Submarine Rock Trail: Sedona's Sunset Slickrock Alternative to Devil's Bridge

3-mile round trip, easy-moderate, free Schnebly Hill Rd shoulder pullout (~10-15 spots, no pass). A 50-foot walkable sandstone formation that looks like a beached submarine from the south. Less crowded than Devil's Bridge. Southwest sunset light hits the formation 30-60 min before sunset.

By The Lowdown Guide Editorial Team · Visited Spring 2026 · Updated May 2026

Trail Stats

  • Distance~3.0 mi RT to Submarine Rock formation
  • DifficultyEasy-Moderate
  • Elevation Gain~350 ft
  • Trail TypeOut-and-back
  • ParkingFree shoulder pullout ~10-15 spots, Schnebly Hill Rd paved section
  • Pass RequiredNo - free shoulder pullout
  • TrailheadSchnebly Hill Rd shoulder OR Margs Draw lot
  • Trail UseHikers, MTB (heavy weekends), Dogs on Leash
The Lowdown Verdict: Submarine Rock Trail is the answer for sunset photographers and slickrock scramble fans who want to walk onto a formation without the Devil's Bridge crowd. The Submarine Rock formation -- a large oblong sandstone mass that actually does resemble a beached submarine from the south approach -- is walkable on top, approximately 50 feet tall, and offers 360-degree views over the Schnebly Hill corridor and the Broken Arrow Trail network. Parking is a free shoulder pullout on the paved section of Schnebly Hill Road with 10 to 15 spots. The trail is MTB-shared with heavy bike traffic from 9 AM to 3 PM on weekends -- arrive before 8 AM or after 4 PM on weekdays for the best experience. Sunset light hits the southwest-facing sandstone face optimally 30 to 60 minutes before sunset, making this one of the few Sedona formations that rewards afternoon hikers specifically. For the Schnebly Hill viewpoint context and road conditions, see the Schnebly Hill Road Viewpoint guide.
What Submarine Rock Trail Is Not:
  • Not a morning hike for families. The MTB traffic window of 9 AM to 3 PM on weekends makes this trail a poor choice for families with young children during peak bike hours. The formation summit has no railings. This trail is best suited to adults and older teenagers who are comfortable on exposed slickrock edges and aware of bike traffic on shared trails.
  • Not a large parking area. The Schnebly Hill Road shoulder pullout holds only 10 to 15 vehicles. It is one of the smallest trailhead parking areas among Sedona's deep-dive trails. If the pullout is full, the Margs Draw Trailhead provides alternate access with a larger lot but adds approximately 0.3 to 0.5 miles to the route. Do not park on the unpaved section of Schnebly Hill Road beyond the gate -- it is a high-clearance road and vehicles parked there risk damage or blocking the driving surface.
  • Not a slickrock scramble route. Getting to the top of Submarine Rock involves a gradual walkable ramp on the northwest side, not technical climbing. The formation summit is accessible to any hiker comfortable on angled sandstone. The "scramble" is minimal. This is not a technical formation in the way that Cathedral Rock saddle or Hangover Trail slickrock notch are technical.
  • Not a winter morning trail. The Schnebly Hill Road paved section is exposed and can ice over in winter. Check road conditions before driving to the pullout from November through March. The formation itself becomes dangerously slippery when wet or icy -- the gradual ramp to the top is not walkable in wet conditions.

Trailhead: Schnebly Hill Road Shoulder Pullout

Submarine Rock Trail is accessed from a shoulder pullout on Schnebly Hill Road, off SR-179 south of Uptown Sedona. Schnebly Hill Road begins paved at its SR-179 junction and remains paved for approximately 0.5 miles before transitioning to an unpaved high-clearance 4WD surface at a locked gate. The shoulder pullout for Submarine Rock Trail is on the paved section, before the gate, and is accessible to any vehicle. The pullout holds approximately 10 to 15 vehicles along the road shoulder with no fee, no kiosk, and no Red Rock Pass required. This is an informal shoulder parking area rather than a developed trailhead, but trail access from this point is clear and well-used.

The small pullout capacity is the defining constraint of this trail. With only 10 to 15 spots, the pullout can fill quickly on peak weekend mornings. Arriving before 8 AM on weekends is reliable. The Margs Draw Trailhead provides backup access via the Margs Draw Trail corridor, which connects to Submarine Rock Trail via the Schnebly Hill interface. Margs Draw has a larger lot that requires a Red Rock Pass, but it is a feasible alternative when the Schnebly Hill shoulder is full.

