6 Best Sedona Hikes for First Time Visitors

Sedona is a magical place that is becoming more popular every year. There are so many cool hikes here that you won’t want to miss. Keep reading for the 6 best Sedona hikes for first-time visitors

Introduction to Sedona Hikes

I had never really heard of Sedona until I lived in Phoenix. For many, it was overshadowed by other Southwest destinations like the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park. I am so glad I discovered Sedona because it is truly beautiful, and it’s clear the locals really treasure this amazing town.

Sedona is a 2 hour drive north from Phoenix and is home to some of the most magical hikes. I say magical because many visitors agree that there is a special type of energy when you go on Sedona hikes. Sedona is said to be one giant vortex.

What is a vortex you ask? It’s an area of energy that is common with healing and meditation. Although all of Sedona is a vortex, there are several Sedona hiking trails where the energy will feel much stronger. These are at Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Boynton Canyon.

If you aren’t as into the spiritual side, Sedona is still an amazing place for hiking regardless. The Sedona hikes views are absolutely stunning, most of the trails are dog friendly, and there is a good coffee & restaurant scene for post-hiking activities.

Where is Sedona?

Sedona is a beautiful town 2 hours north of Phoenix and about 1 hour south of Flagstaff.

The easiest way to get to Sedona is through the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. There are multiple airlines that serve this busy hub. Once you land, I highly recommend renting a car – public transportation is not great in Sedona. You will need a car to get to all the hiking trails and it will just be much more convenient.

If you are traveling in the Phoenix Area and are looking to go to Sedona as part of a bigger trip, check out my 10 Favorite Hikes in Phoenix.

Best Time to Visit Sedona

With mild temps in the winter, Sedona is great to visit any time of year, although November – April is recommended.

Summer in Arizona is pretty rough for hiking. The weather is extremely hot and makes it really tough to hike in the middle of the day. Typically, Sedona is a little bit cooler in the summer because of higher elevations. Still, the weather can get to 90+ degrees.

If you do want to go hiking in the summer, I really recommend to start hiking at or before sunrise and try to end before 11AM!

Because of the hot temps, Sedona hikes will be much more enjoyable from Fall to early Spring. Except for the school vacations, there are also generally fewer visitors. The trailheads in Sedona have very little parking so this is definitely a big benefit.

What to Pack for Sedona Hiking Trails

Hiking Boots / Shoes

Having the right shoes is super important. Whether you like lighter shoes like I do or a sturdier hiking boot, Hoka One One and Salomon are my go-to products. For most of the Sedona hikes, shoes with a solid grip will be important because there is a lot of loose rock. This is especially important on Cathedral Rock trail that is one of the most popular hikes in Sedona.

Sun Protection

Sun protection will help your skin and keep you hydrated during your hikes! Although Sedona is typically 5-10 degrees warmer than Phoenix, it still helps to stay protected.

Water Storage

I personally prefer using an MSR Drom Bag because I’m fairly lazy to take water bottles out of my bag, but both options are great. Make sure to bring plenty of water on Sedona hikes.

In the summer, I will bring around 1L per hour of hiking. In the winter, I will lessen that to around 0.5L per hour of hiking.

Summer Hiking Clothing

I change my hiking gear a bit when I am hiking in the summer. This is to optimize for the hot temps of course.

Gear for your Dog

Finally don’t forget to keep your dog safe. I love that Sedona hikes are mostly dog friendly and I can bring the boys along. Here is some of my favorite dog hiking gear.

6 Best Sedona Hikes

1. Devil’s Bridge

Devil’s Bridge is by far the most famous Sedona hike. Since popping up on Instagram a few years ago, Devil’s Bridge has only gotten more popular for the beautiful view of this sandstone bridge.

The hike itself is 4 miles with 500 ft elevation gain. It is fairly easy with a short climb at the end, pretty straightforward in navigation, and dog friendly! You might see Pink Jeeps on your way in. These jeeps are able to drive in further than normal cars because of the 4WD capability on the bumpy roads.

