7 Amazing Hikes In Sedona For The Bucket List
Discover popular scenic hiking trails in Sedona, spanning landmarks like the Birthing Cave, Devil's Bridge, and Cathedral Rock. The southwestern Arizona state of Arizona is known for its natural beauty and laid-back vibe, with the Grand Canyon and Phoenix. Sedona, one of the most popular towns in the state, is a hub for New Age shops, wellness centers, and ancestral sites, including sacred natural vortexes. The city also offers a wide range of hiking trails, including the Birthing Cave Trail, which was used by Hopi and Yavapai women as a retreat during pregnancy. The Coconino National Forest is also home to some of the best-preserved petroglyphs in Arizona and offers 346 trails for hiking, fishing, climbing, events, and more. These hiking and horseback-riding trails are recommended for visitors from September to May.
Published : a month ago by Mona Bassil in Travel
The southwestern U.S. state of Arizona is mostly associated with the Grand Canyon, a majestic geological wonder, and its bustling capital city, Phoenix, whose downtown can be explored in one weekend for just $100. As a result, Arizona attracts different types of travelers, from nature lovers to those who enjoy the laid-back, friendly vibe of small, historical towns.
One of the most popular towns in Arizona, however, is Sedona, which offers an intense spiritual reset since it has built an international reputation as a hub for New Age shops, wellness centers, and ancestral sites, not to mention Sedona's sacred natural vortexes.
Sedona offers plenty to do and see on vacation; however, perhaps most notably, it's one of Arizona's small towns with beautiful hiking trails and is a solid base to explore many wonderful red-rock formations and other scenic sites. For those looking to go hiking in Sedona, these amazing trails should be on every visitor’s bucket list.
Spanning 1.856 million acres of stunning red-rock formations, Ponderosa pine forests, canyons, lakes, ponds, and creeks, Coconino National Forest boasts some of the best-preserved petroglyphs in Arizona and a whopping 346 great trails for hiking, fishing, climbing, events, and more.
One of the main hikes that don’t require a Red Rock Pass is the Birthing Cave Trail, which starts out flat, wide, and sandy, until the final, slightly slippery ascent that leads to a sacred cave with smooth slickrock. According to legend, the latter was used by Hopi and Yavapai women as a retreat during the last stage of pregnancy.
The best time to visit is between October and May to avoid the scorching heat, but it will be more crowded in spring. Still, the fantastic panoramic view from the top will definitely be worth it in every season.
Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness stretches for 47,195 acres within Coconino National Forest, offering 23 different hiking and birding opportunities, including the Brin Mesa Trail, which is recommended between October and May.
This route intersects with other trails along the way, which the more adventurous can choose to explore as well, and it culminates in sweeping views of Mormon Canyon and the southern tip of Wilson Mountain. It is especially recommended for picnicking and stargazing.
The 18,150-acre Munds Mountain Wilderness is another gorgeous area to explore on foot within the Coconino National Forest, and it’s only 30 minutes from Flagstaff and its unique and fun experiences, should a traveler be based there instead of Sedona.
Bell Rock is a massive red-rock formation in the shape of a dome that is located within the Wilderness. The designated loop around it is short and particularly colorful in the last hour before sunset.
It is popular among scramblers and mountain bikers and features a few steep sections if going counterclockwise. As for the wildlife, potted towhees, scrub jays, and canyon wren sightings have been reported.
Boynton Canyon is one of the many bucket list walking and horseback-riding trails in Sedona, ideally visited from September to May and particularly striking in bright yellow fall foliage.
This route is easily one of the most amazing hikes Sedona has to offer; it features Sinaguan ruins, lush landscapes, and a narrowing canyon. It's also partly shaded and relatively flat, with smooth elevation changes and more challenges toward the end.
The Seven Sacred Pools and Soldier Pass Cave Trail is another one of the best hikes Sedona has in store for adventurers, as it takes visitors through stunning vistas between the Oak Creek Mountains and the Sedona desert, featuring deep-colored juniper trees and pools that are naturally carved into red sandstone.
It is best visited between October and May, and there is a free shuttle from the parking lot to the trailhead, operating from Thursday to Sunday. Getting to the Soldier Pass Cave is mostly an uphill walk, with steep and rocky sections, but the views and photos from the open archway will reward the effort.
Here is another great Sedona hike that gives visitors a head start via a free shuttle service from Thursday to Sunday: the well-marked Devil’s Bridge via Mescal Trailhead.
That famous, six-foot-wide, natural red-rock bridge can also be directly accessed via a 4x4 vehicle; once there, crossing it on foot offers stunning views, but there may be a 45-minute wait, especially during Spring Break.
Be sure to read up on the numerous things to know before hiking Devil’s Bridge, from trail traffic to the best viewpoints of the landmark itself.
Cathedral Rock is one of Sedona’s Seven Sacred vortex spots, attracting many spiritual visitors with its female energy, but also nature-loving families with children.
The designated trailhead starts 1 mile west of Back O’ Beyond Road and includes a creek, basket cairns, rock staircases, a plateau with great views of Sedona, a crevasse, and another plateau that is a favorite resting and picnicking spot. Thursday through Sunday, visitors can leave their vehicles at the North SR 179 park and catch a free shuttle ride.