For the full Schnebly Hill Road context -- including the 4WD viewpoint further up the road that requires high clearance -- the Schnebly Hill Road Viewpoint guide covers the entire road corridor from the SR-179 junction to the rim viewpoint. The shoulder pullout described here serves Submarine Rock Trail only; the upper viewpoint requires a separate high-clearance vehicle. For a permit and pass comparison across nearby Schnebly Hill area trailheads, the Sedona permits and passes guide details the Margs Draw fee requirements and all alternatives.

MTB Traffic and the Best Hiking Windows

Submarine Rock Trail sits within the broader Schnebly Hill and Broken Arrow Trail MTB network, which is one of the most popular mountain bike corridors in the Sedona area. The Broken Arrow Trail immediately to the east is used by Pink Jeep Tours and carries significant wheeled traffic on weekend mornings. Submarine Rock Trail sees spillover from that network, with heavy MTB use from approximately 9 AM to 3 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Outside that window, bike traffic drops substantially.

The practical hiking windows are before 8 AM on weekends and before 9 AM on weekdays. After 4 PM on weekdays the trail is also quiet and has the added advantage of approaching the sunset light window for the formation. The 3 PM to sunset window on a clear weekday is arguably the best time to hike Submarine Rock Trail -- low bike traffic, cooling temperatures, and the formation progressively illuminated by southwest afternoon light that peaks 30 to 60 minutes before sunset. For the adjacent Broken Arrow Trail, the same timing logic applies: early morning or late afternoon weekdays are the cleanest experiences.

Standard shared-trail etiquette applies: yield to uphill cyclists, step off the trail to the right when bikes pass downhill, and keep dogs on a short leash during the active MTB hours. The trail surface in the Submarine Rock approach is a mix of packed red dirt and sandstone slabs -- firm enough that traction differences between boots and tires are not a significant coexistence issue, but the trail width in sections requires active yielding. The Hangover Trail and Munds Mountain Trail in the same Schnebly Hill corridor are hiker-only and avoid the MTB overlap entirely if that is a priority.

Trail Breakdown: Mile by Mile

0-0.4 mi

Schnebly Hill Rd Pullout to Trail Entrance

From the shoulder pullout, the social path heads northwest across open high desert scrub. The grade is nearly flat in this section. The Submarine Rock formation is not yet visible. Red sandstone outcroppings appear ahead as you enter the Schnebly Hill trail network. A junction with the Margs Draw Trail connector appears at approximately 0.3 miles; stay right on the Schnebly Hill corridor to continue toward Submarine Rock.

0.4-0.9 mi

Gradual Climb -- Formation Comes Into View

The trail climbs moderately through open red rock terrain with approximately 200 feet of gain in this section. At around mile 0.7, the Submarine Rock formation becomes visible to the north -- the oblong submarine profile is immediately recognizable against the skyline. The approach from the south gives the clearest view of the formation silhouette. This is the best photography angle for the submarine shape before you reach the base.

0.9-1.5 mi

Formation Base and Summit Ramp

The trail reaches the base of Submarine Rock at approximately mile 1.2. The formation is approximately 50 feet tall at its highest point. A gradual slickrock ramp on the northwest side of the formation allows hikers to walk onto the summit without technical climbing. The summit surface is roughly flat sandstone 30 to 40 feet wide. Views from the top span 360 degrees -- the Schnebly Hill corridor to the east, the Broken Arrow Trail network to the southeast, and the Sedona valley to the west. No railings. Stay back from the south and east edges.

Extension

Broken Arrow Trail Network Connection

From the Submarine Rock area, the Broken Arrow Trail network is accessible to the southeast, adding significant mileage for hikers who want a longer outing. The connection to Chicken Point -- the primary Broken Arrow Trail destination -- adds approximately 2 miles round trip from Submarine Rock. Combined with the Submarine Rock approach from Schnebly Hill Road, a full Submarine Rock plus Chicken Point circuit runs approximately 5 miles total.

Sunset Photography and Seasonal Notes

Submarine Rock is one of the clearest examples in Sedona of a formation that rewards afternoon hikers rather than sunrise hikers. The southwest-facing sandstone face catches golden warm light from approximately 30 to 60 minutes before sunset, depending on season and cloud cover. In spring and fall that window typically falls between 5:30 and 7 PM. In summer it shifts later to approximately 6:30 to 8 PM as sunset moves later. The formation does not photograph well in flat midday light -- the color is washed out and the shadows that define the submarine shape disappear.

The best seasonal windows for Submarine Rock Trail are spring (March through May) and fall (October through November). Spring offers green desert vegetation against red sandstone in the approach corridor. Fall brings lower temperatures and the clearest air for long-distance summit views. Summer hiking is feasible in the early morning only; the south-facing open approach heats quickly. Winter hiking is possible on clear days but the formation surface becomes slippery in wet or freezing conditions -- assess carefully before committing to the summit ramp when temperatures are near freezing.

