Our first time in Sedona was in May of 2018. My best friend Emilie had come to the United States to visit us and really wanted to see the Grand Canyon. Right after school ended in May, we picked her up from DFW and spent a few days showing her around McCurtain County, then we packed the car and headed west. I was a little nervous and not particularly interested in visiting the Grand Canyon, but adventuring with Emilie had always been fun, so I went along.
This trip was a catalyst for what became my obsession with road trips and travel. Driving around brand new landscapes and making frequent stops to admire countless sights was exhilarating. Emilie and I went on to start a tradition with yearly road trips around Europe through Alsace, Bavaria, and even Switzerland.
With it being my first ever road trip, I had done minimal research and had not yet fallen in love with hiking. Hiking just under 5 km/ 3 mi a day was perfectly acceptable to me back in those days. Not anymore! In the years that followed my first visit to Sedona, I came across countless images and videos of the gorgeous trails and viewpoints of Sedona’s red buttes and knew I had to return and see it all for myself.
Where is Sedona?
Sedona is a city located 30 miles south of Flagstaff in Arizona and straddled between Cococina and Yavapai Counties.
Back in May 2018, we visited our first ever national park – Petrified Forest National Park – before heading to Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, AZ. After driving through the desert for hours, we began climbing into Sedona’s seemingly alpine oasis known as Cococino National Forest. The drive along Highway 89A is one that I recommend to anyone interested in enjoying the heights of Arizona’s best scenery.
US NATIONAL PARKS – Read all national park guides
How to get there?
If you’re flying, the closest airport is PHX. Phoenix is also a great place to start a Southwest road trip as it grants you easy access to countless national parks such as the Grand Canyon and Utah’s Mighty 5 to the north or Saguaro National Park to the south.
If you’re driving, Sedona is located less than 30 miles south of I-40. Once you reach Flagstaff, take the exit heading south toward highway 89A.
When to visit?
Sedona is great to visit year round, but I recommend visiting during off season in either fall, spring, or winter. Summers get scorching hot and very busy in the desert making hiking difficult and sometimes even unsafe. Fall and spring are ideal with fewer crowds and milder temperatures. You may even get the chance to witness blooming cacti along hiking trails in late spring. Winters can get quite cold but are no less beautiful than other seasons. I was worried about dying vegetation, but Sedona was magnificent when we visited late November. However, keep in mind that holiday season can be very busy, and you will have very little sunlight as the sun sets around 4:30pm during the winter months.
How long to stay?
If you don’t particularly enjoy hiking, then a 2-3 day weekend would be perfect. If you enjoy exploring out in nature, I recommend a 5-7 day stay to fully get a taste of the red rock desert of Sedona.
How much does it cost?
Many trailheads in Sedona require a Red Rock Pass that costs anywhere from $5 to $40. Click here to read more about Sedona’s Red Rock Pass. if you already have a national park pass, also called america the beautiful pass, then there is no need for you to purchase a red rock pass; simply hang your pass from the rearview mirror or display it on the dash.
Where to stay?
Sedona offers endless options for all budgets. If you’re looking for a rental with specific features such as a fire pit or hot tub, check out Stay Sedona. Whichever style of accommodation you choose, make sure to make reservations ahead of time as many Sedona hotels and Air BNBs book up weeks in advance, especially during peak season and holidays.
Luxury Stay
If you’re looking to splurge, we recommend the Enchantment Resort located in the heart of Boynton Canyon. As you’ll see in the pictures below, the views of the nearby vista are simply unbeatable.
Budget Stay
If you are passing through Sedona on a budget, we recommend staying at Harmony House, a rental similar to an Air BNB. We loved our stay there. The host was very friendly, and the room was comfortable, clean, and quiet. We had our own parking spot right outside our bedroom, and a small kitchen area with teas and coffee available.
Where to eat?
As with most everything else, when it comes to food, Sedona has something for everyone. However, make reservations or expect long wait times during lunch and dinner rush.
If you’re looking for great food with even greater views, I recommend the northern section of AZ-89A. Canyon Breeze, 89 Agave Cantina, and Open Range are all solid options. These restaurants offer great views of the Sedona red rocks, especially late fall during peak foliage.
