Inside Sedona’s Hidden Gems: A Guide to Hiking Devil’s Bridge
Surrounded by Coconino National Forest in the heart of Arizona, Sedona is a hike paradise known for its red rock formations and picturesque landmarks. With the many trails it offers, Sedona attracts people from all over the world.
One of the most photographed spots in Sedona is Devil’s Bridge- a massive natural sandstone arch with breathtaking views of the valley. In this guide to hiking Devil’s Bridge, we are going to explain all the details you need to know in advance on how to hike to Devil’s Bridge, so you can be well-prepared and stress-free while enjoying the trail!
Before you continue reading, please make sure you follow the 7 principles of “Leave no trace“. Wherever you’re visiting places like Sedona, make sure to reduce human impact:
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Exploring Devil’s Bridge Trail and Devil’s Bridge
Trailhead: Devil’s Bridge Trailhead (34.90316412104536, -111.814117687567)
Distance: 1 mile (2 miles in total) with a 4×4 vehicle / 2.1 miles (4.2 miles in total) without a 4×4 vehicle
Time: 2-3 hours depending on your starting point
Difficulty: Moderate with some short challenging parts towards the end
Sedona Shuttle: Yes
Red Rock Pass required: Yes
Cost: $5 for a daily pass / $15 for a weekly pass
Where to park for Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, Arizona?
You can start this hike from a few different spots depending on the vehicle you have.
If you have a 4×4 vehicle, you can park at the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead parking lot and make your hike a 2-mile round trip. This is of course the shortest option.
If you don’t have a high-clearance vehicle you can park at Mescal Trailhead, Dry Creek Trailhead, or Long Canyon Trailhead but be prepared for a bit of extra walking. Don’t worry, it’s mostly walking on a flat (total of your hike will be between 4.2 and 4.6 miles respectively).
Starting point for low clearance vehicles:
• Mescal Trailhead (34.901967457051164, -111.82673479875955)
Distance: A little over 4 miles round trip
• Dry Creek Trailhead (34.89049993734626, -111.8207312015313)
Distance: A little over 4.5 miles round trip-
• Long Canyon Trailhead (34.907150143838976, -111.82402371803765)
Distance: A little over 4.5 miles round trip
Starting point for high-clearance vehicles:
• Devil’s Bridge Trailhead (34.903914340646104, -111.81399671337631)
Distance: A little over 4 miles round trip
How to find the Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, Arizona?
We didn’t have a high-clearance vehicle, so Devil’s Bridge Trailhead parking was off the table for us. Our preferred start off point was Mescal Trailhead and thankfully, there were plenty of available parking spots, so we could start hiking right away.
Just a heads up that if you check Google Maps (map and satellite) won’t be able to locate the Mescal Trailhead parking lot on the upper side of Long Canyon Road. You will only see the spots available down on the road. However, if you switch to Google Street View, you’ll notice a completely separate parking lot with a restroom. In case you arrive and there are no available spots on the road, don’t worry! Just across there’s this whole different parking area with a much better chance of finding availability.
I started to feel like I was wrong when I wasn’t able to find the parking lot on the map and had to carefully go through all my “evidences” until I turned to google streets and saw that the parking lot is only visible there.
Leaving the car at Dry Creek Road Parking Lot was going to be our last option,. It’s quite far from the trail start and offers very little in terms of scenic views. The path you’ll be walking on is the same dusty road that leads to the high-clearance parking area Expect a lot of ATV traffic and dirt. Another disadvantage of that trail is the limited shade which was well needed at the time we were hiking to the bridge (early afternoon). The round trip total from Dry Creek Trailhead parking lot is a little over 4.5 miles.
Mescal Trailhead
From the parking lot at Mescal Trailhead, we headed down to Long Canyon Road and came across another sign for the Mescal Trail. It’s about a one-mile walk from this point to reach Devil’s Bridge Trail. The path is mostly flat with plenty of shade. A little after we saw a sign for “End of Mescal Trail” and we hoped on Chuck Wagon Trail. This trail takes you to Dry Creek Road which is the road you would take if you had a 4×4 vehicle.
Of course, fascinated by the peaceful surroundings, we got a bit off track and somehow found ourselves on a slightly different section of the Chuckwagon Trail. It was a bit concerning at first because there were no other hikers. However, there were clear shoe prints on the obvious path, so we knew we were headed somewhere. We just weren’t sure whether it was the right direction. After a few minutes we reached Dry Creek Road and saw a bunch of people who confirmed we were on the right way to Devil’s Bridge. At that point, I decided to give up relying on my phone, as the signal was consistently poor and the map was off. It’s always better to trust the guidance of the fellow hikers around.
