If you’re looking for a few easy hikes in Sedona, you’re in luck! The city is packed with trails that have stunning views of its beautiful red rock cliffs for all kinds of hikers, including beginners, families, and older folks.
Over the past few years, I’ve spent over a month in Sedona, lacing up my hiking boots and searching for some of the city’s best trails. I’ve hunted down 6 short and easy hikes in Sedona and included everything you need to know about them in this post, from where to park, if you need a pass, and even a few hidden adventures along the trails!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission, for which we are extremely grateful, at no extra cost to you.
Easy Hikes in Sedona, Arizona
While I will be listing these hikes in Sedona in order of their difficulty (from easiest to most difficult), all of the trails listed in this article should be manageable for most beginner hikers. If a trail is accessible for wheelchair hikers, I’ve noted that below as well.
It’s important to note that, generally, parking at trailheads, especially for the easy hikes, is EXTREMELY limited in Sedona and can be quite the challenge (more on that below!). Your best bet will be to get to these trails early to snag a spot. I’ve also included some additional tips and suggestions of where to park for each of these hikes.
1. The Birthing Cave
Length
2.0 miles (out-and-back)
Elevation Gain
291 feet
Fees
None
Trail map
Where to park for the Birthing Cave trail
There’s a handful of parking spots at the trailhead itself and also a few spots along the shoulder of Long Canyon Road, just north of the trailhead.
For whatever reason, this trail seems to be a bit more under-the-radar than some of the other short and easy hikes in Sedona (for now, anyway!), so you have a pretty decent chance of snagging a parking spot here.
Like all the hikes in Sedona, though, if you’re visiting during the busy season (March through June and September through October), you may want to arrive fairly early to ensure you snag a spot.
What to Expect Along the Birthing Cave Trail
Given how short the hike to the Birthing Cave is, it truly has quite a spectacular payoff!
After just a flat one-mile hike out, you’ll climb up a short (but relatively steep!) incline to reach one of the most beautiful caves in Sedona, a tall and narrow cavern that’s located on the edge of a cliff. From here, you’ll have a stellar vantage point, overlooking the ponderosa pine forests and Sedona’s gorgeous red rocks.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll have a blast climbing around the cave. See if you can reach the little “belly button” indentation in the middle of the cave’s walls, which is the best spot to take photos of the cave and, beyond, the view of the surrounding red rock cliffs.
Tips for the Birthing Cave Trail
- While the the terrain of this trail is easy-peasy, the actual path is not well-marked and can be a bit confusing to follow. To help you on your quest to find it, I wrote an entire post all about getting to the Birthing Cave.
I’d also strongly recommend downloading the map on AllTrails and following along as you hike to help you stay on the right path. My husband, Justin, and I have hikes this trail twice and still have managed to accidentally stray off-trail each time!
- The entrance to the cave is HUGE. If you want to capture some sweet pictures of it in its entirety, you’re going to need a wide angle lens.
The photos in this post were captured with a Sony a7III, coupled with a Sony 16-35mm Vario-Tessar lens (definitely a wide angle lens), and mounted on a Peak Design Tripod. Even still, it was no match for the massive girth of the cave (these photos were stitched together from multiple pictures).
Bottom line: if you want a photo capturing the entirety of the cave, the wider angle the lens, the better.
2. Sugar Loaf Loop
Length
1.9 miles (loop)
Elevation gain
354 feet
Fees
None
Trail map
Where to park for the Sugar Loaf Loop
There’s not an official parking lot for the trailhead, which starts in a residential neighborhood. Some of these residential streets around the trailhead allow parking- just be super careful about checking for no parking signs!
Alternatively, you can park in the lot for the Teacup Trail trailhead and walk about 10 minutes along paved residential streets to the starting point.
What to expect along the Sugar Loaf Loop
If you’re looking for a centrally located, short, and easy hike in Sedona, the Sugar Loaf Loop is probably your best option. It’s conveniently located in the heart of the city—I could actually walk to the trailhead from one of my Airbnbs!
From the trailhead, you’ll follow the cairns (piles of rocks along the trail left by other hikers), which lead you through beautiful juniper trees and prickly pear cacti and up the 250-foot tall Sugar Loaf Butte.
From here, you can overlook some of the most-beloved red rock formations in Sedona, with close-up views of Coffee Pot Rock and, in the distance, Courthouse Butte, Bell Rock, and Castle Rock.
Tips for the Sugar Loaf Loop
- Javelinas, a pig-like animal endemic to Sedona, are frequently found along this trail. I have the WORST luck with spotting wildlife and actually saw one right near the trailhead!
