Red Rock Pass Required at Most Sedona Trailheads
$5/vehicle/day or $15/vehicle/week. The America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) also works and is worth buying if you're visiting the Grand Canyon or other federal lands on the same trip. Available at trailhead kiosks, local outdoor stores, and recreation.gov. Parking without a pass risks a $100 citation.
Sedona has over 200 miles of maintained trails threading through red rock canyons, mesa tops, creek corridors, and vortex sites. The eight trails below represent the best-in-class across difficulty levels — from the flat Bell Rock loop accessible to anyone with working legs, to the exposed Cathedral Rock scramble that requires real hands-on-rock effort. Crowd logistics are included for each trail because arriving 90 minutes late on a peak weekend can mean a two-mile parking walk before you even start.
1. Bell Rock Pathway
Distance
1.5 mi loop
Difficulty
Easy
Pass
Not required
Best Time
Sunrise
The Lowdown Verdict: Best first hike in Sedona. Accessible to all fitness levels, vortex site, great for sunrise. No Red Rock Pass needed at the main Bell Rock Vista pullout.
Bell Rock Pathway circles the base of Bell Rock on a flat, well-maintained trail that is genuinely accessible to anyone who can walk a mile and a half. It's also one of the four vortex sites. The red rock formation is dramatic from every angle, and the early morning light (especially at sunrise) turns it amber-gold in a way that midday photos never capture. You can scramble partway up the sandstone flanks for better views — no technical gear needed for the lower sections.
The Bell Rock Vista parking pullout on AZ-179 does not require a Red Rock Pass — a useful exception. Connects seamlessly to Courthouse Butte Loop for a combined 3.5-mile hike if you want more distance. See things to do for the vortex site context.
2. Cathedral Rock Trail
Distance
1.5 mi RT (scramble)
Difficulty
Moderate–Hard
Pass
Required
Best Time
2pm for dusk
The Lowdown Verdict: Best views in Sedona. Creek crossing means wet feet. Go at dusk — the saddle between the towers at golden hour is extraordinary. Steep scramble to the top.
Cathedral Rock is Sedona's most photographed formation and the trail to the saddle is the most rewarding short hike in the area. The route from the Back O' Beyond Trailhead requires crossing Oak Creek — wet shoes are almost inevitable. The trail climbs steeply through sandstone notches to a saddle between the two main towers, with panoramic views over Oak Creek, the Verde Valley, and the surrounding formation cluster. Hands on rock required for the upper sections.
Back O' Beyond Trailhead on Verde Valley School Road. Red Rock Pass required. Arrive by 2pm to reach the saddle before golden hour — the dusk light on Cathedral Rock from the saddle is the defining Sedona experience. Bring a headlamp if you'll be descending after sunset. Wear shoes you can get wet.
3. Devil's Bridge Trail
Distance
4.2 mi RT
Difficulty
Moderate
Pass
Required
Best Time
Before 8am
The Lowdown Verdict: Most famous photo spot in Sedona. Start before 8am or expect crowds on the bridge. Jeep shuttles from town cut the distance to 1.8 miles if parking is full.
Devil's Bridge is the largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area — a 54-foot-wide span that you walk across for the classic Sedona photo. The 4.2-mile round-trip from the Dry Creek Road trailhead climbs 400 feet through red rock terrain on a well-maintained path. The bridge crossing requires a short exposed section — fine for anyone without a severe fear of heights, nerve-wracking if you do.
The Dry Creek Road trailhead (Red Rock Pass required) fills by 9am on weekends. Alternative: take a jeep shuttle from Uptown Sedona, which drops you closer and cuts the hiking distance to about 1.8 miles. Multiple operators run shuttles — check Viator or book a guided jeep tour that includes the trail.
4. Soldier Pass Trail
Distance
4 mi RT
Difficulty
Moderate
Pass
Required
Highlight
Devil's Kitchen sinkhole
The Lowdown Verdict: Most geologically interesting trail in Sedona — caves, sinkholes, a collapsed cavern. Limited parking means it's naturally less crowded. Go early.
Soldier Pass Trail passes three geological features found nowhere else in the Sedona trail system: the Seven Sacred Pools (eroded rock basins that hold water after rain), the Soldier Pass Cave (a large accessible overhang), and Devil's Kitchen — a 100-foot-wide, 65-foot-deep collapse sinkhole created when underground caverns gave way. The collapse happened in 1880 and the sinkhole continues to slowly expand.
