Stunning hikes in Sedona: the best trails in red rock country

Sweeping vistas, towering red rocks and heart-pumping climbs: these are the best hikes in Sedona, from my favourite, the Courthouse Butte Loop, to Cathedral Rock, Devil’s Bridge and the hidden Subway Cave.

Sedona is one of the best hiking destinations in the American Southwest. The town itself is very commercial, but step onto a trail and you’re surrounded by red rock buttes, slickrock and juniper woodland that feel almost too big to be real. Getting out on a hike or two is the best way to really appreciate it.

I visited in February, hiked the Courthouse Butte Loop, which was pretty much my favourite hike in Sedona, and took in the views from Airport Mesa. The rest of this guide covers Sedona’s other best-known trails, from easy walks to scrambles up the famous vortexes, with how to reach the trailheads, where to park and what to expect.

The best hikes in Sedona

Courthouse Butte Loop: my favourite hike in Sedona

Length: 3.8 miles (loop)

Time: 2 to 2.5 hours

Difficulty: easy to moderate

The Courthouse Butte Loop was pretty much my favourite hike in Sedona. It doesn’t have the thrills of some of the other trails, like Devil’s Bridge, Cathedral Rock or Bell Rock, but it’s a reasonable length and takes you all the way around Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock, with lots of expansive views of the red rocks. There’s some elevation change, but nothing serious.

The loop is 3.8 miles with only about 300 feet of climbing in total. It starts from the Courthouse Vista or Bell Rock Vista car parks on SR 179 (both have toilets but no water), where you’ll need a Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful pass. The stretch around the back of Courthouse Butte is much quieter than the busy trails at the foot of Bell Rock, so it’s a good choice if you want a bit of solitude, and you can add the Bell Rock climb on the way round.

Airport Mesa Loop: the best sunset views in town

Length: 3.5 miles (loop)

Time: 2 to 3 hours

Difficulty: moderate

Airport Mesa has some of the best views in Sedona, with red rocks and buttes stretching right across the valley. I went up in the late afternoon, when the low sun makes the rocks glow, and it’s one of the best places in town to watch the sunset.

The Airport Loop Trail circles the mesa below the airport in about 3.5 miles (including a spur to Table Top), on a rocky path with some narrow sections along the edge of the mesa and almost no shade, passing views of almost every famous formation, from Cathedral Rock to Chimney Rock. A short, steep scramble from the small car park on Airport Road climbs the knoll to the Airport Mesa vortex viewpoint, one of the best spots for sunset.

The free car park, about half a mile up Airport Road, has space for only about a dozen cars, so arrive early. Otherwise, park at the Airport Scenic Lookout at the top ($3) and walk down the 0.7-mile Sedona View Trail.

Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well: easy walks to ancient cliff dwellings

Length: 0.3 mile at the Castle; about 0.5 mile at the Well

Time: 1 to 2 hours for both

Difficulty: easy

These aren’t hikes so much as short walks, but they’re well worth the trip out of Sedona. I visited Montezuma Castle in February, and these striking, well-preserved cliff dwellings, built by the Sinagua people more than 800 years ago in a limestone alcove above Beaver Creek, are one of the highlights of the Verde Valley.

A flat, paved 0.3-mile loop below the Castle gives you a good look at the five-storey, 20-room dwelling, about 90 feet up the cliff. About 11 miles north, Montezuma Well is a natural limestone sinkhole fed by springs, with cliff dwellings around its rim and a short loop trail (with plenty of steps) down towards the water. The Castle is about 40 minutes’ drive south of Sedona. Entry is $10 per adult and covers Tuzigoot too; the Well is free. Dogs on a lead are welcome on the trails.

Cathedral Rock Trail: a steep scramble to Sedona’s most famous vortex

Length: about 1.2 miles (out and back)

Time: 1 to 2 hours

Difficulty: hard

Cathedral Rock is Sedona’s most photographed formation and is said to be one of its most powerful vortexes. The trail is short but the Forest Service describes it as more of a rock climb than a hike: you gain about 670 feet in little more than half a mile, scrambling up bare slickrock using toeholds, with one steep chute where you’ll need your hands. Follow the wire baskets of rocks that mark the route.