Javelinas, in rare instances, have attacked and wounded humans and their pets. You can minimize your risk of a bad javelina encounter by not feeding or otherwise getting within 20 feet of it. - Much like the Birthing Cave, the terrain along this trail is very manageable, but the actual path can be a bit challenging to follow. Using the All Trails app is your best friend for these kinds of trails. Luckily, though, even with the spotty trail, this hike follows right along a residential neighborhood, so it would be pretty difficult to get “lost” here.
3. Fay Canyon
Length
2.6 miles (out-and-back)
Elevation gain
383 feet
Fees
None
Trail map
Where to park for the Fay Canyon Trail
This hike has its own reasonably large parking lot by Sedona standards (as in, it fits more than, like, 14 cars) near its trailhead. However, given its popularity, I’d still recommend coming earlier to ensure you get a spot.
What to expect along the Fay Canyon Trail
Fay Canyon provides some surprisingly spectacular views, despite gaining limited elevation and being one of the shorter hikes in Sedona.
One other unique benefit of this trail is that it winds through a densely forested canyon- most hikes in Sedona don’t provide shade so this is a fantastic option if you’re hiking on a particularly hot day or just not feeling up to sun exposure.
When I first got to the end of this hike, I was a little disappointed. It essentially looks like a rockslide is obscuring whatever “pay-off view” the trail was leading you to. Turns out, you should absolutely scramble up that rockslide, as, with a little bit of height reveals breathtaking views of the rocks forming the canyon.
Tips for the Fay Canyon Trail
- Fay Canyon has a secret offshoot to its very own natural arch! If you want to see the arch, you’ll follow the trail from the trailhead about 0.6 miles, where you should see some cairns. Follow this path to the right for another 0.1 miles and you’ll hit the arch!
Unlike the rest of the hike, the climb up to the arch is not easy. You’ll have to scramble over loose, jagged rocks and there’s stabby cacti scattered across the ground. Accordingly, be sure to wear proper hiking shoes if you come here (here‘s the pair I wear and here‘s the pair that Justin wears)!
You can actually climb on top of the arch if you follow a faint trail to the right of the structure- it can get a bit sketchy in places so know your limits, especially if you’re a beginner!
4. Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Trail
Length
3.9 miles (loop)
Elevation gain
357 feet
Fees
You’ll need a Red Rock Pass, which can be purchased at recreation.gov or at a variety of stores around Sedona.
Alternatively, an America the Beautiful Pass also works, which covers all of the areas in Sedona that require a Red Rock Pass (which you can see here), as well as all of the U.S. National Parks and 2,000 other federally managed sites for a whole year!
Trail map
Where to park for the Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Trail
There is a main lot for the Bell Rock trailhead, north of the loop trail, that’s fairly small (holding about 20 cars). My husband, Justin, and I headed here around 6 pm on a weekday in the springtime and the lot was completely full, with plenty of cars circling around, vulturing for a spot.
If this lot’s full, you can alternatively try parking at the Courthouse Vista South trailhead (if you plan on hiking the full loop, you’ll just be starting at the southern end of it).
As a Plan C, you can also park in the lot for the Yavapai Vista Point trailhead, about a ten-minute walk north of the Bell Rock trailhead (if you’re mainly interested in hiking to and scrambling up Bell Rock, this is a great parking option).
Insider tip: There's also a free shuttle system in Sedona, which runs Thursday through Sunday year-round, which heads to certain trailheads, including Bell Rock. To catch the shuttle, you can park in the North SR-179 Park & Ride, located here, and catch the shuttle, which typically runs from 7 AM to around 5 PM. You can find out more information about the shuttle service, including its schedule, here.
What to expect along the Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Trail
This hike is a huge, mostly flat loop around Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock, allegedly one of the strongest energy vortexes in Sedona (don’t be surprised to see folks meditating along the trail- we saw several!).
The one-way dirt path along the Bell Rock Access Trail to the base of Bell Rock is wide, firm, and free of barriers and should be accessible for most wheelchair hikers. The path around Bell Rock is also fairly flat, but, beyond that, the trail is inaccessible for most wheelchair hikers.
The full hike includes a scramble up Bell Rock, which is fun and offers absolutely fantastic views of the surrounding rock formations from the higher vantage point. This short and easy hike is a great alternative in Sedona for beginners who may not be ready for the trails that include more challenging scrambles, like Cathedral Rock, but who still want to give scrambling a try.
Tips for the Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Trail
- While there’s plenty of signs to help you find your way along the entire loop, the trail names change often. It’s frankly a bit confusing.