Soldier Pass Road parking is limited — only about 15 spaces, and it fills fast. Red Rock Pass required. The natural parking constraint keeps crowds lower than other trails. Arrive by 7am on spring weekends or use the overflow parking area on nearby streets and add 0.5 miles walking each way.
5. Broken Arrow Trail
Distance
5.5 mi RT (foot)
Difficulty
Moderate
Pass
Required
Highlight
Chicken Point viewpoint
The Lowdown Verdict: Best for solitude. Also the trail Pink Jeep Tours uses — hike it and wave at the jeeps from above. Chicken Point is the best viewpoint on the trail.
Broken Arrow is a multi-use trail shared by hikers and OHV tours (including Pink Jeep Tours). For hikers, it provides access to Chicken Point — a dramatic sandstone promontory with a long-drop edge and 360° views into the canyon system. The terrain is surreal: deep red rock fins, sandy washes, and occasional pockets of pinyon pine. Less busy than Devil's Bridge despite comparable scenery.
Broken Arrow Trailhead off Morgan Road in the Village of Oak Creek. Red Rock Pass required. Note that jeep traffic on the lower sections can be dusty — morning hikes on weekdays offer the cleanest experience. The trail to Chicken Point and back is about 3 miles; the full route to the far turnaround is 5.5 miles.
6. Boynton Canyon Trail
Distance
6 mi RT
Difficulty
Moderate
Pass
Required
Season
Best in Oct–Nov
The Lowdown Verdict: Most serene vortex hike. Best fall foliage in Sedona. Enchantment Resort is at the trailhead — worth a coffee before or after.
Boynton Canyon Trail runs 3 miles into a narrowing red rock canyon before reaching the vortex meadow near the canyon head. The enclosed canyon walls create a stillness and scale that the open-view trails don't replicate. In late October and early November, the cottonwood trees at the canyon mouth turn gold — the best fall foliage in the Sedona area.
Trailhead at the end of Boynton Canyon Road, adjacent to Enchantment Resort. Red Rock Pass required. Note: the resort's private access road runs parallel to the first half-mile — stay on the marked public trail. Early weekday mornings in fall are ideal: lower crowds, cooler temperatures, and peak color.
7. West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon
Distance
6.4 mi RT
Difficulty
Easy–Moderate
Pass
Required ($11/car)
Season
Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
The Lowdown Verdict: Most lush and shaded trail in the Sedona area. Multiple creek crossings, narrowing slot canyon section. Extremely crowded June–August — go in spring or fall.
West Fork Trail follows a tributary of Oak Creek into a slot canyon with canyon walls rising 200 feet on both sides, cottonwood and sycamore canopy overhead, and 13 creek crossings (all ankle-depth in normal conditions). The environment is totally different from the open red rock trails — cool, shaded, and lush. The canyon section narrows dramatically in the final mile before becoming a technical scramble that most hikers turn around at.
Trailhead at Call of the Canyon day use area on AZ-89A (11 miles north of Sedona toward Flagstaff). $11/vehicle parking fee — different from the standard Red Rock Pass. Extremely popular June–August; arrive early or skip summer entirely. Best in late April (wildflowers), October (fall color). Near Flagstaff day trip route.
8. Munds Wagon Trail
Distance
5.3 mi RT
Difficulty
Moderate
Pass
Required
Crowd Level
Low
The Lowdown Verdict: Best long ridge hike for solitude. Panoramic views, significantly less crowded than other trails of the same quality. Underrated and undervisited.
Munds Wagon Trail climbs to a ridge above Sedona with continuous panoramic views of the surrounding red rock basin. The trail follows a historic wagon route used to move cattle between the valley floor and the Mogollon Rim above. It's one of the most scenic longer hikes in Sedona and consistently among the least crowded — most visitors concentrate on the shorter, more famous trails.
Trailhead off Schnebly Hill Road near the Village of Oak Creek. Red Rock Pass required. Moderate elevation gain over 2.6 miles — not technical, but sustained. Good choice for experienced day hikers who want solitude. Combine with Schnebly Hill Trail for a loop option.
Sedona Jeep & Guided Hike Tours
Pink Jeep Broken Arrow tour, guided vortex hikes, and jeep shuttle services to Devil's Bridge and other trailheads.
Affiliate link — we earn a small commission at no cost to you.
GPS Audio Tours
Explore the vortex circuit at your own pace with GPS-triggered narration at each stop. No guide needed.
See Sedona Audio Tours →Frequently Asked Questions
Trail Deep-Dive Guides
55 trail deep-dives for Sedona's most-visited and most-hidden hikes — trailhead access, crowd timing, gear, FAQs, and the honest difficulty picture.
Hard · 5.4 mi RT · Free / No Pass
Casner Canyon Trail →
Locals-only 1,400 ft descent into Oak Creek Canyon — AZ-89A pullout near MM 376, no sign, no pass, brutal climb out, Oct–Apr only.
Moderate · 5.4 mi RT · Free / No Pass
HS Canyon Trail →
Hidden riparian spur off Secret Canyon — FR-152 high-clearance access, oak/pine shade, ~10 cars/day even on peak weekends, no pass.
Easy · 1.7 mi loop · Free / No Pass
Cibola Pass Trail →
Walk-up backup when Soldier Pass permit lot is full — Sanborn Dr free street parking, family-friendly, links to Soldier Pass + Brins Mesa + Jordan.
Easy · 1.6 mi RT · Free / No Pass
Cow Pies Trail →
Schnebly Hill Rd mesa sunrise pick — cow-pie sandstone formations, free pullout ~10 spots, Cathedral Rock + Munds Mt vortex view, gated Nov–Mar.
Easy-Mod · 3.0 mi RT · Free / No Pass
Submarine Rock Trail →
Walkable 50-ft slickrock formation — free Schnebly Hill Rd shoulder lot, sunset photographers' pick, less crowded than Devil's Bridge.
Easy-Mod · 2.4 mi RT · Free / No Pass
Pyramid Trail →
Most-overlooked West Sedona loop — Posse Grounds free city lot, MTB-shared, combines with Old Post + Adobe Jack for a 4-mi circuit.
Moderate · 4.4 mi RT · Red Rock Pass
Jack's Canyon Trail →
East Sedona sandstone canyon hike via Page Springs Rd — seasonal creek, pinyon-juniper shade, far fewer crowds than SR-179 corridor.
Moderate · 3.4 mi RT · Free / No Pass
Baldwin Trail →
Creek-side back route to Cathedral Rock saddle — free Verde Valley School Rd pullout, Oak Creek crossing, sunset light from the west face.
Easy-Mod · 1.7 mi loop · Free / No Pass
Llama Trail →
Walk-up alternative to permit-required Soldier Pass — Sanborn Dr free street parking, Cibola Pass connector to Devil's Kitchen and Seven Sacred Pools.
Easy-Mod · 2.4 mi RT · Free / No Pass
Mystic Trail →
Cathedral Rock north-side photo angle most Chapel of the Holy Cross visitors miss — free Chapel Rd parking, Mystic Vista mid-route overlook.
Easy · 1.8 mi RT · Free / No Pass
Old Post Trail →
Free in-town family hike — Posse Grounds Park city lot (NO Red Rock Pass), jogging-stroller friendly first half, dog walker favorite.
Easy-Mod · 4.4 mi RT · Free / No Pass
Adobe Jack Trail →
West Sedona MTB-shared feeder trail — Jordan Rd free city lot, hike before 8 AM weekends to beat MTB rush, connects to Pyramid + Soldier Wash.
Easy-Mod · 3.8 mi RT · Red Rock Pass
Little Horse Trail →
Family-friendly Chicken Point alternative to Broken Arrow — ~50-car SR-179 lot vs Soldier Pass 14-spot permit, Chapel views, Pink Jeep timing tips.
Mod-Hard · 3.5 mi RT · Red Rock Pass
HiLine Trail →
Sedona's most-photographed MTB trail, hikeable on weekday mornings — cliff-edge slickrock bench, Yavapai Vista TH, real exposure mile 1–2.5.
Easy-Mod · 2.7 mi loop · No Pass / Free
Twin Buttes Trail →
Cathedral Rock photo angle most Chapel of the Holy Cross visitors miss — free Chapel TH lot (~20 cars), saddle composition, sunset window.
