Sedona is one of the most popular destinations in the Southwest, and for good reason! We lived in Sedona for a year and a half, and absolutely fell in love with the area. There are so many beautiful Sedona hikes beyond Devil’s Bridge, and we would argue that all of these hikes boast even better views!
Sedona has recently seemed to have gained a pretty bad reputation for having crazy packed trails (Instagram versus reality videos ringing any bells?). The part that is often left out is that most of those crowds are in a very select few famous spots. We have compiled our favorite 7 hikes in Sedona where we go to find less people, amazing views, and quiet trails.
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Things to Prepare for When Visiting Sedona
Sedona is such a fun place to explore, and it’s so important to be prepared to fully enjoy it! Here are a few things you need to know before exploring in Sedona:
- Check the Weather: As always, you’re going to want to check the weather before venturing out in Sedona! Winter can bring snow and cold temperatures, and Summer can bring extreme heat and monsoon storms! This is the high desert, and weather can vary a lot. Make sure you bring layers and prepare for sudden rain.
- Bring more water and food than you think you’ll need: It’s always better to have more than not enough!
- Be Aware of Flood Warnings: Many hikes in Sedona are through a wash or canyon, and summer monsoons can come on really quickly! If you are caught in a canyon when the rain comes, there is the potential for flash floods. It’s best to avoid those places completely if there is rain in the forecast.
- Dogs must be on leash: If you’re bringing your furry friend, please keep them on a leash and pick up after them! Also make sure that they can handle the temperatures throughout the day.
- Trails aren’t always clearly marked: Many trails end up on the red rocks at some point, and it can be hard to tell where the trail goes! Typically you can look out for white or blue paint spots on the rock (shown below) or small cairns to show you where the trail goes. It’s always best to download the trails on your phone just in case!
- Cactus is EVERYWHERE: There is quite a bit of cactus along the trails, so be aware of your foot placement to avoid them, and we recommend brining tweezers just in case!
- Be Patient: Sedona’s popularity has grown a lot in the past few years. There are likely to be quite a few people traveling to Sedona the same time you are! Be patient. There may be some traffic or hard-to-get parking spots, but I promise, it will be worth it!
- Leave No Trace: Desert ecosystems are incredibly fragile, and it’s so important that we take care of them while visiting, so future generations can enjoy them too. Please pack everything back out, leave the trails better than you find them, know how to handle bathroom needs, respect wildlife and others, and prepare for the unknown. Make sure you don’t touch any dwelling sites or other indigenous artifacts you may come across.
- Sign the Sedona Cares Pledge
Now, let’s get into the hikes!
Hiline To Cathedral Rock Loop
This is probably out go-to trail every time we return to Sedona! The Hiline to Cathedral Rock Loop is a longer trail that connects one of the most popular spots in town (Cathedral Rock), with a trail that also gives you high viewpoints of the entire town, a little time by the creek, and a much easier parking situation.
This trail is frequented by mountain bikers, so make sure to be aware of bikers coming behind you. Technically, hikers have the right of way, but if it’s easy to pull off for them, they greatly appreciate it!
Trail Length: 8.0 miles
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 895 feet
Route Type: Loop (we recommend traveling clockwise)
Dog Friendly: Yes
Mountain Bike Friendly: Yes
Parking: Yavapai Vista Parking Lot. A large parking lot with a few RV/larger vehicle spots too.
Facilities at trailhead: Bathrooms.
Fees/Pass: Red Rocks Pass/US Parks Pass
Hangover Loop
The Hangover Loop gives a huge variety of Sedona terrain (and I definitely wouldn’t want to do this one with a hangover). It starts by going down into a shady wash, walking up near a (sometimes dry) creek bed. It then turns left to cross over a vast spread of slickrock with an amazing view looking back on town. As you climb higher, you end up in a saddle between two very prominent Sedona rocks, and then wind down back around to your car.
The views on this trail are absolutely incredible, and if you don’t mind hiking back in the dark, the top can be a great spot to watch the sunset! There are a few spots that have some exposure and may not be very fun for anyone with a fear of heights.
Trail Length: 8.2 miles
Difficulty Rating: Hard
Elevation Gain: 1,171 feet
Route Type: Loop (we recommend traveling counterclockwise)
Dog Friendly: Yes
Mountain bike friendly: Yes
Parking: A large parking lot at the base of Schnebly Hill. If you have 4×4, you can cut some of this trail off BUT the road is VERY bumpy and is not an enjoyable ride.
Facilities at trailhead: Bathrooms
Fees/Pass: Red Rock Pass/US Parks Pass
Munds Wagon to Merry Go Round Rock
This is a classic Sedona shot, and one of the most unique spots for photos! This hike starts at the same spot as the Hangover loop, and could actually be added on as a lollipop to that loop! You can also drive all the way to Merry Go Round Rock on Schnebly Road (this closes in the winter/after storms), however the road required 4×4 and high clearance, and is VERY rough.
This photo spot is hard to spot and is on the left side of the big feature!