Sedona is also heaven for vegans and vegetarians with tons of meatless options. Sedona’s Pizza and Pasta Company, one of the most popular pizza restaurants in Sedona, is actually vegan and features the same amazing views as the non-vegetarian options mentioned above.
PRO TRAVEL TIP
If you plan on spending the day hiking, I highly recommend packing a picnic lunch to save time. most trailheads are fairly remote and driving back to downtown sedona midday might get you stuck in traffic, particularly near sedona’s y – the roundabout where highways 179 and 89 meet.
What to do?
If you aren’t into hiking, I recommend you read my weekend guide to Sedona, AZ. Otherwise, keep reading to find out the best trails in Sedona, Arizona.
If you know anything about me, it’s that I plan the heck out of my trips, and this one was no different. I researched for hours to know what trails I wanted to hike. During our time in Sedona, we logged over 23 mi or 37 km, and as much as I love hiking, I wanted to make sure I optimized my time and step count with rewarding views. This article lists for you the fruits of my research with the 6 best hikes in Sedona rated by difficulty.
1. Seven Sacred Pools
Type: Out and back
Length: 1.2 mi/ 2 km
Duration: 25 minutes
Elevation Gain: 50 ft/ 15 m
Difficulty level: Easy
Trailhead: Soldier Pass Trailhead or Posse Grounds Park (2 extra miles)
Best time to photograph: Morning
The Seven Sacred Pools are located along the Soldier Pass Trail. We hiked past Devil’s Kitchen to the pools then turned around. The trail goes on until it joins Brins Mesa Trail. The trail begins at the Soldier Pass Trailhead which is open daily from 8am to 6pm and only has 14 parking spots. The parking lot fills up quickly; during peak season cars line up by 7:30am to claim a spot. It never hurts to check, but if the Soldier Pass Trailhead parking lot is full, head to Posse Grounds Park. There, you’ll find a very large parking lot as well as a shuttle bus that operates Thursday-Sunday.
We were there on a Monday, so we had to walk the additional mile to the trailhead and back in order to reach Soldier Pass. First, we headed down on a dirt path from the Posse Ground parking lot before walking along the road to the actual trailhead. The views of the nearby red rocks were breathtaking on the way down, so we weren’t even upset about having to go the extra mile (literally).
We very much enjoyed the trail to Seven Sacred Pools. It was short but offered great desert scenery. About 5 minutes into the hike, you’ll pass by Devil’s Kitchen. The sinkhole got its name from the noise the natives heard during the rock fall. They believed the devil must have been “cooking up something bad.” Another 10 minutes down the trail, you’ll come across the Seven Sacred Pools. After rainfall, you may be able to catch a nice reflection in the pool. Otherwise, simply enjoy the scenery. You’ll have to scramble a bit to get 6 of the 7 pools in one shot; walk to the right of the pools and climb on the rock around the rock formations located across from where you first came across the pools.
You can either keep on walking an additional 1.4 miles until you reach Brins Mesa trail or turn around the way you came like we did. If you choose to hike the entirety of the trail, you will log 4 miles/ 6.4 km round trip, not counting the 2 additional miles (3.2 km) to reach Posse Grounds Park. I was not particularly interested in viewing the caves located farther down the trail, so we decided to turn around. This trail is the easiest on this guide and does not require any particular trail-finding skills.
ATTENTION!
as you’ll be reminded countless times throughout your time in sedona, The desert soil is alive. please stay on trail and look for trail markers to avoid getting lost and damaging or killing any organism present on the crust.
2. Birthing Cave
Type: Out and back
Length: 2 mi/ 3.2 km
Duration: 1 hour
Elevation Gain: 300 ft/ 90 m
Difficulty level: Moderate
Trailhead: Long Canyon Trailhead
Best time to photograph: Sunrise/ Afternoon
Overflow parking is located along the road. A good rule of thumb is to stay off the road and away from areas marked with a no parking sign. Anywhere else your car will fit off the road is pretty much fine. We did not find it difficult to get a spot here thanks to the large amount of overflow parking. This trail is not particularly scenic or difficult; however, you must know when to turn in order to reach the cave. Once you reach the intersection pictured below, continue left toward the cave. The last climb into the cave can be a bit of a challenge, but the views inside are really worth it.
