Sedona is a hiking paradise nestled amidst the red rock formations of Arizona. With over 300 days of sunshine a year and temperatures ranging from 40-90 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s an ideal place for outdoor adventures all year round.
If you’re planning a trip to Sedona and want to experience the best Sedona hiking trails, you’ve come to the right place! Here are my top 10 picks for the most scenic, unique, and thrilling hiking in Sedona.
The 10 Best Sedona hiking trails
1. Devil’s Bridge Trail
- Star Rating: 4.7 (25191)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length – 3.9 miles
- Elevation gain – 521 ft
- Route type – Out & back
Devil’s Bridge is one of the most famous Sedona hiking trails. Located in the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness, this trail brings you to the base of a massive natural sandstone arch rising 50 feet tall.
Along the way, you’ll pass pine forests, red rock formations, ladders, and epic views. The trail gains about 521 feet in elevation over 3.9 miles.
While it’s not overly difficult, the uneven terrain and lack of shade make it a more challenging hike. Bring plenty of water and sun protection. The payoff at the end when you stand beneath Devil’s Bridge is well worth the effort!
2. Bell Rock Pathway
- Star Rating: 4.7 (2759)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length – 4.5 km
- Elevation gain – 145 m
- Route type – Out & back
This is one of the most popular, family-friendly hiking in Sedona. The relatively flat trail circles the base of the iconic Bell Rock, one of the largest rock monoliths around Sedona.
You’ll pass juniper trees, prickly pear cactus, and epic views of the rock formations as you trace the perimeter.
Part of the trail follows along Oak Creek, where you might spot wildlife like herons and beavers. The easy terrain and short distance make this hike accessible for just about every ability level.
3. Doe Mountain Trail
- Star Rating: 4.8 (3210)
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Length – 2.4 km
- Elevation gain – 156 m
- Route type – Out & back
One of the best ways to experience Sedona’s famous red rock scenery is to get above it all on Doe Mountain Trail.
This steep, challenging trail gains 156m over 2.4 km as you climb to the top of Doe Mountain. Scramble up slick rock and boulders to reach spectacular panoramic views across Sedona from the summit.
The trail then descends gradually through the pine forest back to the trailhead. Bring plenty of water and snacks to fuel this tough hike! Reaching the top is an amazing payoff.
4. Cathedral Rock Trail
- Star Rating: 4.8 (16719)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length – 1.2 mi
- Elevation gain – 741 ft
- Route type – Out & back
Cathedral Rock is another one of Sedona’s most iconic and photographed rock formations.
For an up-close look, take the short but steep hike to a saddle between the two towers of Cathedral Rock. Sturdy shoes or hiking boots are a must, as you’ll scramble over slick rock and uneven terrain.
The trail is unmarked but easy to follow as it ascends via a natural drainage. At the top, you’ll have amazing views and photo ops of the towering Cathedral Rock spires. This short trail packs a lot of scenery into a small package!
Read More – Top 8 National Parks in Oregon
5. Soldier Pass Trail
- Star Rating: 4.7 (9158)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length – 7.2 km
- Elevation gain – 256 m
- Route type – Out & back
Adventurous hikers will love the diverse landscapes along the Soldier Pass Trail. The trail starts in oak and pine forest before emerging onto red rock slickrock.
Scramble through Devil’s Kitchen, a narrow slot canyon, using ladders and uneven rock stairs. Emerge from the canyon to wide open views and the Seven Sacred Pools, beautifully carved pink and white sandstone pools.
Ends at the historic Soldier Pass, once used by Native Americans and settlers. Diversify your Sedona hike by experiencing slot canyons, Slickrock hiking, and history all in one!
6. Fay Canyon Trail
- Star Rating: 4.6 (7827)
- Distance – 3.9 km
- Elevation gain – 91 m
- Route type – Out & back
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
For a lesser-known hiking in Sedona , head to the Fay Canyon Trail. Starting from the Fay Canyon Campground, this loop trail meanders through sandstone cliffs, colorful slickrock, and slot canyons.
A short side trail takes you to a massive stone arch. The relatively flat terrain of the main loop trail makes it family-friendly, but wear sturdy shoes to traverse slickrock stretches. Fay Canyon sees far fewer crowds than other Sedona trails, but still delivers gorgeous scenery.
7. Brins Mesa Trail
- Star Rating: 4.7 (797)
- Length – 12.6 km
- Elevation gain – 333 m
- Route type – Loop
- Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
One of the most scenic trails in Sedona, Brins Mesa Trail boasts nearly constant panoramic views. The well-defined trail climbs 12.6 km through juniper forest to reach the top of Brins Mesa.
From here, you’ll have nonstop vistas of the Secret Mountain Wilderness and red rock formations like Merry-Go-Round Rock and Coffee Pot Rock.
The most stunning stretch is the section along Sterling Pass, with 360-degree views. For a shorter option, turn around at Sterling Pass. Complete the entire up and down for one of the best scenery hiking in Sedona!
8. West Fork Trail
- Star Rating: 4.8 (11588)
- Length – 10.5 km
- Elevation gain – 172 m
- Route type – Out & back
One of the most unique hiking in Sedona is West Fork Trail, leading along the West Fork of Oak Creek through a scenic narrow canyon. The trail is relatively flat as you follow the creek, crossing it numerous times on rock ledges and wading through pooling sections.
The canyon walls tower above, at times only a few feet wide. It’s like walking through a slot canyon filled with water! The end stretch opens up for great views down the canyon. Due to its popularity, permits are required for this hiking in Sedona from March to October. Plan ahead to experience this gem!
9. Airport Mesa Trail
- Star Rating: 4.5 (6244)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length – 5.3 km
- Elevation gain – 131 m
- Route type – Loop
For amazing 360-degree views with minimal effort, head to the Airport Mesa Trail. True to its name, the Sedona hiking sits on a high mesa just south of Sedona Airport. Panoramic views stretch from Steamboat Rock to Cathedral Rock to the Sedona Valley below. Sunrise and sunset here are particularly stunning. The completely flat, paved trail loops the mesa and works for any ability level including wheelchairs. Catch one of the best easy scenic trails in Sedona at Airport Mesa!
10. Courthouse Butte Loop Trail
- Star Rating: 4.7 (4202)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length – 5.8 km
- Elevation gain – 104 m
- Route type – Loop
Wrap around the base of Courthouse Butte on this scenic loop hike in Red Rock State Park.
The trail passes through classic Sedona scenery, with views of Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and other formations surrounding Courthouse Butte. Part of the trail follows Oak Creek, where you can spot herons fishing and ducks swimming.
Sections traverse slickrock and some short ascents/descents are encountered around Llama Butte. While not overly difficult, bring good shoes for traction on the slickrock. Enjoy a landscape-filled hike with creekside stretches on the Courthouse Butte Loop!