Dry Creek Road
Once we reached Dry Creek Road, we were walking down a dusty and flat road, with ATVs passing by us. After about 10-15 minutes, we saw the sign indicating the start of Devil’s Bridge Trail, along with the parking lot for high-clearance vehicles. At that point, we only had a mile left to reach our destination.
Devil’s Bridge Trailhead
Now we are joining Devil’s Bridge Trailhead and this is where the elevation begins to increase. Towards the end of the trail, you’ll have to do more climbing as you reach the mountain and the top where the bridge is. There was a short, really steep section that made some people consider turning back. When we continued climbing, we realized it wasn’t as challenging as it looked from below. As long as you maintain a steady grip and move your legs and hands carefully, you’ll be okay. Make sure to secure your phone and water bottles in your backpack, so both your hands are free. Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the views. The higher you get, the more gorgeous they are.
The hardest part comes just before you reach the top, a couple of minutes away from the bridge. Some people on the top were trying to encourage others who decided to call it an end, assuring them that this was the most challenging part and that they were almost there.
And they didn’t lie. After conquering the most difficult portion of the trail, we reached a flat area and turned left. I expected a few more minutes of walking until we reached the bridge but all of the sudden I noticed the trail’s end and realized the bridge was on our left side.
Devil’s Bridge
The views from up there are just breathtaking! The bridge is so impressive to look at and a bit scary to walk on for people like me, who are afraid of heights. Exhausted from the six hours of hiking (we checked out Subway Cave early in the morning), we found a spot to sit down and take in the view for a few moments. During this time, I was observing the people walking on the bridge and how they were feeling. My anxiety was getting bigger and bigger to the point that I wasn’t sure I wanted to walk on the bridge at all. This is probably nothing for most of the people but whoever knows me is aware that is huge for me.
The line for taking photos wasn’t long at all. People were moving quickly and spending no more than a couple of minutes on the bridge. I kept hearing the same thing over and over again- “It’s not as scary as it looks”, “It’s pretty wide when you’re walking, you can’t see anything”. This gave me a little courage! But some people were clearly seeking the most Instagram-worthy shot, getting dangerously close to the edge. This quickly brought my anxiety back. I even let about six or seven people go ahead of me as I was doubting if I was ready for this experience.
Eventually, I said the infamous “You only live once” and convinced myself that I would regret it if I didn’t walk on the bridge. However, I decided to do it my own way. Despite what everyone else had told me about the bridge being wide enough, I knew myself too well. That’s why I sat at the very beginning of the bridge and slowly slid myself towards the middle. More than enough for me!
While the area around the bridge is generally safe, it’s still extremely important to proceed with caution, especially if you’re there with children. And please, don’t go beyond your comfort zone just for the sake of capturing the perfect photo. Prioritize safety and avoid actions that are considered unsafe.
Back to Mescal Trailhead
Walking back felt pretty fast and this time we took the right path back to Chuck Wagon Trail. We were walking on a mostly flat trail though beautiful scenery alongside more hikers who were headed towards the Mescal Trail parking lot. Although we didn’t have as much shade as we did on the “unplanned” path, the stunning views along the way made every step worthwhile.
Summary of hiking Devil’s Bridge:
Arriving at the parking lot and starting off: 11:35 AM
Reaching out the 1 mile left spot (high-clearance parking lot): 12:15 PM
Reaching the top and the bridge: 1 PM
Leaving: 1:35 PM
Back to Mescal Trailhead parking lot: 2:45 PM
This hike took 3 hours for us, including a quick reroute, 15-minute lunch break on our way back, and spending about half an hour at the top. We didn’t rush ourselves and we took a few breaks along the way to relax and stay hydrated. So if you’re more experienced and you don’t need to stop, you could probably complete the round trip in 2 hours, or even shorter if having a high-clearance vehicle.
My tips for hiking to Devil’s Bridge:
- Wear sturdy shoes with a good grip. I can’t emphasize enough how important this is in Sedona.
- Stay on the main path and don’t get distracted by your surroundings.
- Once you reach the bridge make sure you proceed with caution.
- Bring plenty of water and snacks (sandwiches are perfect) to make sure you stay hydrated and energized.
- Don’t forget a hat and sunscreen during the hot months.
What is the closest airport to Sedona?
The closest big airport to Sedona is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (about 120 miles away). There is also a smaller airport that services the area- Flagstaff Pulliam Airport.
Where to stay in Sedona?
Sedona provides a good amount of accommodation options. We were aiming for something to fully experience the peaceful surroundings of the area and decided to stay in Cornville. The home we booked was amazing and equipped with everything we needed, even more!
Enjoy the incredible Sedona and make sure you leave no trace!
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors
