a popular hike and there will be a line to take the iconic picture on the bridge.
Best Hike #4: Soldier’s Pass
- Trail Information
- Location: 34.884886193647056, -111.78404379414275 (Trail Head)
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Distance: 4.1 Miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 620 ft
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
- Best time of day: Sunset
- Parking: Lot with limited spots and Parking Pass required
A beautiful out and back type of hike with three main attractions. First is the Devil’s Kitchen, one of Sedona’s largest sinkholes that is about 50 feet deep and still sinking. A little less than a mile further up the trail are the Seven Sacred Pools. Beautifully filled with water during the wetter months, but look like dry holes in the ground otherwise. Continue another mile to a slight right onto a small trail to get to the Cave. The Cave is an impressive sight to behold, rich in red color rocks. It doesn’t look like much from the outside but be sure to take the opportunity to explore the wonders of mother nature inside. You will not be disappointed. There is not much for shade on this hike and will get up to over 100 degrees in the hotter months so be sure to wear a lot of sunscreen and bring a hat!
Best Hike #5: Wilson Mountain
- Trail Information
- Location: 34.88635895446476, -111.74160566718679 (Midgley Bridge Parking and Trail Head)
- Difficulty: Hard/Strenuous
- Distance: 11.2 Miles Round Trip; 12.3 miles if you go to both outlooks
- Elevation Gain: 2,630 ft
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
- Best time of day: Sunrise or BEFORE Sunset
- Parking: Lot with minimal spots and Parking Pass required. Very few spaces and fills up quick
Prepare for an all-day adventure. This is a 6-hour hike if you go all the way to the top of the tallest mountain out in Sedona, Arizona. Bring TONS of water. We brought a gallon of water each, and by the end, we still felt a little dehydrated. There is little shade coverage for a good portion of the hike and depending on the time of day, the sun will be beating down on you. The higher you go, there will be more trees to protect you from the sun. Bring a lot of sunscreen as you are going to need to reapply periodically. As this is a long hike, you are also going to need more than just snacks. Bring actual food. We made a chicken sandwich for lunch and a peanut butter sandwich for a snack. Although the elevation gain is pretty gradual, you will need your wits about you as some spots are rocky and unsteady if you are not used to that kind of terrain. I am an active person and I burned about 1600 active calories on this hike alone. Trust me, you are going to need actual food on this hike, not just snacks. Wear comfortable hiking shoes. Up to 12.3 miles of hiking is no small feat.
There are two main viewpoints at the top of this hike. Near the top, you will reach a fork in the road. Going right will lead you to the [ ] lookout. This path is about a mile to the end to an alright lookout. We just went this way and back to add mileage to our hike. Going left is where the real gem is at. Left leads to the Sedona Lookout and is well worth the push. If you are feeling tuckered, take a little break at the 1st bench. Drink some water and eat some food because the view at the end is worth the effort. For getting to the top, you are rewarded with a stunning view of all of Sedona. It’s absolutely breathtaking. Sit a while, enjoy the view, take some pictures, and have a bite. The walk back is downhill and easier, but you still have a long way and need the rest. You’ll thank me later.
Best Hike #6: Birthing Cave
- Trail Information
- Location: Long Canyon Trailhead No. 122
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 2 Miles Round Trip
- Elevation Gain: 291 ft
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
- Best time of day: sunset
- Parking: No lot. Minimal parking on the side of the road. You will see the cars. If you reach a gate with a guard, you have gone too far. No Pass Required
We did this hike just before sunset and found it to be very mellow, with a short steep section at the end to get into the cave. It wasn’t quite what we expected from the photos we’ve seen all over Instagram and the internet. The cave itself is very wide and not very deep. To capture the full cave shot, you would need a wide lens, or if you don’t have one, a pano on the phone achieves similar results. Do be careful, the rock is slick in some spots, especially getting up to the acclaimed “belly button” everyone wants to go to for the best vantage point. I recommend this at the end of the day for some stunning sunset views. Although this is not a long or difficult hike, and whether or not you believe in the sacred powers of some of these areas, being in the birthing cave brings on an air of calm and serenity. Sitting in the back of the cave looking out, it’s like looking through a window into Sedona. Relax and take it all in.
What you NEED
- Many of the trailheads will conveniently have a parking lot, but they can fill up pretty fast. Also, a parking pass is needed in most spots. $5 for the day, $15 for a week. Some of the more major trailheads will have little kiosks where you can purchase a parking ticket for the whole area.
- Depending on when you go, it can get really warm and most of the trails do not have shade. Be sure to bring:
- Lots of water
- Sunscreen
- Snacks
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Hiking Shoes
- Camera
- Light Jacket – you never know with the desert air. Once the sun goes down, it can get pretty chilly.
Preparing to Hike Sedona
- Safety First! Hike with a buddy! Although some of these hikes can be easy, you never know what may happen
- Don’t skimp out on the water! It is always better to have more water than not enough
- Bring enough snacks! Hiking can be a strenuous activity and you will need fuel to keep you going
- Have fun and enjoy the views!
Recommended Gear
- Hat
- Hiking Shoes
- Hydration pack or water bottle
- Sun shirt
- Sunglasses
