Sedona sits at 4,500 ft in Oak Creek Canyon, surrounded by towering red sandstone buttes and mesas that glow amber and crimson in the low desert light. The hiking here is world-class — Cathedral Rock, Devil's Bridge, and Courthouse Butte are among the most photographed landscapes in Arizona. Sedona also draws visitors for its four "energy vortex" sites, where the geology is said to amplify spiritual energy. Believer or not, there's something undeniably powerful about meditating on a rock shelf with a 360° panorama of the red rock country.
Best seasons: March–May and September–November. Summer temperatures reach 100°F+; start all hikes before 8am. Winter is mild (50–65°F) and uncrowded, though some higher trails may have ice.
Red Rock Pass: $5/day or $15/week, required at most trailheads. Buy at the trailhead kiosks or in advance at the Sedona Visitor Center.
Day 1 — Cathedral Rock & Bell Rock
Start your first morning at Cathedral Rock Trailhead (Back O' Beyond Road off Hwy 179). Cathedral Rock is the most photographed spot in Arizona — a red sandstone formation with four spires rising 1,000 ft above the valley floor. The hike to the saddle between the spires is 1.5 miles RT with 750 ft gain and involves some scrambling on slickrock; use the painted red dots to follow the route. The view from the saddle is staggering.
After the hike, walk 10 minutes down to Red Rock Crossing on Oak Creek for the iconic Cathedral Rock reflection shot — the most photographed image in the state of Arizona. Best light is sunrise or late afternoon.
Afternoon: drive to Airport Mesa for the Airport Mesa Vortex (0.5-mile loop, easy, sweeping views of the whole valley) and then the Bell Rock Pathway (3.6 miles, easy, accessible for families) around the base of Bell Rock.
- Cathedral Rock: 1.5 miles RT, 750 ft gain — moderate with some scrambling
- Bell Rock Pathway: 3.6 miles, flat, great for all fitness levels
- Red Rock Pass: Required at Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock trailheads
- Stay: Uptown Sedona or Village of Oak Creek — dozens of options from budget to luxury resorts
Day 2 — Devil's Bridge & Soldier Pass
Devil's Bridge is the largest natural sandstone arch in Arizona — 54 ft wide with a 50 ft drop on both sides. The hike is 4.2 miles RT with 400 ft gain. The final approach is a short but exposed scramble to the bridge itself; the walk across the arch is voluntary but offers the iconic photo. Start before 8am — this trail gets extremely crowded by mid-morning, and the trailhead parking fills within minutes of the lot opening.
Afternoon: hike Soldier Pass Trail (4 miles RT, moderate) from the Soldier Pass Trailhead. The trail passes the Seven Sacred Pools — a series of natural rock basins that collect rainwater — and leads up to the Great Arch with views across the Verde Valley. Optional extension: continue to Boynton Canyon (6 miles RT from its own trailhead) at sunset — this is one of Sedona's four vortex sites and the canyon walls glow intensely in the evening light.
- Devil's Bridge: 4.2 miles RT, 400 ft gain — the arch walk is exposed but manageable
- Soldier Pass: 4 miles RT, moderate — passes Seven Sacred Pools
- Boynton Canyon: 6 miles RT, moderate — vortex site, best at sunset
- Tip: Avoid Devil's Bridge on weekends; go Monday–Thursday for the best experience
Day 3 — Courthouse Butte Loop & Slide Rock
Start the morning with the Bell Rock to Courthouse Butte Loop (4 miles, easy to moderate) — one of the best all-around trails in Sedona. The loop circles both Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte with continuous red rock views in every direction. Courthouse Butte rises 600 ft above the valley and turns deep crimson in morning light.
After the hike, drive 7 miles north on Hwy 89A through Oak Creek Canyon (one of the most scenic drives in Arizona) to Slide Rock State Park. This is Sedona's most beloved swimming hole — natural rock chutes carved by Oak Creek create a series of water slides through red sandstone, with pools below each one. The water is cold year-round (~50–60°F) and the canyon walls rise on both sides. $30/vehicle parking in summer; arrive early.
- Courthouse Butte Loop: 4 miles, easy to moderate, great for all levels
- Slide Rock State Park: $30/vehicle; open year-round; arrive before 9am in summer to get parking
- Oak Creek Canyon Drive: Hwy 89A between Sedona and Slide Rock is one of Arizona's most scenic roads
- Dinner: Tlaquepaque Arts Village in Sedona — excellent restaurants in a Spanish Colonial-style courtyard
Logistics & Tips
- Red Rock Pass: $5/day or $15/week — required at nearly every trailhead; America the Beautiful Pass covers it
- Parking hack: Park at the Hwy 179 Vista parking lot near the Village of Oak Creek and take the free Verde Lynx shuttle to Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte trailheads
- Shuttle service: The free Sedona Shuttle runs on weekends and holidays to popular trailheads — check the city website for current schedule
- Heat: Summer temperatures exceed 100°F; start all hikes before 8am and carry 2L+ of water
- Jeep tours: Pink Jeep Tours and Sedona Off-Road Adventures offer guided 4WD backcountry tours to formations inaccessible on foot
- Cell service: Good in Sedona proper; spotty on some backcountry trails
