Sedona, Arizona: Which hikes should I do?

1. Cathedral Rock

Length: 1.2 miles out and back | Level: Moderate | Parking Permit: Yes

Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it until the end of the trail (although it was a short hike) because it was raining and the rocks were extremely slippery. You have to climb the rocks, so this was not the most appropriate hike to do in the rain. Still, it was scenic, and I would love to come back and do this hike on a sunny day. I took a bunch of photos and videos, so I am content for now

2. Soldiers Pass

Length: Depends on which route you go; my hike was about 7.58 miles out & back | Level: Moderate

I started my hike at Soldier Pass Trail, passed by Seven Sacred Pools, then Soldier Pass Spur A, and finally arrived close to the cave. On my way to the Seven Sacred Pools, I also stopped by the Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole, which is a must-see. The sinkhole was made due to the collapse of underground caverns in the Redwall Limestone. I took a video on my phone, and you should see how deep and big the sinkhole is!

3. Boynton Canyon Trail- Subway Cave: My Top Pick*

Length: 6.5 miles out and back | Level: Moderate-Strenuous | Parking Permit: Yes (Plenty of parking places available.)

This one is very popular but is a hidden gem. I was so lost in finding this trail, but I ended up joining a group of hikers from Phoenix to find the trail together. So.. How do you get there? The following is what I wrote on my Instagram (@sr_ch_) post a couple of weeks ago.

(1) Stay on the Boynton Canyon Trail, and follow the signs that say Boynton Canton Trail.

(2) At about 2-2. mile point, you will see a tree that has a white branch stretching out to the right. If you get confused, turn your head to the right and see if you come across an arrow on the ground directing you to a new trail.

(3) Follow the arrow sign on the ground and you will eventually hit a huge cave.

(4) There are two ways to climb up to the subway cave:

- [1] Easy way: Stay on the left side of the cave and pass through the steep side of the rock. Hike along the edge of the cave.

-[2] Hard way: Climb the steep side of the rock (you will see a rock slide; see below) and stay on the right side as you climb up. You have a better grip on the right side than the left. I took the rock slide to climb up and down since my group thought we were at a dead end when we took the easy way initially, and this is not true. You can climb around the cave and still get to see the subway cave.

(5) You will be at the back of the cave having this amazing view!

4. Birthing Cave

Length: 2 miles out and back | Level: Easy-Moderate

I tried to catch the sunrise, so I headed to the Birthing Cave early in the morning and I was the first one to be at the parking lot around 6:50 am. I parked at the Mescal Trail, which was about a 10-minute walk to get to the trailhead. There are two-ish parking spots in front of the trail, but I wasn’t sure if I could park there so I ended up walking a bit. You can also park at Long Canyon Trailhead if parking space is limited. It was misty & foggy, so I couldn’t capture the sunrise, but the view was amazing!

5. Devil‘s Bridge (Parking at Mescal Trail)- My Top Pick*

Length: 4.5 miles out and back | Level: Moderate-Strenuous

There are a couple of different ways to get to this trail: You can either (1) park at the Mescal trailhead as I did (2) park at Dry Creek Road and hike up from there (3) 4WD only: park at Devil’s Bridge trailhead (this is the shortest way to hike) or (4) take shuttles- they only operate between Thurs-Sun. There was even a line to take photos when I got to see the arch (aka the Devil’s Bridge) on a rainy day, so during popular months, I would think there would be a longer line.

6. Bell Rock Pathway

Length: 1.8-mile loop | Level: Easy-Moderate | Parking Permit: Yes

I was exhausted from another hike during the day, so I decided to see the Bell Rock in the evening and called it a day, although this would have been a very short hike. You will see the Bell Rock, the Courthouse Butte, and Leo Mountain from the parking lot, so you will still get good photography and videography without a hike. Worth a visit!

7. Pyramid Trail

Length: 2.71 mile loop | Level: Easy

This was a “random” trail that I ended up hiking, which was not on my hiking list. I was planning to hike Red Rock State Park but somehow I ended up parking at a Red Rock Trail (Google Maps guided me here- probably I typed it wrong). A parking permit was not needed and this was a local hike, which is super easy with scenic views! I think the trail is shared with mountain bikers too, but I have hardly seen anyone on the trail.

** Things to note when hiking Sedona**

• Some trails need parking permits. It usually says when you arrive at the parking if you need one or not. Just a FYI, no need to purchase a permit if you have already bought the Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful card. There is a vending machine to purchase the pass at the parking lot that requires these permits. But, if you are visiting on major US holidays, (Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, President’s Day Weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, etc.) it’s free!

• Hike early. Limited space for parking, especially during the busy season. When hiking the Birthing Cave, park at Mescal Trail and walk 10 minutes to get to the trailhead.

• Shuttles run Thurs-Sun to some popular trailheads in Sedona. More information can be found here