Easy-Mod · 4.4 mi loop · No Pass / Free
Carroll Canyon Trail →
West Sedona local pick — Posse Grounds Park free city lot, NO Red Rock Pass, lowest-elevation winter escape when slickrock is icy.
Easy-Mod · 15 mi P2P · $7 State Park Fee
Lime Kiln Trail →
Verde Valley low-elevation winter escape — stays clear when Sedona slickrock is icy, Dead Horse Ranch SP basecamp, MTB-primary but hikeable first 5 mi.
Easy-Mod · 7.4 mi RT · Free (No Red Rock Pass)
Bell Trail – Wet Beaver Creek →
30 min south via I-17 exit 298 — hike to The Crack swimming hole, free day use, ~60-car lot fills by 8 AM summer. Not a Sedona trailhead.
Moderate · 4.8 mi loop · Red Rock Pass
Aerie Trail →
Boynton Pass loop with slickrock-to-ponderosa transition — 700 ft gain, far less crowded than Bell Rock, ~30-car lot fills by 9 AM.
Easy-Mod · 5.6 mi RT · Red Rock Pass
Chuckwagon Trail →
Dry Creek Vista TH off Long Canyon Rd — Mescal Mountain panoramas, MTB-shared, ~20-car lot fills by 9 AM, family-friendly pace.
Easy-Mod · 1.1 mi loop · No Pass / Free
Sugarloaf Loop Trail →
West Sedona local sunset pick — free street parking, 360° views of Capitol Butte & Coffee Pot Rock, no Red Rock Pass.
Easy-Mod · 1.8 mi RT · Red Rock Pass
Wilson Canyon Trail →
Best Midgley Bridge view from below — west-canyon shade until 1 PM, seasonal water Mar–May, connects to Wilson Mountain Trail.
Easy · 0.6 mi loop · $12 day-use (no AtB)
Allen's Bend Trail →
Sedona's best ADA trail — paved first 0.3 mi, Oak Creek wading at end, Wilson Mountain view. America the Beautiful NOT accepted.
Easy-Mod · 1.7 mi RT · Red Rock Pass
Marg's Draw Trail →
Named for 1940s local Marg Crandall — cairn-marked brush section past mile 0.6, Mitten Ridge sunset views, family-friendly Schnebly Hill alternative.
Easy-Moderate · 5.4 mi RT · FR-152
Secret Canyon Trail →
Hidden riparian canyon off FR-152 — seasonal stream Mar–May, oak-sycamore shade, far from crowds.
Easy-Moderate · 5.5 mi loop · No Pass
Thunder Mountain Trail →
West Sedona local favorite — Capitol Butte loop, no Red Rock Pass, 15-car residential lot.
Moderate · 5.0 mi RT · Creek Crossings
Huckaby Trail →
Only trail with a below-bridge view of Midgley Bridge — 20–40 hikers/day, two Oak Creek crossings.
Hard · 8.4 mi loop · High Exposure
Hangover Trail →
Slickrock notch with 40-ft drop at mile 2.8 — no rails, not for vertigo, best Oct–Apr.
Hard · 4.9 mi RT · 2,000 ft
Bear Mountain Trail →
Four false summits, steep slickrock, 360° ridge views to San Francisco Peaks. Lot fills by 9 AM.
Easy-Moderate · 3.4 mi RT · No Pass
Vultee Arch Trail →
80-ft arch via FR-152 Sterling Canyon — no Red Rock Pass required, unmarked slickrock finish.
Moderate-Hard · 1.9 mi RT · 1,000 ft
Cookstove Trail →
Oak Creek Canyon east-rim switchback climb to Mogollon Rim at 6,400 ft — 6-car pullout, uncrowded.
Easy · 2.4 mi RT · Family · Hiker/MTB
Mescal Trail →
Best views-to-effort ratio in Sedona — rolling slickrock, 150 ft gain, paved 30-car lot.
Moderate · 4.2 mi RT
Devil's Bridge Trail →
Sedona's most photographed hike — 54-foot natural arch, crowd strategy, shuttle vs driving.
Hard · 1.5 mi RT
Cathedral Rock Trail →
742 ft of slickrock scramble, creek crossing, vortex notch, and Sedona's best earned view.
Easy · 1.8 mi RT · Free parking
Bell Rock Trail →
Sedona's most accessible iconic hike — free parking, year-round, upflow vortex site.
