Incredible hikes are one of the main reasons we chose Sedona for our vacation. As I mentioned in a previous post we visited Sedona 30+ years ago and knew it was a place we loved and wanted to further explore. One of the surprises we got as we hiked 5 different trails was the variety in the landscape-desert, scrubby pine, snowy canyon and low brush. By going in February we were treated to perfect weather; sunny skies, the mornings were just a little cool and by the afternoon the chill was gone and we were comfortable in jeans and long sleeve t-shirts. Even though the temperatures were mild we still made sure we drank plenty of water-very important.
I feel like you could spend a month in Sedona and still not hike all the trails the area has to offer. As I delve in to the descriptions of the hikes we did I will first share I have fear of open air heights-especially when hiking. Only Cathedral Rock trail challenged me in this area and with a few positive words from my husband I pressed on and was rewarded with fabulous views, a great sense of accomplishment and the opportunity to encourage others who were doubting their abilities as they made their way up the trail!
Day one we took on Shuerman Mountain Trail which is listed as one of Sedona’s Secret Seven hiking trails. The trail is 3.6 miles but we added on to it to create a six mile hike. This is one of Sedona’s oldest trails and as you make your ascent up an extinct volcano mound you are rewarded with some sweeping views making it a prime location for watching the sunset. This is an easy hike which is partially shaded with an elevation change of 400 feet.Â
Day two we hiked to Devil’s Bridge which is an absolute must!! If you are visiting for more than a weekend this is best done during the week due to its popularity. As you leave the parking area you walk along a trail built for off road vehicles (high clearance only) for about 3/4 mile. After that you are on a clearly marked trail which includes some scrambling that is moderately challenging. The entire trail is a 4.2 mile out and back taking you to a beautiful sandstone arch making this location the ultimate family Christmas card picture or Instagram photo spot. We had no problems with the hike and saw families with little ones make if as well. Everyone we met up there was very nice and willing to take pictures for each other to capture the memory of being there!
Day three we headed for Brins Mesa trail which was fantastic. The trail features a sink hole and the Seven Sacred Pools along the way. The scenery is fantastic, the trail is easy and it has great places to stop and take pictures. With the add ons the distance totaled 5.43 miles with our elevation starting at 4497 peaking at 5091. This is a fairly popular trail with plenty of parking at the base, bathrooms at the parking lot (yay) and lots of open spaces. Their are several trails which intersect in this area-Jordan, Cibola Pass, Soldier Pass and Brins Mesa so be sure to check the map to choose your desired path before starting.
Day four we embarked on our shortest but most challenging hike-Cathedral Rock. This is another one of the very popular and iconic hikes in Sedona so if you are going on the weekend I recommend you get there early to secure a parking spot. There is no shade on the trail, lots of bare rock and scrambling to the top but the views are phenomenal and again the sense of accomplishment and photo ops at the end of the trail are stellar!! The stats for this trail are 1.5 out and back with an elevation gain of 587 feet and it took us 1 hr 11 minutes.
For our final day we chose Boynton Canyon, a different hike from any of the others. Another out and back, this trail leads you through a variety of terrain: dusty trail, desert scrub, pine forest and windy canyon. The temperatures varied with the terrain from warm and sunny to cool in the snowy, shaded forest. This was a perfect hike for Saturday as it is not one of the more popular trails in town so it was not crazy crowded. We hiked 6.95 miles for a total of 2 hours 42 minutes, with the elevation gain of 773 feet. This was not a hard hike and was thoroughly enjoyable. Take some time to soak up the atmosphere and energy when you reach the end of the trail in the canyon-it is a truly beautiful place.
 As the years have passed, hiking in Sedona has grown more and more popular and the designated parking capacity for many of the trailheads does not match demand. With this in mind, I encourage you to obey the signs because parking rules and restrictions are enforced and you could get towed-that would be a total bummer. At peak times this means you might be adding some distance to your hike since you have to park quite a ways from the trailheads. No matter which season you visit Sedona it always has low humidity which makes it all the more important to stay well hydrated. All the trails we hiked are dog friendly but they must be kept on a leash. The parking lots for Cathedral Rock, Boynton Canyon and Brins Mesa are part of the Red Rock Pass fee structure; you can either pay $5 per day or $15 for a week pass. There are a few great sources of information that cover hiking in Sedona: http://www.visitsedona.com http://www.tripadvisor.com and http://www.alltrails.com. All of these offer a wealth of information and Trip Advisor and All Trails also have reviews and details of what others experienced at these locations. We planned all the details of this trip ourselves-lots of research and reading ahead of time using the resources available. The memories we made along these trails and looking out at breath-taking views will stay with us for years to come and leave us with the lasting desire to continue to discover the incredible world in which we live!
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