The 13 Best Hikes In Sedona Arizona

Years ago, I went on a crazy, fun, adventurous road trip all across Arizona. I visited The Grand Canyon, Page, Monument Valley, Havasu Falls, and Petrified Forest National Park. It was honestly one of my favorite road trips I have ever taken. Arizona is such a gem of a state. Unfortunately, Sedona was our last stop, and I didn’t have an ounce of energy left in me to explore. I vowed to come back and do all the excellent Sedona Hikes in the area.

I finally did for Thanksgiving, and wow, was I impressed with all the easy hikes in Sedona! The outstanding red, orange rocks blew me away! So I decided to put this impressive list together of the best Sedona hiking trails!!! I hope you enjoy Sedona and all it’s incredible outdoor activities as much as I did 😃.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you.

Where Is Sedona, The Red Rock Country

We got to Sedona by flying into Phoenix, renting a car and driving up to Sedona. That is probably the easiest way to get there. Or you can combine your trip into an ultimate Arizona/Utah Road trip.

• From Phoenix Sky Harbor: 2-hour drive, 120 miles
• From Flagstaff: 45-minute drive, 30 miles

>>>Rent A Car Here<<<

Map Of Sedona Hikes

Below you can view the trailheads of all the hikes I have listed in this blog post. But if you need an official Sedona hiking trails map pdf click here, and click here. One map has the southern area while the other map has the northern area.

Want To Do An Ultimate Arizona Road Trip: Check Out This Post

Weather In Sedona

• Spring: Spring is the best time to visit Sedona. The desert flora speckles the red rocks with yellow, purple, and orange. And temperatures, ranging from the mid-60s to the low 80s, make for excellent hiking weather. The negative is that everyone else knows that this is the prime hiking season, so it will be crowded.
• Summer: There are fewer crowds during this time as the temperatures go up, and the weather starts to get iffy. This is the monsoon season in Sedona, so bring an umbrella. But this is a great chance to score a good deal on a hotel.
• Fall: Due to the pleasant temperatures, Fall is another great time to visit Sedona, but please note that it will be crowded.
• Winter: This is the least crowded time of year, so you might score a good hotel deal. There is some snowfall at times, and the annual snowfall average is around 3 1/2 inches. This was when we went to Sedona.

What To Pack For Hiking Sedona Trails

1. Sunscreen: Sedona gets HOT! Even in the winter, we were hiking in bight sunny weather at times.  >Buy Sunscreen
2. Hiking Boots/Shoes: If you use tennis shoes, you can easily hurt your toes hitting a rock by accident (Trust me, I have done it so many times before). >Check Out My Hiking Shoes
3. Hiking socks: Having the correct socks helps you prevent getting blisters. Smart Wool is probably my favorite brand out there. I also love how they now have pink socks too 🙂 >Buy Hiking Socks
4. Water Reservoir: Water reservoirs help prevent me from getting dehydrated while hiking. The great thing about this reservoir is that it doesn’t have the plastic taste. >Here Is My Water Reservoir
5. Water: Stay nice and hydrated.
6. Sunglasses: It can get sunny so make sure to pack some sunglasses. >Check Out These Sunglasses
7. Snacks: The best snacks are jerky, nuts, energy bars. Clif Bars are great for hiking.
8. Camera: The Sony A6000 was one of the first cameras I started traveling with. The Sony A6000 is an excellent camera for people that want to start improving at travel photography.  >Buy Sony Camera Here
9. First Aid Kit: This is one of the first things I bought when I first started going on adventures. It is super portable. >Buy This Awesome First Aid Kit Here
10. Day Pack to carry all your things: The REI bag I have linked, we have had for seven years now, and it is still going strong! >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
11. Headlamp: A headlamp is an absolute must in case you get stranded in the dark! It is a lot more portable and easier to use than a flashlight. >Buy A Headlamp Now
12. Leggings or Hiking Pants: I always wear leggings while hiking because it is what I feel most comfortable with! >Click For My Favorite Hiking Leggings
13. Breathable sweat-wicking shirts: Cotton shirts soak up your sweat when hiking, so make sure to wear something breathable. >Check out this awesome breathable shirt here.
14. Mid Base Layer: If you are hiking in the winter this might be a great idea. >Check Out My Sweater Here
15. Sports Bra: For women. >Buy One Here
16. Jacket: In case you get chilly at night in the Fall and Spring. This is also a good idea in the Winter.  >Buy My Favorite Jacket
17. Tripod: This is an optional item, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. >Check out this tripod
18. Knife: I always carry a knife in my backpack just in case. >Check Out My Knife Here
19. Map: Buy an official Sedona Map Here.

