How to Visit Devil’s Bridge and Hike Spectacular Trails in Sedona: Day 1

The best way to explore the amazing scenery in Sedona is to go hiking. Shocking, right? Follow an 11-mile loop of trails in Sedona to visit Devil’s Bridge, Long Canyon, Birthing Cave, and Mescal Trail. These are some of the best trails in Sedona, offering stunning views of the gorgeous scenery.

Additionally, the Mescal Trail has excellent views of the red rocks and is one of our favorite trails in Sedona! Finally, enjoy an amazing sunset along the Brewer Trail. For more information on our trip to Arizona, visit How to Visit 3 Diverse National Parks of Arizona: An 8-Day Itinerary.

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Before You Venture Out

• Fees to hike within some areas in Sedona are enforced. A Red Rocks pass is required for hiking in the area. Additionally, you can use your Interagency Pass (America the Beautiful Pass) for certain locations as well. Check the website for additional information.
• Arrive in the offseason – Sedona is a very popular destination for spring break travel.
• If you travel here during the peak season like us, it will be busy. You can expect:
  • Large numbers of visitors at popular locations (Devils’ Bridge, Birthing Cave, Subway Cave)
  • Increased traffic in and around downtown Sedona
  • Limited parking at trails and downtown Sedona
    • On Day 1, we arrived at the Mescal Trailhead parking area around 7 am and were able to find a spot.
    • On Day 2, we arrived at the Boynton Canyon parking area around 7:30 am, and it was full.
      • If you can’t find a parking spot, parking is allowed along the roads around the trailheads, but please follow all no-parking signs. You should still display your pass as well. You wouldn’t want to get a ticket or towed, would you?

Map

Use the map above to help plan your hikes on the trails in Sedona.

Best Hikes In Sedona

Before we go into detail on these, here is a quick list of what we think are some of the best hikes that you can complete in Sedona.

• Chuckwagon Trail
• Devil’s Bridge
• Long Canyon
• Birthing Cave
• Dead Man’s Pass
• Mescal Trail
• Brewer Trail
• Subway Cave & Fay Canyon

Chuckwagon Trail and Devil’s Bridge – moderate – 6 miles, loop/point-to-point

We are sure you have seen it….the “Instafamous” Devil’s Bridge. Here is the best way to get there on foot. There is an alternate way to do so using an unpaved road (Dry Creek Road) that you really need a 4X4 on. So here we go!

First, get to the Mescal Trailhead parking area on Long Canyon Road as early as you can. Some folks like to watch the sunrise at Devil’s Bridge, so it will be busy no matter what. There is a pit toilet here in the parking lot.

Then, cross the road and follow the signs for Chuckwagon Trail counter-clockwise. About 1 mile in, you will cross Dry Creek Road and link up with the Devil’s Bridge Trail. This trail is about 2 miles to the bridge and back, with some good elevation gain and rock scrambling at the end.

Devil’s Bridge

We arrived at Devil’s Bridge around 8 am. No joke, the line to stand on the bridge to get the famous picture was quite long, and the folks returning from having their pictures taken told us it was about an hour wait. An hour?!

We figured we were already there, so we waited, but wow….1 hour! Further, the bridge looks a bit sketchy in terms of being narrow from where you are standing to view it, but once you go out there, it really is not bad at all.

Next, when you are finished up here, hike back to the junction of the Chuckwagon Trail, 1 mile. Here you have one of two options. Head back to your car, or continue to the right on the Chuckwagon Trail. Following the Chuckwagon Trail will add 3 miles to your trip.

Hiking along the Chuckwagon Trail was another great way to view the scenery Sedona has to offer. This is also a bike trail, so please yield to all mountain bikers. We basically had this trail to ourselves.

When you reach the end of this trail, you’ll arrive at the Long Canyon Trailhead. Finally, walk one mile along the road back to the Mescal Trailhead to your car, or continue hiking our 11-mile loop using the details below!

➡️ Read next: Hike to Subway Cave and Fay Canyon: How to Enjoy Day 2 in Sedona

Long Canyon & Birthing Cave – moderate/strenuous, 1.6 miles

Now, we imagine you have also seen pictures of the Birthing Cave? Yes? Well, if you want to visit, use the Long Canyon Trail to do so. In all honesty, if we had a choice, we would probably skip Birthing Cave.

It was very cool, but also way too crowded and actually very small. That being said, hike up the Long Canyon Trail about 0.6 miles.

At this point, you will see a rickety fence off to the right. Head left to visit Birthing Cave. The cave is about 0.3 miles from this point, and as you near this location, you will climb up a very steep section to reach the cave. Please be considerate and respectful of this area.