For example, if you’re starting the trail from the northern parking lot and turn left, you’ll follow signs to Bell Rock Access Trail → Bell Rock Trail → Llama Trail → Courthouse Butte Loop Trail → Big Park Loop → Bell Rock Pathway → Bell Rock Climb → Bell Rock Access Trail. Easy peasy, right?
Really, so long as you keep both Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte to your right hand side, you should be moving in the right direction!
- It’s a bit challenging to figure out the correct path to scramble up Bell Rock, but there’s actually both signs and wire baskets full of red rocks (higher up on Bell Rock) that are meant to help you find the path. The wire baskets will eventually peter out, but you can keep climbing up as far as you’d like, finding your own pathway.
I’d only recommend climbing on Bell Rock if you have shoes with decent traction for the climb, as the rock is quite slick and often has steep drop-offs.
- This is a popular spot for mountain bikers, so keep your eyes peeled and ears open so you can jump out of their way, if needed.
5. Thunder Mountain Trail
Length
3.0 miles (loop)
Elevation gain
360 feet
Fees
None
Trail map
Where to park for the Thunder Mountain Trail
There’s a small lot for about 15 cars at the trailhead and some street parking in the surrounding residential neighborhood. As always, be careful to check for signs as to whether parking is allowed.
What to expect along the Thunder Mountain Trail
This trail is another great option for a short and easy hike in Sedona. It’s centrally located, within walking distance of some of the town’s residential areas, and isn’t super crowded.
You’ll climb up and down a series of small hills (this would be a great trail for trail running), through juniper trees and cacti. Along the trail, you’ll have a great vantage point of Thunder Mountain (thus the name!), Chimney Rock and Coffee Pot Rock, along with other red rock cliffs rising in the distance.
Tips for the Thunder Mountain Trail
- For the best views of the valley, follow the loop clockwise.
- I love this hike due to its location right within the city of Sedona, but that does mean you can see houses along a significant amount of the trail. If you’re looking to just be out in the wilderness, this may not be the right hike for you.
6. West Fork Trail
Length
6.5 miles (out and back)
Elevation gain
564 feet
Fees
There’s a $12 per vehicle day use fee, unless you have a Grand Annual Red Rock Pass. America the Beautiful and the daily or weekly Red Rock Passes are not accepted.
Trail map
Where to park for the West Fork Trail
There’s a large paved parking lot, located here, with room for about 75 cars. Given this trail’s popularity, though, the lot frequently fills up by about 9 AM, especially during busier periods, like on weekends or during the spring and fall.
If the parking lot fills up and you’re willing to walk a bit, there are some places along Route 89A that you can park along the shoulder. But be sure to triple check signs and to not stick out on the road—it’s narrow and windy!
What to expect along the West Fork Trail
This trail weaves through a dense forest of oak, maple, and cottonwood trees, following along the babbling waters of Oak Creek. While this trail is more heavily forested than most of the easy hikes in Sedona, there’s still plenty to keep you entertained, between the peekaboo glimpses of the red rock cliffs towering above and the 13 crossings of Oak Creek.
I’ve always heard the West Fork Trail referred to as similar to the iconic Narrows Trail in Zion National Park, where you hike down a slot canyon through the turquoise waters of the Virgin River—and, to be honest, the vast majority of the hike, I was pretty confused why.
There was nothing that felt anything remotely like the Narrows—until we reached the very end of the trail. After the maintained trail ends, you can wade through (extremely cold!) water through a jaw-droppingly beautiful slot canyon for several miles. This was definitely our favorite part and of the West Fork Trail, in our opinion, one of the most unique sections of the easier hikes in Sedona.
Tips for the West Fork Trail
- Between the water crossings and the optional wading down the slot canyon at the end, I’d HIGHLY recommend wearing hiking sandals that can double as water shoes. We both have a cult-like love for our Tevas—this is the pair Justin wears and this is my pair.
- Don’t miss the ruins of the Mayhew Lodge, which once served as a getaway for the rich and famous, including Walt Disney and Cary Grant, but unfortunately, burned down in the 1980s.
What to know before trying hiking in Sedona
Before hitting the trails in Sedona, there’s a few things that you should know about this incredibly special place.
Listen, I LOVE Sedona- with its otherworldly red rock landscapes, alleged “energy vortexes”, and the associated New Age-y vibes, I leave a piece of my heart there every time I drive away from this tiny town of just 10,000 residents.
But I’m not the only one who loves visiting. Over three MILLION visitors swarm Sedona, its tarot card readers, and its hiking trails (especially the easier ones!) on an annual basis.
