Hiking in Sedona
Hiking in Sedona is one of the most popular activities in the Red Rock Country around the town, with numerous trails to choose from, from easy to challenging.
Sedona is surrounded by hiking opportunities, and there are some good guidebooks available if you like to have directions and maps. You can also pick up hiking suggestions at visitor centers, or visit one of Sedona’s bookshops. One reason we suggest this kind of thing upfront is so that you can browse through some options and choose the hike that’s right for you.
The Most Popular Hikes in Sedona
If you’re looking for ideas for hiking in Sedona, well check out the most popular trails first. There’s a reason they’re the most popular, and here they are in alphabetical order.
Bear Mountain Trail
This tough hike is a 25-minute drive outside Sedona, and it’s a total of 4.9 miles (7.9 km) there and back. It takes about three hours and the rewards at the top of Bear Mountain are spectacular views
Boynton Canyon Trail
This starts a 20-minute drive from downtown and takes you along the canyon bottom. It’s one of the most scenic (and therefore busy) hikes near Sedona, and is about three miles (4.8 km) in each direction.
Brins Mesa Trail
This trail of 4.4 miles (7.1 km) is popular as the trailhead is only a 5-minute drive from downtown, and climbs to the top of Brins Mesa to provide lovely views of the area’s rock formations.
Devil’s Bridge Trail
A 25-minute drive from downtown brings you to the trailhead for this easy 1.8 mile (2.9 km) trail that takes you, not surprisingly, to the sandstone arch known as Devil’s Bridge. The hike is easy but you’ll need a four-wheel drive to get to the trailhead.
Doe Mountain Trail
A 15-minute drive from downtown is the loop trail that takes you around the top of Doe Mountain, with great views. It’s 2.6 miles (4.2 km).
Jim Thompson Trail
This is another popular Sedona hiking trail and the trailhead is just a five-minute drive due north out of town. It’s an out-and-back trail with a total length of 5 miles (8 km) and should take you a couple of hours. It’s a lovely hike, popular with birdwatchers.
Red Rock Pass
No, this isn’t the name of a place but a parking permit, which you’ll definitely need to get if you’re spending any time hiking in Sedona. You can buy inexpensive daily, weekly, or annual passes in lots of places around town, including hotels and visitor centers.
A Red Rock Pass is required if you’re going to be parking on National Forest land for longer than 15 minutes. If you simply want to stop a while to take a photo, that’s not going to be a problem. However, if staying longer than 15 minutes then you’ll need to display a pass in your windshield. As Sedona is surrounded by National Forest land, you’re sure to need a pass.
You can find out more from the official website of Visit Sedona, and buy a pass online here.
Snakes
If you’re hiking in Arizona you do have to keep an eye open for snakes. You could go all week without seeing one, but they are there, including rattlesnakes. Not all snakes are venomous, though even non-venomous ones can give you a bite if you startle them or try to approach them – yes, some people do!
Unless you’re very familiar with snakes, it isn’t always easy to quickly tell if a snake is venomous or not. If you hear a rattle then you know it’s a rattlesnake, and they are venomous. Incidentally, just because a rattler is rattling, it does not mean it’s about to strike, as some people believe. It’s simply alerting you to its presence, and suggesting you back off, which you should slowly do if you can see or hear where the snake is.
(They Eat Rattlesnakes!)
The important thing with snakes is not to panic. They would much rather avoid any contact with people, so just let them go about their business. Don’t make any sudden movements, as that can startle them and spook them. If one is in your path, back slowly away a little so it knows you’re not a threat and moves on.
I remember hiking on a trail in the Saguaro National Park in Tucson. I heard the sound of a rattle very close by, looked down, and there was a rattler a few inches from my foot. It was simply overtaking me, and letting me know it was there!
Frommer’s Arizona and the Grand Canyon
This is our recommended guide for Arizona and the Grand Canyon, if you’re thinking of planning a visit. The two authors both live full-time in Arizona and the book is therefore based on lifetime experiences of the state. It has 86% 5- and 4-star ratings on Amazon.
