When researching the best hikes in Sedona, you will find a massive amount of articles telling you the 10 or 15 best hikes in Sedona. No one gives you any advice on which hikes you can fit into one day and have the best experience possible. Let me fill that gap for you and tell you which three hikes are our favorite, together with some tips on how to avoid the crowds.
I recommend you to do the Devil’s Bridge, Bell Rock, and Cathedral Rock hike. Each takes about 1.5-2 hours. As they are also amongst the more popular hikes, I recommend you to hike them in the early morning to skip some crowds. If your timing allows it, consider doing the Devil’s Bridge hike in the evening for some fantastic lighting.
Let’s go into detail about our stay in Sedona, what you should know about the parking at each trailhead, and the hikes themselves.
This article covers days 3-4 of our 15-day road trip itinerary through the Southwest of the US and California. Click on the yellow 'Show Entire Route' tab, to view our in-depth guides to each stop for an even greater insight for your own road trip through the Southwest and California.
Devil’s Bridge hike at sunset
For you to get the entire scoop, please check out my article about the highlights of the drive from Joshua Tree to Sedona. We arrived in Sedona in the late afternoon, just in time for that gorgeous evening light, and were absolutely amazed seeing the deep red colors of the surrounding stone up close. We decided to use the evening hours for our first hike in the area to Devil’s Bridge.
When arriving at the Parking Lot, you will notice that you cannot pull up all the way to the trailhead unless you have a 4x4.
You have two options to get to the trailhead. You either plan a bit more time and hike parts of the Chuck Wagon Trail from the parking lot to the Devil’s Bridge trailhead, or you walk down the very bumpy and not so pretty Dry Creek Road.
We got lucky and hitched a ride with one of the passing 4x4s. Plan at least 30 minutes walking from the parking lot to the actual trailhead. The trail itself is only 0.8 miles (1.3 km) one way and will take another 30 minutes and will allow you views over Red Rock Country from different angles.
The Devil’s Bridge itself looks scarier on pictures and from afar than it is when you are actually standing on it. 😉 Even being there at the popular sunset hour, we didn’t experience it as overcrowded. There were about ten to fifteen people with us at the bridge, and we helped each other with taking that famous photo.
We were somewhat surprised and delighted that most travelers in Sedona were Americans discovering their own country and not so many Internationals.
Exploring Bell Rock in the morning
After waking up to the rippling sounds of the small creek next to our campsite, we ventured out for our next small hike at the famous Bell Rock.
Should you want to do Bell Rock, it is crucial that you get there in the morning to snatch a parking spot, as they are limited, and Bell Rock is very popular. In fact, there are two different parking areas, one north and the other one south of Bell Rock, and you can reach it from either side. In general, we would suggest you do all of your hikes in the Southwest in the morning, as it is the mildest time of the day before the heat takes over.
What we enjoyed most about Bell Rock is the freedom and flexibility it offers. We chose not to follow a typical trail hike but head straight to Bell Rock itself and explore it by climbing up. We were astonished that a place like this exists in the US, meaning a lack of security and signs that warn you about not falling off.
There are no warning signs and you will see people finding their own way up the rock. Some went even all the way up to the tallest part. The beauty here is that you can be completely alone and find your spot to enjoy the views and tranquillity. All in all, we spend a good hour on and around Bell Rock.
Now don't get me wrong. There are multiple trails around Bell Rock that are all probably absolutely worth hiking, but as mentioned in the intro, you can't do and see it all, so you need to choose between some highlights or calculate the time spent in one place differently.
Cathedral Rock – not for the faint-hearted
A short ten-minute drive further north, we found a parking spot at the trailhead of the yet again famous Cathedral Rock. The same as for the Bell Rock applies for the Cathedral Rock, there are no warning signs or closed off areas on this hike. I absolutely recommend you to wear proper hiking shoes and not just running shoes, as this hike is challenging, due to its steepness. It also requires some technical hiking know-how, like knowing how to place your next step and keeping your weight slightly to the front uphill and close to the rock. This hike is the most challenging of the three and should not be done when suffering from fear of heights.
The trail starts with a steep stair-like climb onto the basis of the rock formation. It keeps going straight up an open slickrock slope, and you will find yourself literally climbing up the rock on all four at times. It is only 1,2 miles (1,9 km) long but climbs 227 meters in altitude in that short amount of time. As it was our second stop, we only go there at 10:30 am. There were a bit more people than at Bell Rock but still not overcrowded, and at the end of the trail, we were completely alone.
The views are incredible and totally worth the effort!
Which campground to choose around Sedona
We stayed at the Lo Lo Mai Springs Campground south of Sedona, as we liked the idea of staying right next to a creek secluded in a forest after the previous days in the desert. It is located about twenty minutes south of Sedona in the Red Rock State Park. We were able to choose the campsite we liked and found an available one next to the creek. The campground offers the necessary amenities, clean toilets and showers and even a pool, which we did not use.
The drive to Bell Rock was about 30 minutes, which allowed us to loop around the other side of the Red Rock State Park and take in more stunning views.
The artsy downtown of Sedona
When heading to Sedona for the first time, you should, of course, also check out the downtown area. Besides the one of a kind red rock formations and uncountable hiking options, Sedona is also known for its artsy scene. Downtown is worth a short stroll, either to browse the shops or to take a quick bite or drink. There is free parking on and around the main street.
What impressed us most about Sedona
In all honesty still today, we take Sedona as an example when talking about how human architecture and nature can blend at its best. For us, it was impressive to see what is possible when putting nature first and respecting it in every aspect of architecture.
You might wonder now what is she talking about. Take a look at the pictures above. You really have to look for the houses and only on second sight do you notice them. All buildings are built in the same red color as the natural rocks and simply blend in perfectly.
We left Sedona around 1 pm to continue our road trip to the Grand Canyon. In total, we didn't even spend a full 24h hours in Red Rock Country. We felt satisfied that we had discovered and indulged in a natural gem and did not have the feeling that we missed out on anything. So it was time for us to keep on driving.
Depending on your timing split the hikes up to evening and morning, like we did, to enjoy less crowds, cooler temperatures and better lighting. Should you not want to overnight in Sedona, you can absolutely do these three hikes in one day.
Flagstaff and its Route 66 vibes
On the stretch from Sedona to the Grand Canyon, follow the 89A north for some magnificent stretches of road. You ought to stop in Flagstaff (about one hour north of Sedona). It has a population of about 75,000 and is often called 'The City of Seven Wonders' due to its perfect location surrounded by natural attractions, monuments, and National Parks. Route 66 cuts through Flagstaff and simply gives any road trip through the US a special touch, whether you want to admit it or not. 😇
It has a cute town center with some charming shops and a historic railway station.
Take the US Highway 180 north from Flagstaff and be prepared for some first-class road trip cruising until you hit the 64 and soon the entrance to the Grand Canyon National Park. From Flagstaff, this route will take you about 1,5 hours.
Curious about how our trip continued and what great adventures lay ahead of us? Continue to our ultimate guide to campervanning the Grand Canyon for two nights.
Would you like to do the same three hikes, or do you have different favorites? Please share your ideas and experience with us in the comments below.