Where To Stay In Sedona

We stayed in three different hotels during our stay. I am all about traveling for free, and I had a few free hotel vouchers from my credit cards. Here are the three hotels from the most expensive at the top to the cheapest.

• Hyatt Residence Club Sedona, Piñon Pointe: This hotel was my favorite. It felt like a home away from home. We got upgraded to a suite, and honestly, it was a dream. It had a full kitchen, fireplace, and living room. If you want more of a homy feel, then this is the perfect spot for you. >Book Here Now
• Courtyard by Marriott Sedona: This hotel is excellent. It is a little farther away from town, but the place felt chic and clean. I even really liked the bar! Right when you enter, you feel welcome and comfortable. Plus, there is a pool and firepit outside! >Book Here Now
• Holiday Inn Express Sedona – Oak Creek: We stayed here on our first night in Sedona, and it is a great place to stay if you are on a budget. There is free breakfast, and it is near one of my favorite trails, the Bell Rock Loop Trail. >Book Here Now

Read More: The Best Places To Stay In Sedona

Red Rock Pass For Hiking In Sedona

I highly suggest getting a daily or weekly Red Rock Pass at the visitor’s center before doing any of the trails. Most of the trails listed need a Red Rock Pass displayed on your car dashboard. You can find more information on it here.

You can also use America The Beautiful Pass for parking instead. I have The America The Beautiful Pass, but I forgot it at home, unfortunately. Don’t be like me and bring your pass!

Best Hikes In Sedona Arizona

Cathedral Rock Trail

• Difficulty: Hard
• Distance: 1.2 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 744 feet
• Trail Guide: Link

Cathedral Rock was one of the best trails in Sedona. I had so much fun completing this hike! Even though it was icy cold, and the wind was trying to blow me over, completing this trail was such a delight!

Ok, don’t let the mileage fool you. This trail is difficult. It is steep! And, as you can see in the picture above, it can be slippery. Good hiking shoes/boots might be needed to enjoy this hike. But if you don’t have those types of shoes, take your time. It will be a scramble almost the whole way up.

Right at the trailhead, the trail was flooded with water. We had to cross it by getting into the water. But, it wasn’t a problem for my husband and me because we had our hiking boots on. It was a problem for a lot of other people. We saw many people with regular shoes turn around.

Please note that it had just snowed, and the creek was probably full due to the melted snow. It will not always be like this, but I just wanted to note this in case you visit after a snow or rainstorm.

Soldier Pass Trail

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: 4.1 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 620 feet
• Trail Guide: Link

The views on Soldiers Pass trail were outstanding! I loved every moment of it! The beginning area features Devils Kitchen and the Seven Sacred Pools. These spots are very popular for family hiking, so expect many people around this area. There are also jeep tours driving around.

Towards the end of the trail is when the elevation gain gets a little crazy. But since it snowed the day before, we got fantastic views like what is shown in the picture above. We loved walking in the snow with the orange canyons. We had to get on the Brins Mesa Trail to get the view in the picture above. Both trails do connect. The last 0.5 miles of the Soldiers Pass trail was closed when we hiked it.

The parking was a bit of a pain. I did have to come back twice. The parking lot fills up right when it opens (8:00am), so get there early. If you don’t find parking, you can also park at Brins Mesa Trailhead and Jordan Road Trailhead, but your trek will become a little longer.

