Best Day Hikes in Sedona

The Best Day Hikes in Sedona

While visiting family in Arizona in May, 2015, we took some time to explore Sedona and the surrounding area. One of the common tourist attractions in Sedona is the pink jeep tour that provides off-road sight-seeing opportunities from the comfort of a pink jeep. Since we had already rented our own off-road vehicle (a black Prius) we didn’t give the pink jeeps a second thought. We found that a combination of our rental Prius and our own two feet was a perfectly effective and extremely energy efficient way to see all that Sedona had to offer. The following is a summary of the best day hikes in Sedona.

1. Cathedral Rock (trail map)

Our first stop was Cathedral Rock, one of the most popular hikes in the Sedona area. The hike was short (1.5 miles up and back) but relatively steep.  There is no tree cover on the trail so the views of the surrounding red rocks are completely unobstructed throughout the hike. It was unseasonably cool for the area but we could imagine that the heat could get oppressive on a typical summer afternoon without any protection from the Arizona sun. The trail ends at the saddles of Cathedral Rock where there are plenty of opportunities to tip-toe along the edges of sheer cliffs (which seems to have become a theme of many of our trips). Rattlesnakes are common in this area, and while we didn’t see any, a fellow hiker told us that he almost stepped on one on his way up.

2. Devil’s Bridge (trail map)

Our second hike of the day was the Devil’s Bridge trail. It turned out that our Prius was not able to handle the rugged off-road drive to Devil’s Bridge parking area so instead we had to begin our hike from the parking lot on Long Canyon Road. This added one mile each way to the hike making it a total of 4 miles round-trip. The hike was much more shaded than Cathedral Rock so we were not rewarded with the views until later in the hike. The final stretch of the trail was a steep climb that ended at Devil’s Bridge itself, where we would again have the pleasure of standing on a narrow piece of rock with deadly drops on both sides. There were several other people at the bridge when we arrived and everyone was taking turns walking out to the middle to get pictures. The middle of the bridge was surprisingly narrow, but we mustered up the courage to stand out there long enough to get a decent picture.

3. Boynton Canyon Trail

The Boynton Canyon trail offers wonderful views of the canyon floor and unique desert plants like Arizona cypress and manzanita, and is considered a sacred place by some Indigenous groups. About 2.5 mi in, there’s an option to turn right and climb up to the Subway Cave — an absolutely gorgeous cave and famous photo spot with views over the valley. At around 6 miles round trip, it’s one of the longer options but the payoff is worth it.

4. Soldier Pass Trail

Soldier Pass offers stunning views of natural wonders, including Devil’s Kitchen — a sinkhole formed by the collapse of underground caverns — and the Seven Sacred Pools, small pools carved into the rock in a striking desert setting. The trail is relatively easy for the first 2 miles before venturing into a more remote stretch with a few hundred feet of elevation gain up to the Soldiers Pass Caves. Be aware that the parking lot is tiny, so an early start is strongly recommended.

5. West Fork Trail (Oak Creek Canyon)

This easy trail meanders along Oak Creek and is a much different experience than Sedona’s exposed red rock hikes — shady and quiet, with the creek having carved out stunning canyon walls along the way. In some places it resembles the Subway in Zion National Park, and because you’re in the shade of the trees, it’s a great option on a hot day. At 6 miles round trip, it’s accessible for most fitness levels and particularly good for families. Not to mention, Oak Creek Canyon is a beautiful scenic drive.

General tips: Bring more water than you think you’ll need, as Sedona gets hot and shade is limited on most trails. A Red Rock Pass ($5/day) is required for trailhead parking, though the America the Beautiful annual pass is accepted at most trailheads. When in doubt, use the Sedona Shuttle to avoid parking headaches at the most popular trailheads.