In order to photograph the entirety of the birthing cave, you will need to climb into the egg-shaped hole at the back of the cave and use a wide-angle lens. Unfortunately, my 18mm lens wasn’t wide enough to capture the whole cave, so I had to use the panoramic feature on my Iphone 8. If you have an Iphone 13 or 14 with a wide-angle lens feature (0.5x) you should be able to get a decent shot.
However, be aware that the climb to the back of the cave is not for the faint of heart. The rock is very smooth, and if you arrive later in the day, there will be lots of people limiting your anchor points along the rock. Afternoon is great for lighting, but there will be many people at the bottom of your photographs. For this reason, I recommend hiking early in the morning before the crowds show up and the sun blinds you.
DID YOU KNOW?
The legend says that ancient tribes used to bring women to this cave to give birth. I find it difficult to imagine 9-months pregnant women climbing up into the cave, but who knows? Another explanation for the name of this cave is its striking resemblance with a certain organ of the female anatomy.
3. Subway Cave
Type: Out and back
Length: 5.5 mi/ 8.8 km
Duration: 2h30 minutes
Elevation Gain: 600 ft/ 180 m
Difficulty level: Moderate
Trailhead: Boynton Canyon Trailhead
Best time to photograph: Morning
This trailhead features plenty of overflow parking; however, due to its popularity, I recommend getting here no later than 8 or 9am to ensure you get a parking spot near the trailhead. Simply follow the rules mentioned above, and you shouldn’t have any issues finding a parking spot. We arrived at 8:30am and parked about 300 ft from the trailhead. This made for perfect lighting at the cave also.
The trail to Subway Cave begins on flat ground. Within a few minutes, you’ll reach an intersection that is well marked. To your right is the Boynton Pass Vortex. I recommend hiking up to the overlook on your way back when the sun is high in the sky and doesn’t cast a shadow on the rocks. To continue to Subway Cave, keep left on Boynton Canyon Trail, which will take you along the steep red rock walls of Boynton Canyon. Along the way, you’ll enjoy great views of the vista and nearby Enchantment Resort.
The trail to Subway Cave will be on your right past this juniper tree. Make sure to save the image above, so you know when to turn. You will then meander through thicker vegetation until you reach the bottom of the cave. Do not climb up the slick, smooth rock “stairs” to the cave, instead, take a left and look for a path up to the ledge. Once on the ledge, you can either go left to admire the ancient ruins or right through a small cave all the way to Subway Cave. There are endless photo opportunities here, so give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the cave.
I was worried that there would be countless people in my photos since we arrived mid-morning, but we were able to get photos without anyone in them very easily. The cave can be challenging to reach if you do not know the alternate route, and there is so much to explore nearby that most people meander around and don’t congregate in Subway Cave. However, I once again highly recommend getting there no later than 10:30am as the trail was extremely busy on our way out.
When you reach the cave, you will likely see everyone climb up the very narrow, very slick dented slope the goes up into Subway Cave. Don’t follow them! Instead, look to your left and climb up the wall between the second cave and the ruins. The hike up is a bit slippery because of the sand but much easier and safer than the other, more popular option. The ancient ruins located to your left show remnants of the Native American civilization that inhabited these lands centuries ago. Please refrain from touching or standing on the ruins as they are both sacred and protected.
After visiting the ruins, turn back around and continue along the canyon wall until you reach Subway Cave. On the way, you’ll pass by a smaller cave. Make sure to snap some photos of the views along the cliff edge as they are absolutely breathtaking.
When you are ready to head back, simply retrace your steps back to the juniper tree. You can either choose to go all the way to the end of Boynton Canyon Trail, or turn left at juniper tree and head back to the parking lot. Hiking all the way to the end brings your total to 7.1 miles (11.4 km) or 7.5 miles (12 km) with the Boynton Vortex Trail.