The good news is, there is plenty of room at the trailhead. The downside is that people love taking photos at this bridge, so if you are hiking on the weekends expect to wait 30-45 minutes for this iconic Devil’s Bridge photo.

Recommendation for experienced hikers: Come on the weekdays and hike Devi’s Bridge at sunrise or sunset. You won’t be disappointed!

2. Cathedral Rock

Cathedral Rock is my other go-to recommendation for Sedona Hikes. At 1.2 miles, this hike looks short but I would rate it a moderate hike because of the difficult footing and climbing to get up.

If you can make it to the top, you are rewarded with beautiful towers of red rock. It is definitely one of the most popular Sedona hikes too, so be sure to start early to get a parking spot. When I went on a weekday afternoon, I waited for 40 minutes until a parking spot freed up.

3. Airport Mesa Trail

The Airport Mesa Trail is a popular Sedona hike for its sweeping views and proximity to town. The hike itself is straightforward at a 3-mile loop with minimal elevation.

It is the best at sunrise because of the angle of the sun that will give you a bright reflection of the town of Sedona and the surrounding rocks. It’s truly a stunning place and I highly recommend waking up early to catch the sunrise in Sedona.

Airport Mesa is also a popular Sedona vortex. The vortexes are said to be centers of the Earth’s energy and people have reported feeling a strong spiritual spirit when they visit the vortex. Because of this, you might run into some people who choose to meditate on the trail!

4. Bell Rock

If you are in the town of Sedona, you will likely see views of Bell Rock. It is also right off Highway 179 which makes is very popular. This hike is an easy, short 0.8 mile climb up to Bell Rock.

Bell Rock is also said to be one of Sedona’s most powerful vortexes, which makes it popular for locals and tourists alike who come to absorb energy from the vortex. Even if you aren’t as interested in the vortex, Bell Rock is absolutely stunning and worth a visit.

In my opinion, Bell Rock is also one of the best Sedona hikes for sunset.

5. Doe Mountain Trail

The Doe Mountain Trail is in a quieter section of Sedona. It is much less visited which makes it a perfect sunset hike in Sedona.

The hike itself is only 1.5 miles and immediately climbs up to this ridge. Once you reach the top, walk all the way to the back until you see this beautiful opening of the area below.

There was only 1 other couple when we were there, and this was a peak weekend. We were lucky to enjoy the surrounding area in silence. I highly recommend this hike for sunsets.

6. West Fork of Oak Creek Trail

This awesome hike is 20 minutes north of Sedona town and is often skipped over because it doesn’t have the same red rock feel as the other hikes. However, this is one of the best watering holes in Sedona. At 7 miles, this hike will take around 4-5 miles roundtrip.

Because it gets so hot in Sedona, the Oak Creek Trail is busy almost year-round but especially from April – September. The lot fills up quickly so I recommend arriving by 7:30AM. Plus, if you start early, you will also have more of the creek to yourself.

This is a very popular trail, especially with younger teenagers. It is recommended to bring snacks, plenty of water, and of course your swimsuit on this 7 mile hike.

Tips for Hiking in Sedona

Now that you know more about the hikes available in Sedona, make sure you have a smooth trip with these top tips!

1. Stay locally in Sedona

It may be tempting to stay in Phoenix and commute up to Sedona for a day trip, but there can be pretty bad traffic – especially on the weekends. There is also so much to do in Sedona that you will want to spend more than a day here

2. Bring your dog!

Sedona is very very dog friendly. Most of the hikes are dog friendly, and there are many dog-friendly hotels. Additionally, many of the restaurants in Sedona offer dog-friendly patios. The sunny weather year-round makes this a perfect destination for you and your pup.

3. Wear shoes with a good grip

Wearing shoes with a good grip is very important for Sedona hikes. Although not a lot of the hikes are strenuous, most of them require some kind of climb on loose rock. I have seen folks with old Converse or other shoes that didn’t help when they needed to scale up and down these climbs. It can get very slippery!

Have you been to Sedona before? What did you think?