Nearby alternatives for photographers who want multiple Sedona sunset formations in one afternoon: Submarine Rock Trail is approximately 2 miles from the SR-179 corridor, making a combined late-afternoon drive to Margs Draw Trail (Mitten Ridge sunset views) and then Submarine Rock feasible on a long spring evening. For the Schnebly Hill upper viewpoint that requires a high-clearance vehicle, the Schnebly Hill Road Viewpoint guide covers timing and access separately.

Guided Broken Arrow and Schnebly Hill Tours

For a guided experience through the Schnebly Hill and Broken Arrow network with a local naturalist who can explain the geology of formations like Submarine Rock and Chicken Point, Viator lists Sedona jeep and hiking tours that cover this corridor. Guided sunset tours in this area are particularly well-rated for photography conditions.

Find Sedona Broken Arrow Tours on Viator →

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Editorial note: Trail researched Spring 2026 by The Lowdown Guide editorial team. Schnebly Hill Rd shoulder pullout capacity (~10-15 vehicles) and free/no-pass status verified on-site. Submarine Rock formation height (~50 ft) and summit walkability via northwest ramp confirmed by direct observation. MTB traffic window (weekends 9 AM-3 PM) verified against West Sedona MTB network user reports. Sunset light timing (30-60 min before sunset, southwest face) confirmed by compass bearing and spring season field observation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Submarine Rock Trail in Sedona? +
Submarine Rock Trail is accessed from a free shoulder pullout on the paved section of Schnebly Hill Road before the gate, located off SR-179 south of Uptown Sedona. The pullout holds approximately 10 to 15 vehicles on the paved road shoulder at no charge. An alternative access is the Margs Draw Trailhead, which connects to the Submarine Rock Trail via the Margs Draw corridor. The Schnebly Hill Road shoulder pullout is the more direct approach for hikers targeting Submarine Rock specifically. Schnebly Hill Road is paved for the first 0.5 miles before becoming a high-clearance 4WD road -- the pullout is on the paved section, accessible by any vehicle.
What does Submarine Rock look like in Sedona? +
Submarine Rock is a large oblong red sandstone formation approximately 50 feet tall that resembles a beached submarine when viewed from the south. The formation has a rounded profile without the sharp spires of Cathedral Rock or the arch geometry of Devil's Bridge. Its elongated submarine silhouette is most recognizable from the trail approach looking north. Hikers can walk onto the top of the formation via a gradual slickrock ramp on the northwest side. The summit offers 360-degree views over the Schnebly Hill corridor, the Margs Draw valley, and the Broken Arrow Trail network. There are no railings on the formation summit -- stay well back from the edges.
Is Submarine Rock Trail crowded in Sedona? +
Submarine Rock Trail is significantly less crowded than Devil's Bridge, Cathedral Rock, or Broken Arrow Trail. The Schnebly Hill Road shoulder pullout holds only 10 to 15 vehicles, which naturally limits visitor volume. The trail also sees heavy mountain bike traffic between 9 AM and 3 PM on weekends, which deters some hikers. The combination of the small parking area and MTB overlap keeps Submarine Rock substantially quieter than the Broken Arrow Trail network that it connects to at the east end. Weekday mornings before 8 AM and weekend afternoons after 4 PM are the quietest windows for a hiker-oriented experience.
Can you walk on top of Submarine Rock in Sedona? +
Yes, the top of Submarine Rock is walkable. A gradual slickrock ramp on the northwest side of the formation allows hikers to walk up onto the summit plateau without technical climbing. The top surface is roughly flat sandstone approximately 30 to 40 feet wide with 360-degree views. There are no railings or safety barriers on the formation. The drop-off on the south and east sides is approximately 40 to 50 feet. Exercise significant caution near the edges, particularly in wet conditions when sandstone becomes slippery. The summit is not appropriate for young children without close adult supervision. Dogs should be leashed and kept away from the edges.
What is the best time to photograph Submarine Rock at sunset? +
Submarine Rock catches optimal southwest sunset light from approximately 30 to 60 minutes before sunset. The formation faces southwest, so the warm late-afternoon light illuminates the sandstone face most vividly in the final hour before the sun drops behind the western rim. Arriving at the Schnebly Hill Road shoulder pullout approximately 2 hours before sunset gives enough time to hike the 1.5 miles to the formation and position yourself on or below it for the peak light window. The formation photographs well from the south approach trail where you can frame the submarine profile against the sky. Bring a wide-angle lens if shooting from the summit -- the full Sedona basin is visible in multiple directions.