Devil’s Bridge Trail

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: 4.2 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 564 feet
• Trail Guide: Link

Ahhhh Devils Bridge. One of the most well-known trails in Sedona, Arizona. This trail is a must-do on your visit to this remarkable city. It is short, somewhat easy, and it is a perfect spot to take an iconic Instagram shot. But, because of the ease of this trail and easy access, you won’t be the only one visiting. This trail is known to be extremely crowded! I suggest getting there early in the morning before sunrise. Visiting during the week is another excellent idea to avoid crowds.

Read More: Best Things To Do In Sedona, Arizona

Bear Mountain Trail

• Difficulty: Hard
• Distance: 4.9 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 1,975 feet
• Trail Guide: Link

This mountain kicked my ass. It felt long and difficult. I recommend this being one of your first trails in Sedona. It was the last trail we did in Sedona, and we had been putting in at least 10 miles in a day. Add in that I didn’t have my handy dandy trekking poles, and you have someone that was utterly exhausted.

But even though the trail took out all the energy I had left in me, I still really enjoyed the views and the scrambling. It is one of those trails that you will enjoy the whole way in and out. I enjoyed the views on the trail more than the end viewpoint.

If you have bad knees, bring trekking poles if you can. Going down the trail was a pain. Also, since we did the trail in the winter, it was a little more challenging to complete than the summertime due to all the ice. Be careful, hiking this trail in the winter. It might be a good idea to bring crampons.

Airport Mesa Trail

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: 3.2 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 416 feet
• Trail Guide: Link

The Airport Mesa trail is a unique hike. The trailhead is located high up on the mesa, and it takes you around in a loop where you can spot all the outstanding views Sedona has to offer. It is pretty much in the center of all the outstanding views of the Red Rock area. This was probably my least favorite trail on this list, though, because I felt like the views were better in the other trails. But it is still a great hike.

Finding parking in the trailhead can be a pain. But there is additional parking at the top of the Mesa for around $3. You can then hike down to the trailhead. The trailhead is probably the best view on the whole trail. There is a giant boulder that you can climb up and take pictures on.

Boynton Canyon Trail

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: 7.3 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 1,167 feet
• Trail Guide: Link

Boynton Canyon Trail is a fantastic trail for the whole family. 80% of the trail is flat and easy with incredible views of the outstanding red rock canyons. But, there are some areas where you do have to do some rock scrambling towards the end. But, in all honesty, I LOVE hikes like this 😃. What is fantastic about this trail is you get a variety of trees surrounding you, like oak trees, maple trees, pine, and cedar, as well as picturesque canyon views.

You can also spot wildlife on this trail. There have been many sightings of wild pigs, but make sure you stay clear of them for safety reasons!

This is also where the famous “Subway” area is. It has become an Instagram-worthy spot for photos and videos. It can be a bit confusing to find the “Subway” as there is not an official trail to get there but you can download the AllTrails map and easily find it that way.

Courthouse Butte Loop And Bell Loop Trail

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: 3.6 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 357 feet
• Trail Guide: Link

This trail is the absolute best to do with a family. I was blown away by how beautiful the Buttes were. I don’t care how easy the Bell Loop trail was, the views were breathtaking!

It had snowed overnight so we decided to do an easy trail close to our hotel. The Bell Loop was a perfect choice for this situation. It was easy to hike around in the snow. I am sure it is a lot easier in the summer.

The best part of this trail is that you can pick to do the longer or shorter trail. The shorter trail is called the Bell Rock Loop, while the longer trail is called the Courthouse Butte Loop.

We decided to do the shorter trail because I was starting to get hungry and I wanted to start exploring other trails. Whichever trail you choose you won’t be wrong as the views are outstanding at every turn.

I also recommend going up to the Bell Rock Loop lookout. The trail takes you to a closer view of Bell Rock. It is a great photography spot and worth the extra walk.

