These Easy Hikes In Sedona, Arizona Were Amazingly Scenic And So Worthwhile
We had the best time hiking these easy trails during our family vacation in Sedona, Arizona. Getting on the trails really was the best way to experience the scenery of Sedona’s red rock formations
Even my young daughters thought these hikes were fun and worthwhile. The trails here offer great views, opportunities to climb up rocks, or splash in the creeks.
Sedona offers 100’s of trails for any hiking level, and all of the hikes listed here are suitable for a fun family outing.
The trails described here are short and relatively easy with amazing scenic views for just a small investment of time and effort. Perfect if you’re short on time or have little ones in tow! Happy trails!
Too busy to plan a family vacation? See our Sedona and Grand Canyon Itineray for day-by-day plans and all the details including lodging, restaurants, tips, and more!
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Purchase A Sedona Red Rock Pass (Parking Pass)
This was a bit confusing to us at first, but it’s actually pretty straight forward. Many of the hikes in the national forest surrounding Sedona require a “Red Rock Pass” to be displayed in your car when you park at the trailheads.
You will need a pass for most of our recommended hikes that we talk about here. Plan on purchasing either a weekly Red Rock Pass or a Daily Pass.
Red Rock Passes are available for sale online as well as at most of the Visitor Centers, many grocery stores, gas stations, retail stores, and resorts. They are also offered at many of the trailheads.
Simply Awesome Tip: Consider buying the America the Beautiful National Park Pass ($80). If you have this pass, you can display it instead of a Red Rock Pass. If you’re visiting Montezuma Castle or Grand Canyon National Park it might be more convenient and cost-effective.
At A Glance Summary of Easy Hikes In Sedona
These hikes are rated easy and suitable for most families. All provide an easy and short walk to incredible vistas. If you’d like a longer hike, these hikes have both short and longer options. Something for everyone!
Remember to bring your Red Rock Pass, plenty of water, and hike in the cooler part of the day if at all possible. Our last visit was at the end of May, and we were ready for the pool by noon every day. It gets hot in a hurry!
General locations of the hikes; Maps courtesy of U.S. Forest Service. 
Click links below for a larger version. Maps courtesy of U.S. Forest Service.
Click here to view Red Rock SE map in its entirety.
Click here to view Red Rock NW Trails map in its entirety.
*If you only have time for a few hikes, Bell Rock, Baldwin Trail, and Fay Canyon would be considered our “must do” hikes of the ones mentioned here. Because of the short length of these hikes, you could hike more than one in a day.
Note: Fay Canyon and Boynton Canyon trailheads are closest to Sedona.
Bell Rock Trail
Bell Rock, one of the most prominent Sedona vortex sites, is an iconic red rock formation located just north of the Village of Oak Creek and is an easy one to spot.
This is a favorite hike for kids who will love hiking and climbing about half way up Bell Rock to the “meditation perch.”
You’ll often hear the term “vortexes” while visiting Sedona. Many people have reported feeling inspired by spiritual energy sources at various spots throughout Sedona. Find more info about Sedona’s vortexes the Visit Sedona website.
The Bell Rock vortex is best known for serenity and solving problems from a higher (spiritual) perspective. See if you feel it!
This is a moderate hike and will require supervision. It’s roughly 1.5 miles round trip depending on how much “bouldering” you do and how high you decide to climb up Bell Rock. The views are beautiful, and it’s a fun scramble.
Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need an end point on this hike. You can climb to any point that is safe and affords a great view. You can do as much or as little hiking as you’d like here- it’s a fun place to hang out.
Tip: Bell Rock would be a good one to combine with another hike as you can make it as short or long a hike (scramble) as you’d like.
Bell Rock Trailhead Directions
Trailhead Access: Make sure you park in the north Bell Rock parking area (Courthouse Vista Parking Area) as the south side of Bell Rock is too steep to climb.
The Courthouse Vista Trailhead is north of Bell Rock. From the Village of Oak Creek, take 179 north and turn right toward Courthouse Vista, milepost 308.2.
Remember to display your Red Rock Pass. Note that parking fills up quickly, especially in the morning.
After parking in the north lot, hike past the sign board and head to Bell Rock Trail. Follow it about 1/10th of a mile to its intersection with Courthouse Butte Loop Trail.
You can either continue on Bell Rock Trail to explore the northeast area of Bell Rock or turn right and follow Courthouse Butte Loop for approximately 500 feet to a sign post on your left. Turn left here and begin climbing up towards Bell Rock.
Be sure to count the rock cairns and between the 10th and 11th cairn turn right and head towards the large flat rock shelf. You will see where you start to climb to Meditation Perch.
All that being said, the in summary here is that you’ll find well marked trail signs to the base of Bell Rock and then it’s a general scramble to find a path up.
Sedona Hiking Trail’s website has a helpful play by play with photos if you want to visualize it better.
Click here to view a map of the Bell Rock Trail.
Want To Make Bell Rock Trail A Longer Hike? Add the Bell Rock Pathway
If you don’t want to scramble up Bell Rock or want to add more hiking distance, you can also walk the trail circling Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte.
The Bell Rock Pathway is an easy, wide and flat trail totaling 3.6 miles roundtrip. The Bell Rock Trail intersects the Bell Rock Pathway so it’s easy to combine these two.
Tip: Hiking the Bell Rock Pathway in a clockwise direction is recommended. Park in the Courthouse Vista Parking Area.
Baldwin Trail
The Baldwin Trail is another easy hike that you can make shorter or longer. You can hike the 3.3 mile Baldwin Loop Trail or simply take a short hike (roughly 1 mile) to the banks of Oak Creek with views of Cathedral Rock.