The teeny town’s infrastructure has not kept pace with this explosion in tourism, which definitely comes with its challenges. Parking, especially at trailheads (and even restaurants!) is very difficult; traffic can be a nightmare; and trails are often packed to the brim with hikers.
While you won’t be able to completely avoid these hurdles, there’s a couple things you can do to make your visit more pleasant.
Have a plan (and a backup plan)
You may have picked this up by now, but, if you’re interested in hiking, Sedona isn’t a great place to sleep in and lazily decide your hike du jour the day of.
To make the most of your visit, I’d recommend researching which trails you’d like to do (which, if you’re reading this, great start!) and understanding what the parking situation is like there. Many trails only have a ridiculously teeny-tiny lot and the surrounding streets do not allow street parking, so if you don’t snag a parking spot, you’re kind of just out of luck.
You should also have a Plan B (and maybe a Plan C) in mind, in case you can’t score a parking spot at your first choice.
Get there early
Not to beat a dead horse, but getting to trailheads early is definitely the move in Sedona.
You’ll have better chances at grabbing a parking spot, it’ll be way less crowded, you’ll have that dreamy golden hour light for photos, and you’ll miss the hottest part of the day!
Word of warning, though- when I say you should get to trailheads early, I mean EARLY- Justin, and I usually arrived at trailheads around 7 AM or so and would either snag one of the last spots in the parking lot or would have to find street parking, sometimes up to half a mile away from the start of the hike.
So the earlier you get there, the better!
Check out the elevation gain
If you’re a beginner hiker that’s looking for an easy trail here, be sure to check the elevation gain along the trail, not just the mileage.
There are some seemingly short hikes in Sedona that are definitely challenging butt-kickers. For example, the Cathedral Rock Trail is only 1.5 miles roundtrip—but, in the first 0.7 miles, you’ll gain 741 feet of elevation, which, if you’re new to hiking, is REALLY steep.
Follow the Leave No Trace principles
This isn’t true for all Sedona residents, but I felt, at times, a bit unwelcome by a few of the locals. In fairness, I have to imagine that it may be that a small portion of Sedona’s tourists (perhaps ones that aren’t super familiar with outdoor etiquette) aren’t respectful to the town, its residents, and its beautiful land.
So, especially if you’re a newbie hiker looking to cut your teeth on some of the easy hikes in Sedona, let me introduce what should be every hikers’ mantra, the Leave No Trace principles. These tenets focus on respecting and preserving our natural resources, like:
Plan ahead and be prepared
Make sure to know where you can and can’t park, whether you need to have a pass at your trail of choice, and have a backup plan, just in case.
You should also be physically prepared for the hike, like bringing along plenty of water (I take a big ol’ water bottle like this one with me everywhere) and have the appropriate hiking shoes (like these for women and these for men).
Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
Stay on trail as often as you can to prevent unnecessary erosion and to protect Sedona’s beautiful but fragile desert flora. I’d recommend getting the free AllTrails app and using the included trail maps and GPS feature as you hike.
Dispose of waste properly
Don’t leave trash on the trail and if you bring your fur-babies along, please pick up after them.
Leave what you find
Take only pictures, leave only footprints. Refrain from carving your name, initials, or any other “wisdom” into the beautiful red rocks. You know, hopefully, common sense stuff.
Be considerate of others
Don’t park in front of people’s driveways, play music on the trails, or otherwise be a jerky visitor.
Hopefully, if we all follow these tips, we can turn around the bad rap that visitors hiking in Sedona seem to have garnered.
There’s so many more options for easy hikes in Sedona, but these are five of my favorites. Have you tried hiking in Sedona? What are some of your favorite trails? Let me know in the comments below!
Thank you for reading our post! Check out our latest stories here and follow us on Instagram (@UprootedTraveler), YouTube, or on Facebook to see what we’re up to next!
At the top of Fay Canyon in Sedona, if you continue to the right (east) of the sharp ridge that descended to meet you there, you can take a little known trail about a half mile further into the most beautiful box canyon you’ll ever see in Sedona. Well worth the effort!
Thanks for sharing the hiking tip, Mark!
What hiking boots does your wife have in the Thunder Mountain picture? Also, my husband has some balance issues and will be using walking poles while hiking. We are in our mid 60’s and healthly. Thanks.
Hi Jo,
They were hiking boots made by a company called Native Shoes. They don’t appear to manufacture that exact model anymore, but here is something similar- https://www.nativeshoes.com/fitzsimmons-citylite-bloom/3110684848655W7.html. Hope you enjoy Sedona!
Best,
Jess