Easy–Moderate · 7.0 mi RT
West Fork Oak Creek →
Sedona's most beautiful canyon walk — 13 creek crossings, fall foliage hub, $12 day-use fee.
Moderate · 4.5 mi RT · 14 spots
Soldier Pass Trail →
7 arches, Devil's Kitchen sinkhole, Seven Sacred Pools, and a cave you can stand inside.
Easy–Moderate · 6.2 mi RT
Boynton Canyon Trail →
Vortex hike past Kachina Woman through Enchantment Resort to a box-canyon dead end.
Moderate · 2.7 mi RT · Sunset
Broken Arrow Trail →
Chicken Point sunset overlook — Pink Jeep tour overlap and how to time around it.
Strenuous · 8 mi RT · Quiet
Munds Wagon Trail →
The 1902 Schnebly wagon road to the rim — Sedona's quietest big-view hike, 2,000 ft of climb.
Easy · 0.3 mi Swim Loop · $30 Weekend
Slide Rock State Park →
Sedona's natural waterslide in Oak Creek Canyon — water shoes required, $30 weekend parking.
Moderate · 4WD Required · Free
Schnebly Hill Road Viewpoint →
4WD/high-clearance road to Sedona's widest panoramic viewpoint — first 0.5 mi walkable for 2WD.
Easy · $7/Adult · No Dogs
Red Rock State Park →
Best family trails and birding in Sedona — Eagle's Nest, Coyote Ridge, Oak Creek bird corridor.
Easy · 2.5 mi RT · Hidden Arch
Fay Canyon Trail →
Sedona's easiest "real" canyon walk — flat, shaded, with a hidden arch most hikers miss.
Moderate · 1.7 mi RT · Sunset
Doe Mountain Trail →
Fastest mesa-top sunset hike in Sedona — 360° views, walk the entire rim once you're up.
Easy-Moderate · 6.4 mi RT
Long Canyon Trail →
The under-the-radar Boynton alternative — same vortex energy, half the crowds, no resort gauntlet.
Hard · 4.6 mi RT · 1,100 ft
Sterling Pass Trail →
Oak Creek Canyon's quietest climb — unsigned trailhead, sustained 18% grade, links to Vultee Arch.
Moderate · 4.0 mi RT · 600 ft
Brins Mesa Trail →
Walk-from-Uptown mesa rim — 360° views, Jordan Trailhead lot fills 9 AM, links Soldier Pass network.
Hard · 5.6 mi RT · 2,300 ft
Wilson Mountain Trail →
Sedona's highest summit at 7,122 ft — First Bench false summit, full-day commitment, lot fills 8 AM.
Easy-Moderate · 5.6 mi RT
Templeton Trail →
Bell Rock to Cathedral Rock connector — alternate Cathedral approach, cairned slickrock crossing.
Easy-Moderate · 1.0 mi RT to cave
Robber's Roost Trail →
Hidden sandstone cave off Loy Butte Road — high-clearance access, cattle-rustler legend, uncrowded.
Easy · 4.2 mi loop · 200 ft
Courthouse Butte Loop →
Easiest "real Sedona" loop — pair with Bell Rock for a vortex day, slickrock cairns east side, no traffic noise.
Hard · 5.4 mi RT · 2,000 ft
AB Young Trail →
Bootlegger CG to East Pocket Knob fire lookout (7,196 ft) — ~30 switchbacks, lot fills 8 AM, no Red Rock Pass.
Hard · 6.2 mi RT · 1,800 ft
Munds Mountain Trail →
Back-door 6,825 ft summit via Schnebly Hill Rd — 4WD-required Apr–Nov, gate closed Nov–Mar adds 4 mi.
Hard · 9.4 mi RT · 1,800 ft
Loy Canyon Trail →
Longest under-the-radar climb in west Sedona — Secret Mountain rim views over Sycamore Wilderness.
Trail Resources
Planning Guide · Free
Permits & Passes Guide →
Red Rock Pass ($5/day), America the Beautiful ($80/year), Soldier Pass advance booking, West Fork fees — every fee and permit explained.
Updated April 2026 · Monthly Series
Trail Conditions — April 2026 →
Current status on Devil's Bridge, West Fork, Soldier Pass, Cathedral Rock, and Schnebly Hill — wildflower bloom, rattlesnake advisory, and gate openings.