The trail ends at a wide saddle between the spires, with sweeping views over Oak Creek and the red rocks. It’s unshaded, so bring plenty of water and sun protection, and come down carefully: the slickrock is slippery on the way down.

The trailhead is on Back O’ Beyond Road, off SR 179. Its two small car parks (about 45 spaces, Red Rock Pass needed) are closed to private cars from Thursday to Sunday while the Sedona Shuttle is running, so take route 15 from the North SR 179 park-and-ride, which runs every 15 minutes or so. For a longer, quieter approach, the Templeton Trail links Cathedral Rock to the Baldwin trailhead, about 4 miles round trip with around 1,000 feet of climbing, with views of Oak Creek on the way.

Devil’s Bridge Trail: walk out onto Sedona’s biggest arch

Length: 4 to 6 miles (out and back) from the Mescal or Dry Creek Vista trailheads; 1.6 miles from the Devil’s Bridge trailhead

Time: 2 to 3 hours

Difficulty: moderate

Of all the hikes in Sedona, Devil’s Bridge has the most dramatic scenery. It’s the largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area, and walking out onto it is one of the most popular things to do in town, so expect a queue for the classic photo, especially from mid-morning.

The official Devil’s Bridge trailhead is 1.3 miles up Vultee Arch Road, which needs a high-clearance vehicle; from there it’s only 1.6 miles round trip. Most people start lower down instead: from the Mescal trailhead via the Mescal and Chuck Wagon trails (about 4 miles round trip), or from the Dry Creek Vista trailhead (between 4.5 and 6 miles round trip, depending on whether you follow the jeep road or the quieter Chuck Wagon Trail). Both are served by Sedona Shuttle route 11 from Thursday to Sunday.

From the trailhead it’s a steady climb, finishing with a steep staircase of natural rock steps up to the top of the arch, which stands about 50 feet high. Take care on top: the arch is wide enough to walk across comfortably, but there are steep drops on both sides. The queue for photos on the bridge can be an hour or more at busy times, so start early or come late in the afternoon.

Bell Rock climb: scramble up a Sedona icon

Length: about 1.5 miles (out and back) from the trailhead

Time: 1 to 1.5 hours

Difficulty: hard

Walking around Bell Rock is lovely, but scrambling up it is even more fun. From the Bell Rock Pathway, the official route is marked first by caged cairns and then by white painted arrows, climbing the north side of the rock on bare sandstone to wide ledges about two-thirds of the way up, with sweeping views over the Village of Oak Creek. Expect to use your hands, and to find the way down harder than the way up.

Above the ledges, the rock becomes exposed and technical, and the true summit (4,919 feet) involves a near-vertical wall that’s for experienced climbers only. Bell Rock is also one of Sedona’s best-known vortexes, so it’s busy; sunrise is the quietest time. Park at Courthouse Vista or Bell Rock Vista with a Red Rock Pass.

Soldier Pass Trail: a sinkhole, sacred pools and a hidden cave

Length: about 4 miles (out and back)

Time: 2.5 hours

Difficulty: moderate

The Soldier Pass Trail packs a lot into one hike. Just a few minutes in, you’ll reach the Devil’s Kitchen, a huge sinkhole, then the Seven Sacred Pools, a chain of small pools carved into the red rock, about half a mile from the start. Around 0.6 miles further on, a steep scramble leads up to Soldier Pass Cave, with the arches beside it and a window looking out over the canyon. The scramble into the cave has narrow ledges and a drop, so take care, especially coming down. In all, you’ll climb about 640 feet.

The trailhead car park has only about 14 spaces, is gated (open 8am to 6pm, no toilets) and is closed to private cars from Thursday to Sunday while the Sedona Shuttle runs, so take route 14 from the Posse Grounds park-and-ride on those days. Parking on the surrounding residential streets will get you a ticket.

