| |

20+ Best Hikes In Sedona, Arizona That You Won’t Want To Miss

Whether you are an experienced hiker looking for new challenging adventures or a beginner that is looking for your first hiking trip spot, Sedona Arizona is the place to go. There are so many wonderful hikes in Sedona, with incredible views, that it’s hard to choose!

The famous vortex and red rocks area is considered a true paradise for hikers as its home to more than 200 trails and paths. However, there are plenty of awesome hikes in Sedona for all levels, offering all sorts of sights.

Today we present you with our absolute favorite 20+ hikes in Sedona, from the most famous landmarks to the hidden gems of Sedona! You’ll definitely want to check out these really popular hikes if you’re staying in the area.

How To Make Your Hike Memorable:

Sedona is one of the best places in the United States when it comes to hiking, but planning ahead is still crucial to making the best out of your trip!

Parking lots tend to get full very quickly as everyone usually gets to a hike via car. Our advice is to know where you want to go and plan ahead so that you will be able to park and start your hike in the morning when the site is less crowded. The earlier the better!

Otherwise, plan a smaller/shorter hike later in the afternoon, especially when the days are longer. Most parking lots begin clearing out after 12pm.

Always remember to bring water with you. The majority of Sedona hikes dont have water facilities along the way and the sun can be very hot especially during summertime. Seriously: it can get dangerous pretty quickly.

When planning your hike always make sure to check if the site you are going to visit requires the red rock pass. This is a purchasable pass that allows you to visit specific sites and support the local maintenance of this area. The pass cost ranges from 5 dollars for a daily pass up to 20 dollars for a weekly pass.

It’s definitely worth it to buy these passes before you go! Some places won’t even let you park without the pass, while others will charge you 3x what you would have paid.

20. Cathedral Rock Hike

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Cathedral Rock Hike

This is one of the most scenic trails that you will find in Sedona. The Cathedral Rock hike offers great views of famous landmarks such as Bell Rock and Courthouse, making it popular for a reason. The views are some of the best in the area!

When approaching this hiking trail consider that it may be tricky and tough in certain parts. However, its only a one-mile-long roundtrip and the elevation gain is around 500 feet.

The trailhead is located halfway down Back O Beyond Road, off Highway 179, between Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek. I definitely recommend that you check out this Sedona hike if you’re at all athletic – it’s really one of the first you should do as a hiking enthusiast!

19. Doe Mountain

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Doe Mountain Trail

If you are looking for a less crowded spot to hike then the Doe Mountain hiking trail is a good choice. 

Most of this trail’s 430 feet elevation gain is spread along the first 0.7 miles which makes this a perfect trail for beginners. It’s one of the best easy hikes in Sedona that still has a lot of lovely perks!

The trail gives you incredible views of many Sedona Red Rocks landmarks such as Bear, Maroon, and Wilson mountains, Loy, Boynton, and Secret Canyons. It’s a great place to start if you’re not feeling up to the Cathedral Rock Hike.

You will find the trailhead of this hike about 36 miles from Flagstaff.

18. Boynton Canyon

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Boynton Canyon Trail

Although this is one of the best easy hikes in Sedona Arizona, the Boynton Canyon hike trail is well known for its outstanding scenery.

This trail is perfect for those who are looking for a very easy walk around the red rocks of Sedona as its one of the easier trails to walk. It’s 7 miles roundtrip with 800 feet of elevation gain.

The beauty of this trail is enriched by its spiritual value as it has been recognized as one of the top vortex energy sites. If you’re looking for spiritual hikes in Sedona then this is definitely the first place you should check out.

When hiking this trail, keep an eye out for the local flora and wildlife as this is one of the best spots for birdwatching too! This trail really has it all and is so easy that there’s no excuse not to try it.

17. Soldier Pass Trail

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Soldier Pass Trail

The Soldier Pass trail is an intermediate-level hike that will give you the chance to fully embrace nature as its one of the less crowded trails in Sedona, specifically in the Red Rock Mountains area.

This is a 6-mile-long loop trail with an altitude gain of 800 feet that has a unique look on the famous Devils Kitchen landmark.

If you are looking for an immersive personal experience with nature then we highly suggest you add a mile-long detour to Soldier Cave when you find yourself at the last fork in the road.

16. West Fork Hike

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: West Fork Hike

West Fork hike is one of Sedonas most visited trails and its the perfect example of how widely the landscapes around this area can be different. You will find so many green and woody areas while walking beside beautiful canyon walls!