Then, once you are finished at Birthing Cave, retrace your footsteps back to the fence. This is a great place to find a log and eat lunch. Here, you have the option to return 1.6 miles to your car or head to the next leg of the loop.

The route below will return you to your car as well and follows one of our favorite trails in Sedona!

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Deadman’s Pass & Mescal Trail – moderate/strenuous, 3.3 miles

Hopefully, your lunch was satisfying because it’s time for more hiking. For this last leg of our 11-mile loop using many trails in Sedona, start by continuing past the fence on the Long Canyon Trail. Hike about 0.4 miles until you reach the junction with Deadman’s Pass.

These trails are also shared with mountain bikers, so please be aware of their presence. Then, take the Deadman’s Pass Trail about 0.9 miles until you reach the junction with the Mescal Trail. Here along this trail, there are great views of the red rocks of Sedona.

You can see the Boynton Vista Trail in the distance as you near the Mescal Trail.

Then, when you reach this junction, take the Mescal Trail on your left. Starting out on this trail, you will gain some good elevation initially, but after that, the views really open up, and you’ll see why this is one of our favorite trails in Sedona!

Make your way along the cliffs of Mescal Mesa around Mescal Mountain. The surrounding wilderness of Sedona is very picturesque. Finally, continue along the trail to make your way back to the Mescal Trailhead parking lot, following the signs to reach your destination.

Looking for a Break from Hiking?

🚙 Check out the options for tours and other fun activities near Sedona through Viator!

Watch a Sedona Sunset

Finish up your busy day hiking with….you guessed it, another hike! Sunsets in Arizona are a must-see, and viewing one in Sedona will not disappoint. You have the option to drive to this sunset point, but you might get caught on the road when it turns into a parking lot.

🛏️ Don’t forget to book your stay in Sedona. Check out all of your options here on Expedia.

A popular spot for sunset viewing in Sedona is at the Airport Mesa along Airport Road. Luckily, our accommodations put us in a great spot to walk to the Brewer Trail and use that to visit the area close to this spot.

It’s a fairly steep hike totaling about 2 miles, but well worth it. Just look at those pictures!

Weather and General Safety along Trails in Sedona

• Cell phone coverage is fairly good here. Connectivity with our carrier was spotty in some areas.
• Carry plenty of snacks and water. It’s recommended to carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking. During our time on the trails, we did not encounter any locations to fill up on water.
• Pack PB&J and other snacks to eat around lunchtime on the trails. Snack time is the best time!
• Always carry a first aid kit.
• Make a plan to tell at least one person where you plan to be on each day in case something happens.
• Reduce your risk by preparing and having the proper gear for all hikes you plan to complete. This means good shoes and proper hiking attire. No flip-flops!
• Be aware of heat-related illnesses – this is the desert after all!
• Always check the weather forecast before heading out.

Animal Safety in Sedona

• Sedona is home to many animals, including deer, javelina, coyote, mountain lions, black bears, rattlesnakes, lizards, and more.
  • Review the steps to take if you encounter a black bear or mountain lion along the trail. It’s safe to say you will probably not see one of these in the more popular hiking areas.

Where to Stay in Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is a picture-perfect destination with plenty of options for nightly accommodations. Check out some of the best places to stay in Sedona below.

• Amara Resort and Spa – uptown location with spectacular views of the Sedona red rocks & a pool. Golf cart shuttles take guests to uptown shops after hiking. Spend an evening around the fire pits or enjoy a signature cocktail at the on-site restaurant.
• Adobe Grand Villas – enjoy breakfast prepared fresh daily in a grand villa – the best of the best in Sedona. This is for those who really want to splurge while enjoying the famous red rocks.
• The Wilde Resort and Spa – pool and rooftop patio with views of Thunder Mountain. 8 treatment rooms are available where you can indulge in Thai massages and therapeutic aromatherapy.
• Courtyard by Marriott Sedona – stay at a serene location in West Sedona with on-site parking, hot-tubs, and not as big a price tag as some of the other locations in Sedona!
• If you are looking for other options in Sedona, check out the many hotels right here on Expedia.

Final Thoughts

We really enjoyed our first day exploring Sedona and all it has to offer. We did not plan on hiking 11 miles, but it just happened because we decided we didn’t want to move our car to try to visit Fay Canyon.

When you visit Sedona, you’ll quickly learn that parking is a major issue and headache. 11 miles is quite a bit of walking, but you can also pick and choose a few of these trails and then do something else, like a fun Jeep Tour!

The long loop led us to some spots we planned to see on Day 2 of our Sedona hikes instead. Visiting Tlaquepaque for dinner and finishing off the day with an amazing sunset was perfect. We couldn’t have asked for a better day!