Little Horse Trail: an easy walk to Chicken Point

Length: about 3 miles (out and back)

Time: 1.5 hours

Difficulty: easy

The Little Horse Trail is an easy, scenic walk from the Little Horse trailhead on SR 179 up to Chicken Point, a slickrock saddle with close-up views of the Twin Buttes, the Chapel of the Holy Cross and the back of Cathedral Rock. It climbs only about 330 feet, so it’s a good choice for families, though you’ll share the final stretch with jeep tours. You’ll need a Red Rock Pass, or take Sedona Shuttle route 15, which stops here.

Boynton Canyon and the Subway Cave: Sedona’s most photogenic alcove

Length: about 5 miles (out and back) to Subway Cave

Time: 2.5 to 3 hours

Difficulty: moderate

The Subway Cave is one of Sedona’s most photogenic spots: a curved alcove in the canyon wall whose shape, looking out, resembles a subway tunnel, with ancient Sinagua ruins next to it.

The route starts on the Boynton Canyon Trail from the trailhead by Enchantment Resort. Near the start, a short spur on the right leads to Boynton Vista, the Boynton Canyon vortex, a rocky knoll beside the Kachina Woman spire with views over the canyon. Stay left on the main trail, which skirts the edge of the resort before heading up the canyon; about 2 miles in, look for a huge, burnt grey juniper and take the unsigned path to the right towards the cave. The last 20 feet or so is a steep slickrock ramp into the alcove. The ruins are protected, so look but don’t touch. In all, you’ll climb about 600 feet.

The trailhead car park has only about 35 spaces and no overflow (cars parked on the road get towed), so arrive first thing, and download an offline map, as the turn-off isn’t marked. If you’d rather keep going, the full Boynton Canyon Trail continues to the head of the canyon, about 6 miles round trip.

Birthing Cave Trail: a short hike to a sacred cave

Length: about 1.9 miles (out and back)

Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: easy, with a short scramble at the end

The Birthing Cave is a small, oval-shaped cave in the red rock off Long Canyon. Its name comes from the belief that it was once used as a sacred birthing site, and from its shape: looking out from inside, the opening is said to resemble a woman’s body.

The hike starts on the Long Canyon Trail. Take the left fork about 0.6 miles in, then the right fork about 0.3 miles later towards the cave. It’s mostly easy, with a gentle climb of about 250 feet, but the final tenth of a mile is a short, steep scramble up loose rock into the cave. The route is unsigned with plenty of side paths and there’s no phone signal, so download a map before you go. The trailhead parking on Long Canyon Road has room for only a few cars and there’s little shade, so go early.

Fay Canyon Trail: an easy stroll to a hidden arch

Length: 2.1 miles (out and back), or 1.5 miles to the arch

Time: 1 to 1.5 hours

Difficulty: easy

The Fay Canyon Trail is one of the prettiest easy walks in Sedona, heading up a box canyon of steep red rock cliffs, through shady woodland of oak, juniper and Arizona cypress.

A little over half a mile in, an unsigned, cairned spur on the right climbs steeply (about 260 feet) to Fay Canyon Arch, a large natural arch hidden against the canyon wall that’s easy to miss. The main trail is almost flat and ends at a sandstone cliff at the head of the canyon. The car park is on Boynton Pass Road and needs a Red Rock Pass.

West Fork of Oak Creek: creek crossings and autumn colour

Length: about 6 miles (out and back) to the end of the maintained trail

Time: 3 hours

Difficulty: easy

The West Fork Trail is Sedona’s most popular hike, and it’s easy to see why. The trail follows the West Fork of Oak Creek into a narrow, shady canyon with towering walls, crossing the creek more than a dozen times on stepping stones. It’s spectacular in autumn, when the maples turn red and gold.