4. Bell Rock
Type: Out and back
Length: 1 mi/ 1.6 km
Duration: 1h30 minutes
Elevation Gain: 400 ft/ 120 m
Difficulty level: Moderate
Trailhead: North Bell Rock Trailhead
Best time to photograph: Morning
Climbing up Bell Rock is one of the best ways to enjoy the views around Courthouse Butte. When you type in the trailhead, make sure to select the northern Bell Rock trailhead as there is a second one located farther south. The trail begins on flat ground and is very well marked, so make sure to follow signage at all times. Once you begin the ascend up Bell Rock, you will have to scramble up smooth red rock all the way to the top. If you follow the trail markers, not only will it help protect the desert soil, it will also prevent you from reaching a dead end and having to turn around.
The higher you go, the better the views; however, what is great about this hike is that you can climb as high up as you want and turn around whenever you get tired. Though it may only be one mile, this climb will take you a while because of the ascend and the terrain. If climbing up Bell Rock wasn’t enough for you, and you’d like to enjoy the views of the Courthouse a while longer, consider hiking the 4 mile/ 6.4 km Courthouse Loop.
5. Devil’s Bridge
Type: Out and back
Length: 4.2 mi/ 6.8 km
Duration: 2-3 hours
Elevation Gain: 450 ft/ 140 m
Difficulty level: Moderate
Trailhead: Mescal Trailhead or Devil’s Bridge Trailhead with a 4X4
Best time to photograph: Late afternoon/ Sunset
This is the most popular trail in the park. We hiked around sunset and found a perfect parking spot right in front of the trail’s entrance. This trailhead is not too far from the Long Canyon trailhead, so if the parking spots are scarce, consider leaving your car in the same spot. This is a great option if you choose to hike Devil’s Bridge right after hiking Birthing Cave like we did. If you plan on doing this hike in the evening around winter time, make sure to bring additional layers and gloves as temperatures can drop very quickly in the desert.
Shortly after crossing the dry creek bed, you’ll come to a fork, simply follow the signs for Devil’s Bridge. My favorite part of this trail other than the bridge itself was at the top of the butte before reaching the Devil’s Bridge trailhead.
Once you reach the Devil’s Bridge trailhead, you know you are near the final climb. Reaching this trailhead by road shortens the hike considerably, but it can only be done with a vehicle equipped with 4×4 and high clearance. The final climb is tough, but there are spots to catch your breath and enjoy the view. If you reach the bridge mid-day, you may have to wait up to an hour to get your picture taken. We were there at sunset and only waited about 15 minutes. Thankfully, the queue moves quickly. Once you have all of the pictures you want, head back the way you came.
6. Bear Mountain
Type: Out and back
Length: 5 mi/ 8 km
Duration: 5 hours
Elevation Gain: 1800 ft/ 550 m
Difficulty level: Difficult
Trailhead: Bear Mountain Trail – Oski Approach
Best time to photograph: Afternoon
Beware that there is another trailhead for Bear Mountain, so make sure to put in Bear Mountain Trail – Oski Approach in your navigation device. The parking lot serves both the Bear Mountain Trail – Oski Approach and Doe Mountain Trail. You will need to cross the road to the Bear Mountain Trail – Oski Approach.
This trail is one of the most challenging in all of Sedona. If you have hiked all of the trails in this guide, you may be a bit tired. After reading and talking to several people who attempted this climb, I was told that climbing to the top of the first platform was a great way to get amazing views without pushing your legs too far. The hike to the first viewpoint is 1.2 mile (2 km) round trip and takes about 45 minutes to complete with only 450 ft or 140 m.
If you choose to hike the rest of Bear Mountain trail, you’ll walk a total of 5 miles. As with any other mountain climb, the higher you climb, the better the views get.
What else to do in Sedona?
If you are lucky enough to have some additional time to spend in Sedona, consider doing the following:
- Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross
- Picnic at Moon Crescent Ranch
- Discover the spiritual side of Sedona
- Swim in Oak Creek at Grasshopper Point or Slide Rock State Park
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