This trip is a 7-mile roundtrip with an elevation gain of 500 feet and is very accessible to every kind of hiker, but you do have to cross the stream in several places, so a good pair of waterproof shoes is going to be useful.

If you’re looking for hiking in Sedona with beautiful views and an easy-to-intermediate trail, plan to check out West Fork.

15. Fay Canyon

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Fay Canyon Trail

If you are looking for an easy walk through Sedonas wonderful red rocks then the Fay Canyon trail is what you are looking for.

It is a 2.6-mile roundtrip with an elevation gain of 390 feet, rich with many beautiful spots.

Many visitors usually dont know that this path is home to an incredible natural arch that is located just half a mile up the trail. This looks just like a regular rock overhang, but once you take a closer look youll be astonished by this red rock formation.

This trail allows enjoying a very typical Sedona landscape with some hidden gems along the way such as hidden canyons and desert plants. It’s one of the coolest secret Sedona hikes for hidden spots!

14. Birthing Cave 

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Birthing Cave Trail

The Birthing Cave hiking trail is probably one of the less-known spots in the Sedona area and it is the best place to go to if you want to feel a strong connection with nature.

It is a 2-mile roundtrip with a 300 feet elevation gain. The trail is a relatively easy hike, with a wide and flat path, making it an accessible walk to many.

Once you have meandered through the majority of this Sedona hike, youll start to see the peak of the cave poke around the corner.  The cave interior has a unique heart shape, its ceiling curves up to a point, with the caves base also coming to an end.

This is one of the best hikes in Sedona to really feel a spiritual connection. Something about the formation of the rocks allows for a massive spiritual vortex. We’ve brought friends here who didn’t believe in anything spiritual (like, at all) and even they could feel it. It’s that strong!

13. Bell Rock Climb 

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Bell Rock Climb

This is one of the most popular hiking trails in Sedona as it gives you the possibility to climb one of its most famous and spectacular landmarks.

With a 3.6-mile-long trail and a 400-foot altitude gain, this hike is great for every kind of hiker since its up to you how far you want to go up on the climb. But I will say: the views of the landscape from the upper levels of Bell Rock are definitely worth a little extra walk.

The first 0.25 miles of this Sedona hike are marked with trail signs and wire that are filled with rock but as you head higher onto Bell Rock, the wire baskets disappear. You can continue to go up following your route (the climb is not marked) as long as you know where you’re going. I recommend checking out a map ahead of time.

12. Devil’s Bridge 

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Devil's Bridge 

The Devil’s Bridge path is probably one of Sedonas best hikes and one of the most popular. This incredible landmark is the largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area.

The hike is a 1.8-mile roundtrip with a 400-foot elevation gain and is a great trail for every kind of hiker. The path is smooth and clear as it was originally built for jeep tours, making it really easy to walk.

You can either look at the Devil’s Bridge from a lower point of you or take that last climb and walk across it and have a unique view of the panorama. This is one of the best easy hikes in Sedona with incredible views. Seriously, this has to be the easiest hike anywhere.

If you’re totally afraid of exercise but still want the views then this is by far one of the best hiking trails in Sedona!

11. Airport Mesa Loop Trail 

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Airport Mesa Loop Trail 

The Airport Mesa is located in the south of Sedona. This trail makes a loop on its upper rim; from there you will be able to see many red rock famous landmarks such as Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Munds Mesa, Thunder Mountain, and the town of Sedona.

This is a very easy 3-mile-long loop hike with a 400 feet elevation gain, however, if you don’t want to go all the way up, hike the short spur trail up to the top of the Summit Trail for awesome views over Sedona.

10. Courthouse Butte Loop Trail

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Courthouse Butte Loop Trail

The Courthouse Butte Loop Trail is a moderate 3.9-mile loop trail that takes you to two of Sedonas most prominent rock formations, Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock. 

You will have to take the Bell Rock trailhead to start, but then at the first fork continue north and you will get into the actual trail.

This is the perfect hike for beginners offering great views of Sedonas landmarks, easy paths, and an abundance of wildlife.

9. Adobe Jack Trail

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Adobe Jack Trail

The Adobe Jack Trail is one of the newest trails in the Sedona area with fantastic red rock views and a path that will lead you to a creek bed.