Trail Length: 6.5 miles
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 1,105 feet
Route Type: Out and Back
Dog Friendly: Yes
Mountain bike friendly: Yes
Parking: Large parking lot at the base of Schnebly Hill or smaller dirt spots up on the dirt road (4×4 necessary)
Facilities at trailhead: Bathrooms
Fees/Pass: Red Rock/US Parks Pass
Fay Canyon
This hike is close by to some very popular hikes, and is so underrated! It’s a shorter hike through a canyon floor, and when you hit the “end of trail” sign, you can scramble up some of the red rocks right in front of you to get a gorgeous view back towards town. This is a great shorter hike for kids and has much less crowds than the nearby Boynton Canyon.
Trail Length: 2.3 miles
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 193 feet
Route Type: Out and Back
Dog Friendly: Yes
Mountain bike friendly: No
Parking: Large parking lot at the trailhead.
Facilities at trailhead: Bathrooms
Fees/Pass: Red Rocks Pass/US Parks Pass
West Fork Trail
This is my absolute favorite hike for warm Sedona days! This hike can be relatively popular, but there is a parking lot that fills up early which limits how many people can be on this trail. I highly recommend showing up early (the parking lot usually opens at 8 am) to get a spot!
We call West Fork Trail the Narrows of Sedona. The hike starts in a shaded forest and crosses over the creek numerous times before hitting the “end of trail.” Once you get there, you can continue up the creek as far as you’d like! You can even backpack this with a permit! The water can get pretty deep, and we usually stop once we have to swim or go past our hips, but that is a few miles in the water. We recommend bringing some sort of water shoe to hike in! We love bringing Chacos, and they have decent grip for the slippery rocks. This hike will typically be at least 15 degrees cooler than town, and the water is very cold!
Trail Length: 6.5+ miles
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 564 feet
Route Type: Out and Back
Dog Friendly: Yes
Mountain bike friendly: No
Parking: A limited parking lot at the trailhead that fills up near opening each day
Facilities at trailhead: Bathrooms
Fees/Pass: $12 per vehicle or Grand Annual Red Rocks Pass
Broken Arrow to Chicken Point
Another one of our favorites for a shorter hike in Sedona! Broken Arrow to Chicken Point is a great sunrise or sunset hike and gives you a beautiful view of the backside of the rocks behind the Chapel of the Holy Cross. From Chicken Point you can see Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. Be sure to look up on the rocks to see the “White Line” that only the bravest mountain bikers will ride across! You don’t have to add on Submarine Rock, but you can if you’re hoping for a slightly longer trail.
This spot can get busy with Jeep Tours sometimes, but we still think it’s a very underrated hike and a beautiful spot to enjoy! You can also add on other trails like Hog Wash, High on the Hog, or Little Horse to make this hike longer.
Trail Length: 4.2 miles
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 538 feet
Route Type: Loop (or Out and Back)
Dog Friendly: Yes
Mountain bike friendly: Yes
Parking: A dirt parking lot at the trailhead (may want higher clearance)
Facilities at trailhead: None
Fees/Pass: None
Sugarloaf Trail
Sugarloaf is a really great shorter hike that gives you some amazing views of the western side of Sedona. This is a local favorite for sunrise and sunset, and can be done in under an hour. You’ll see Coffee Pot Rock, Thunder Mountain, the Airport Mesa, and more from the top of the knoll.
Trail Length: 1.9 miles
Difficulty Rating: Easy
Elevation Gain: 354 feet
Route Type: Loop (or Out and Back)
Dog Friendly: Yes
Mountain bike friendly: Yes
Parking: Small parking lot at the trailhead (can fill up!)
Facilities at trailhead: None
Fees/Pass: Red Rocks Pass/US Parks Pass
What to bring for Sedona Hikes
There are a few things that will make hiking in Sedona much more enjoyable year round!
Water Bladder: Ensure you’ll have plenty of water by carrying a 3 L bladder.
Sun Hoodies: Protect your skin from the sun and keep yourself cool with a sun hoodie. These are our favorite!
A Daypack: Bring a daypack that can fit plenty of layers, food, and water for a full day! This is a great backpack that is really comfortable to wear, and will keep your back cool all day.
Snacks: Always have plenty of snacks for yourself or someone else on the trail! We love bringing salty snacks like trail mix, pretzels, and sandwiches, and we always bring something sweet too.
Plenty of water: Dehydration is a serious issue in Sedona, and you should never be hiking without water on the trails. A good rule of thumb is to bring 1 L per 2 hours of hiking (and increase this if it’s going to be warm).
Wool Socks: With the heat in Sedona, it’s really easy to get blisters on your feet! Good hiking socks will make all the difference.
Hiking Shoes: The trails in Sedona can be pretty rocky and often have quite a variety of terrain. Make sure you have hiking shoes you love and that will support you for long days on the trail! We love trail runners for warmer places, and these Salomon hiking shoes are super comfortable, and won’t be holding sweat in the shoe on a hot day.
We hope you enjoy your time in Sedona, and if you end up going on one of these trails, let us know!