Location: Coconino National Forest, Sedona, AZ
Distance: 4 miles
Type: Various (Out-and-Back or Loop)
Rating: Moderate
Dog Friendly?: Yes, on a leash
Permits & Fees: Many hikes in Sedona require a Red Rock’s Pass. These passes can be purchased via this website or by using a credit card at various trailheads. It’s $5 for a day pass, $15 for a 7-day pass, or $20 for a year pass.
Driving Directions to Trailhead: Parking is located at the Dry Creek Trailhead. Please note that this lot fills up fast, so I highly suggest getting there prior to 7AM (before the first shuttle run). The Sedona Shuttle is also a great option.
NOTE: Many of the trails require that you take the shuttle, including Cathedral Rock and Soldier Pass Trails. Information on the Sedona Shuttle can be found here.
During the summer, the shuttle runs Thursday – Sunday from 7AM – 5:30PM.
Preparation: Water, sunscreen and a whole lot of patience. This hike is very popular and gets crowded early. If you want to take a picture of the iconic Devil’s Bridge, be prepared to wait in a long line.
The Hike:
AllTrails Map – CLICK HERE
This post provides information on the Dry Creek Trail (this is also used as an OHV road). Two other options to reach Devil’s Bridge are the following:
- Mescal Trail – 4 miles
- Chuck Wagon Trail – 5.7 miles
After taking the shuttle (or after parking in the parking lot), locate the sign that reads “Dry Creek Vista Trailhead”:
Take this trail until the Chuck Wagon Trail meets the Dry Creek Trail; it will be marked by a sign to the left of the Dry Creek Trail. Continue on the trail until the OHV trailhead is reached, which is marked by this sign:
From this sign, there is about 0.8 miles left until Devil’s Bridge is reached. This part of the trail starts to get a little more crowded since this is where all of the trails meet. I suggest taking your time on this section of the trail on the way back down; there are a lot of cool rock formations and amazing views that you won’t want to miss!
The section just prior to Devil’s Bridge has some of the most amazing views of Sedona:
After taking some time here, the final stretch to Devil’s Bridge is fairly quick. As mentioned earlier, there may be a long line of people waiting to get onto the bridge to take pictures. Luckily, we started early enough that there were only a handful of people when we arrived:
After taking some time at the top, make your way back down using the same trail. If you want to extend the hike, simply take the Chuck Wagon Trail back to the trailhead (the turnoff is just before the OHV trailhead).
Enjoy the views!