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Day Trips

The best hikes in Sedona.

Sedona has more good trails than one day can hold, so the trick is matching the hike to your group. Some are short and steep, some are gentle and long, and one follows a shaded creek. Here are six favorites compared, for a day trip from Scottsdale.

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Six trails compared

TrailRound tripGood for
Cathedral RockAbout 1.1 milesFit hikers, a steep scramble
Devil’s BridgeAbout 4 miles from MescalThe classic photo
Bell RockAbout 2.6 to 4 miles, by routeMixed groups, climb as high as you like
Airport Mesa LoopAbout 3.2 milesViews over town
West Fork of Oak CreekAbout 6 to 7 milesShade and creek crossings
Boynton CanyonAbout 7 milesA longer, quieter canyon walk

Distances are from published trail guides and vary by route. Check Coconino National Forest for closures.

Planning the day

  • •Start early: Sedona is about two hours from Scottsdale by car (estimate), and popular lots fill up.
  • •Passes: many trailheads need a Red Rock Pass, and West Fork has its own fee.
  • •Shuttle: the free Sedona shuttle serves some busy trailheads on set days.
  • •Cool off: add Slide Rock State Park in warm months.

See a Sedona day trip and what to pack.

Where to stay

After a long day out, Paradise Reserve is an easy place to come back to, with a pool and spa, a fire pit lounge and a covered patio. It has six bedrooms for up to 16 guests, five of them king suites with their own bathroom, plus a golf simulator, a putting green and a pickleball court for the days you stay in. Events and parties are not permitted at the house, and quiet hours apply.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best easy hike in Sedona?

Bell Rock is a good choice for mixed groups, because the base is mostly gentle and you can climb as far up as you like.

What is the most famous hike in Sedona?

Devil’s Bridge and Cathedral Rock are the two best known.

Do you need a pass to hike in Sedona?

Many Coconino National Forest trailheads require a Red Rock Pass, and some sites charge their own fee.

Trail figures from the USDA Forest Service and published trail guides, checked November 2026. Distances vary by route.

Keep planning

Sedona to ScottsdaleThe drive, the route and where to stopDevil's Bridge Trail, SedonaWhich trailhead to use and when to goA Sedona Day Trip from ScottsdaleThe drive, the red rocks and timing for a groupCathedral Rock Trail, SedonaShort, steep and unforgettableThe Best Time to Golf in ScottsdaleMonth by month, with overseeding datesThe Best Time to Visit ScottsdaleA season-by-season guide

Your Home Base

Stay at Paradise Reserve.

Six bedrooms, a heated pool and spa, pickleball court, golf simulator, and putting green: the perfect retreat after a day exploring Scottsdale.

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