Near the start, you pass the ruins of Mayhew Lodge, a former hunting lodge. The trail is mostly flat, but expect wet feet after rain. The trailhead is at the Call of the Canyon day-use area in Oak Creek Canyon, about 10 miles north of Sedona on SR 89A, where parking costs $15 per car (the Red Rock Pass and America the Beautiful pass aren’t valid) and the car park fills early.

Note: after the 2026 Pocket Fire, the West Fork Trail is closed until at least 31 October 2026 because of the risk of rockfall and flood debris. Check the Coconino National Forest alerts before you go.

Doe Mountain Trail: a quick climb to a mesa-top loop

Length: 1.4 miles (out and back), plus a 1.3-mile loop of the rim

Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: moderate

Looking for a short but rewarding hike? Doe Mountain is a flat-topped mesa west of Sedona. The trail zigzags up its side in a series of switchbacks, climbing more than 400 feet in 0.7 miles to the top, where a 1.3-mile loop around the rim gives you views in every direction, from Bear Mountain to the Verde Valley. The car park on Boynton Pass Road is large, but you’ll need a Red Rock Pass.

There’s not much shade at the top, so it’s best in the early morning or late afternoon, and it’s a lovely spot for sunset.

Brins Mesa Trail: wide-open views above Uptown

Length: about 6 miles (out and back) to the mesa and back

Time: 1.5 to 2 hours

Difficulty: moderate

The Brins Mesa Trail climbs gradually from the Jim Thompson trailhead at the end of Jordan Road in Uptown Sedona to the open top of Brins Mesa, with views of Wilson Mountain, Soldier Pass and the red rock formations north of town. You’ll climb about 600 feet in all, and you’ll need a Red Rock Pass to park.

The climb is steady rather than steep. In 2006, the Brins Fire swept across the mesa, and the burnt trees are still obvious, which leaves the top open, with wide views and wildflowers in spring. It’s a great spot for a picnic, and you can continue down the other side towards Soldier Pass for a longer hike.

Mescal Trail: a slickrock ledge with canyon views

Length: about 5 miles (out and back)

Time: 2 to 2.5 hours

Difficulty: moderate

The Mescal Trail follows a ledge along the side of Mescal Mountain, with big views over Boynton Canyon and Long Canyon. It’s popular with mountain bikers as well as hikers, and it’s a good alternative way to reach Devil’s Bridge.

The trail follows the slickrock ledge for about 2.5 miles, with only about 200 feet of climbing, to the junction with the Deadmans Pass and Aerie trails. The trailhead is on Long Canyon Road, about 20 minutes’ drive from Uptown; you’ll need a Red Rock Pass to park, or take Sedona Shuttle route 11. Don’t confuse it with the unofficial route to the top of Mescal Mountain, which involves some short climbs.

Tips for hiking in Sedona

• Parking: many trailheads need a Red Rock Pass ($5 a day, $15 a week, $20 a year; America the Beautiful passes are accepted instead), and the most popular car parks fill by mid-morning. Use the free Sedona Shuttle for Cathedral Rock, Soldier Pass and Devil’s Bridge: it runs from Thursday to Sunday all year, 7am to 5:30pm, and daily in spring break.
• When to go: spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are best. Summer is dangerously hot on the exposed trails, and afternoon storms are common in the monsoon season. I visited in February, when it was cold and some trails were muddy, but much quieter.
• What to bring: a lightweight daypack, a good water bottle (there’s no water on most trails) and waterproof hiking trainers with good grip for the slickrock.
• Wildlife: you might see javelinas, mule deer and the odd rattlesnake in warmer months, and black bears live in the wilderness north of town. Keep your distance, and keep dogs on a lead.
• After the fire: the 2026 Pocket Fire burned the canyons north of Sedona. Most trails have reopened, but check the Coconino National Forest alerts before you go, and avoid washes near the burn scar in heavy rain, when flash floods are a risk.

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Read next

• The best things to do in Sedona
• How to hike Bell Rock and the Courthouse Butte Loop
• 3 days in Sedona: the perfect Sedona itinerary
• The best Grand Canyon hikes

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