West Fork Trail

• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 7.2 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 820 feet

The West Fork trail is an excellent hike for the family. Many river crossings make this hike a bit more exciting than the rest. Don’t worry, the water usually doesn’t rise too high, but I would still consider bringing some good hiking shoes. Or you can take off your shoes if you want to.

The trail offers stunning views of the canyons and semi-shaded trees. It is a perfect spot to explore in the hot Arizona heat. You don’t have to do all 7.2 miles to enjoy this hike. You can turn around at any point since there are lovely views everywhere.

As the trend with a lot of trails in Sedona, parking can be a pain, but if you get there early, you don’t have to worry much.

Long Canyon/Birthing Cave Trail

• Long Canyon Trail
• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 7.2 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 823 feet
• Trail Guide: Link

• Birthing Cave Trail
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: 2 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 291 feet
• Trail Guide: Link

The birthing cave trail was a fun little trail we did on the first day in Sedona. It started to rain on us, so hiding in the cave seemed like a great idea! I listed both trails (long canyon and birthing cave) in case you wanted to do both. The Birthing Cave is a part of the Long Canyon Trail, but it is only two miles.

You start on the Long Canyon trail, and after about .7-.9 miles in, some logs are blocking a trail. The trail then goes nearly a half of a mile up to the cave. This is when the hike becomes relatively steep, so be careful.

This is a very popular Instagram Spot. I didn’t take any Instagram photos because I was pretty much soaked with water, but I am still glad I got to experience this trail.

Wilson Canyon Trail

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: 2.7 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 426 feet
• Trail Guide: Link

This trail follows a stream where you cross many times and the trail has a lot of shade. Depending on the time of year, you may encounter much more than a light trickle of water. The slight elevation gain and the shade make this trail perfect for a leisure hike with the family. This is probably one of the best hikes for small children on this list.

Walk past the end of the trail and hike up the red rock stairs. The views are incredible in this area. Make sure you hike on the Wilson Canyon Trail instead of the Wilson Mountain Trail. Many people make that mistake.

Fay Canyon Trail

• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 2.6 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 383 feet
• Trail Guide: Link

Fay Canyon Trail is an easy trail with fantastic views. What is great about this hike is that you can make it more difficult by adding in the Arch at the end (location shown in AllTrails). The Arch is a steep scramble but the views are so worth it!

Crescent Moon Ranch At Red Rock Crossing

• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 1.9 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 52 feet
• Trail Guide: Link

This is a beautiful hike with views of Cathedral Rock but there is a creek crossing at about 0.2 miles in. You don’t need to do the official hike to enjoy this area though. This is a fantastic place to take sunset photos of Cathedral Rock if you don’t want to hike the strenuous trail.

Chimney Rock Pass

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: 1.7 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 374 feet
• Trail Guide: Link

Do you want to get away from the crowds? Chimney Rock Pass is an easy loop trail with outstanding views and is relatively uncrowded when compared to other hikes. I stumbled across this amazing hike because the road to get to Fay Canyon trail was closed. It was relatively quiet and we only saw a couple of people on the hike.

I had never even heard of this trail before I got to Sedona and I am so glad we did it. It was nice to get away from the crowds while still having amazing views. It is also extremely close to the town of Sedona.

Sedona Tours

Psst. If you get tired of hiking there are some awesome well-known tours in Sedona:

Final Thoughts On Best Hikes In Sedona, Arizona

Thanks for reading up on the best hiking in Sedona. Make sure to read some of my other articles:

• Things to do in Monument Valley
• Things to do in Page, Arizona
• Hiking to the Grand Canyon Plateau Point
• Everything you need to know on hiking to Havasu Falls
• 21 Of The Best Grand Canyon Views
• The Ultimate Las Vegas To Valley Of Fire Day Trip Itinerary
• Best Things To Do In Sedona, Arizona

Pin For Later: Sedona Best Hiking Trails