This is a 4-mile-long trail with an elevation gain of 167 feet which is best for intermediate hikers.

The trail is immersed in the natural red rock area but it also dips in and out of small green areas.  As you get lower, it may get a little rougher and rockier, but this is an overall doable trail that is perfect for those who are looking for a more sporty experience.

8. Schuerman Mountain Trail

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Schuerman Mountain Trail

The Schuerman Mountain Trail is one of the best trails in Sedona if you are looking for a less-crowded but still visually stunning hike.

This 2-mile-long trail starts at Sedona High School with a moderate uphill for about half a mile before reaching the rim.

Schuerman is more mesa than a mountain and in fact, as you climb to the top of the mountain, you will be able to get some impressive views of the Verde Valley.

7. Broken Arrow Trail

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Broken Arrow Trail

Although very popular, the Broken Arrow trail is the perfect hike for beginners who want to experience an immersive walk in the Red Rock area.

The trail is about 4 miles long and very easy to follow as it is also accessible for Jeep tours. Theres a gentle climb up a wide valley, lined on both sides by beautiful eroded red rock cliffs.

The uphill ends at the Chicken Point low pass, which has good views south towards Oak Creek village, and north to Sedona and the high mountains beyond.

This is one of the best hiking trails in Sedona for those of you who want an easy hike that still takes a few hours.

6. Wilson Mountain 

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Wilson Mountain Trail

This trail is one of the most visually stunning paths that you can find in the Sedona area as it offers beautiful views of the Oak Creek Canyon.

This is a hard hike since it goes up 2300 feet in the first mile, so you may need to plan a whole day to accomplish this mission. However, the views you will get from this hike are going to be worth the effort.

Keep in mind that it may be hot during the summer so remember to have some water with you. Just north of Encinoso Picnic Area, 3 miles up canyon from Midgley Bridge, you can take an alternate route which is a lot cooler than the others if you’re doing this trail on an especially warm day.

5. Dawa Trail 

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Dawa Trail

The Dawa hike is a 2.6 miles loop trail close to Doe Mountain interwoven with 3 other trails. 

It is a great walk for beginners as its elevation gain sits around 150 feet; it is considered more of a nature walk than an actual hike since its very easy to spot local wildlife on the path.

This loop trail has many great spots for incredible views and along the way, you will be able to find a beautiful evergreen forest that will open up to spectacular views of the surrounding red rock mountains.

4. Lower Chimney Rock Trail 

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Lower Chimney Rock Trail 

This is the best choice if youre looking for an easy hike in Sedona, close to downtown, and if you dont have much time to spend walking.

The Lower Chimney Rock trail is a great way to experience the typical red rock landscape in Sedona because the trail shares its head area with Thunder Mountain, Little Sugarloaf Summit, and Chimney Rock Pass Trails, allowing you to get great views.

This is one of the best hiking trails in Sedona to check out if you don’t have a lot of time and want to stay close to the city.

3. Pumphouse Wash Trail 

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Pumphouse Wash Trail 

If you are looking for a more adventurous type of hike the Pumphouse Wash trail is definitely what you are looking for!

This is one of the best hikes with water in Sedona as there are lots of boulder hopping opportunities and cool natural pools.

Although is not properly marked and flat, the trail is pretty doable and fun to walk. Its totally up to you how far to walk as theres not an official ending point.

2. Sketch-Ridge Loop TrailExplore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Sketch-Ridge Loop Trail

The Sketch-Ridge Loop Trail is a beautiful easy to moderate hike from a ledge on the eastern rim of Carroll Canyon. 

With a 285-foot elevation range and a roundtrip of 2.6 miles long, this trail offers amazing views of iconic red rock formations such as Bell and Courthouse Butte among many others like the Scorpion Pyramid.

The local flora is very abundant on the trail itself, especially during springtime.

1. Smoke Trail

Explore 20+ Best Hikes in Sedona, Arizona: Smoke Trail

This hike is very easy yet incredibly enjoyable for every kind of hiker as it follows the flowing waters of Oak Creek and offers a great view of the beautiful Cathedral rock in the distance.

The trail takes you through a green lush wooded area with is great during hot summer days. With a length of 0.5 miles, this path is a great choice for a relaxing nice walk.

If you’re looking for more secret hikes in Sedona, then you should definitely check out Smoke Trail. It’s usually not too crowded since not many people know about it!

Similar Posts

One Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.