It is simply a gorgeous setting. Cathedral Rock reflected in the waters of Oak Creek at Red Rock Crossing is one of the most photographed scenes in the southwest.
We hiked the loop trail with its magnificent red rock views and picnicked at Oak Creek. This trail has so much variety with forest, creek, mountain and desert vibes throughout.
Red Rock Crossing/Oak Creek
During our trip, we returned several times to the Baldwin Trailhead to access the water of Oak Creek via the Templeton Trail. It’s a great place to picnic, enjoy the views, take off your shoes and cool off in the creek.
The quickest way to reach the cool waters of Oak Creeks is to hike the Baldwin Loop Trail clockwise and within roughly 1/2 mile you will reach its intersection with the Templeton Trail/Red Rock Crossing Trail which takes you along the banks of Oak Creek.
You’ll find several “social trails” along the Templeton Trail that will also take you to Oak Creek.
At Oak Creek, your kids will enjoy splashing in the cool water and seeing dozens of “buddha’s” where visitors have stacked small river rock into beautiful stone pillars. Return the way you came to the trailhead for a shorter hike or return to the Baldwin Trail to continue the loop.
Tip: Photos of Cathedral Rock are best taken during the afternoon, but you’ll have to consider the heat of the day for the best time for your hike.
Directions To The Baldwin Trailhead
Park at Baldwin Trailhead off of Verde Valley School Road.
From the Village of Oak Creek, turn left on Verde Valley School Road and follow it to the end, roughly 4.5 miles. It will turn into a gravel road but is completely passable.
Parking area is on the left. Remember to display your Red Rock Pass.
Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site
Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site is the largest known and best preserved petroglyph site in the Verde Valley. The rock art has been defined as Beaver Creek Style, which is diagnostic of the Southern Sinagua between A.D. 1150 and 1400.
Although not really considered a hike, it does require a short 0.5 mile walk from the parking lot on the flat, maintained trail from the Visitor Center to the petroglyph area.
The volunteers on site are extremely knowledgeable, very friendly, and obviously passionate about what they do.
Directions To Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site
Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site is located 2.8 miles east of the junction of I-17 and SR 179 on FR 618. Watch for the entrance on your right less than one-half mile past the Beaver Creek Campground.
It’s a 30 minute drive south from Sedona. Remember to display your Red Rock Pass.
Important: It is only open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 9:30 to 3pm.
Boynton Canyon Trail/Boynton Vista Trail
The Boynton Canyon Trail is a 6 mile roundtrip hike. However, it is also the trailhead for a shorter (roughly 1.2 miles roundtrip), easier hike on the Boynton Vista Trail.
From the Boynton Canyon Trailhead, walk about 0.5 miles to its intersection with Boynton Vista Trail on the right. Follow it uphill to its two rock formations, both of which are considered vortex points. Y
You’ll find beautiful views, and everyone will love scrambling up the rocks.
Boyton Vista Trail 
Directions To Boyton Vista Trailhead
From the Village of Oak Creek, drive 179 north to 89A continuing toward the west end of town. Turn north (right) on Dry Creek Road. Dry Creek Road ends at a ” T ” intersection. Follow the signs to Boynton Canyon.
You’ll find a parking lot and the trailhead just outside the entrance to the Enchantment Resort. Closer to Sedona than Village of Oak Creek. Remember to display your Red Rock Pass.
Tip: This hike is located in the same area of Sedona as the Fay Canyon hike (described below) if you want to combine the two.
Fay Canyon Hike
Fay Canyon Trail is another good hike with options for a short out and back or a longer 3.5 roundtrip hike.
This easy hike through a canyon has wonderful views and intersects with a spur trail that leads to a natural stone arch and a narrow slot where the rocks have separated.
The kids will have fun “disappearing” into the opening and enjoying the shade under the rock arch.
Arch Spur Trail: At about the 1/2 mile mark from the trailhead, look for a side trail up to the arch–it’s easy to miss. Those who don’t know about it usually walk right past.
You will have to scramble up this steep but short spur trail to see the arch (it’s not visible from the main trail).
We returned to the trailhead from the arch for an out and back hike of roughly 1.5 miles, but you could return to the original main trail and continue on for views of Bear Mountain for a total of about 3.5 miles including the spur trail to the arch.
Directions To Fay Canyon Trail
- From the Village of Oak Creek, drive north on 179 to 89A through Sedona to Dry Creek Road (152C) at the west end of town.
- Turn right and follow Dry Creek Road three miles to the Boynton Canyon intersection then turn left.
- Go about a half mile to the Fay Canyon parking area on the left.
- Cross the street to the trailhead.
Additional Hikes in Sedona
If you have time (unfortunately we did not), the hikes below were also on our list although you should note that they are rated “moderate” rather than “easy.”
Apparently, everyone loves Devil’s Bridge, and the Chapel of the Holy Cross looks like it would be a terrific destination hike.
Little Horse Trail/Chapel of the Holy Cross – 4 miles roundtrip; moderate; beautiful hike to the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a church built into the rocks with spectacular views and peaceful atmosphere. Designed by one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s students.
Brin’s Mesa – 4.4 miles roundtrip; moderate; the views on this hike apparently have a high “wow” factor. You’ll gain 500 feet to a mesa overlooking Mormon Canyon and Soldiers Pass.
Devil’s Bridge – 2 miles roundtrip; moderate; the photos are super Instagram-worthy! Keep the kids close on this one.
Hiking Resources
- The Hike House, 431 State Route 179, is a great outdoors shop and can offer you more suggestions. Their website has good hiking details too.
- Great Sedona Hikes by William Bohan is an excellent source for hiking in the Sedona area.
- The National Forest Service covers the trails in detail along with maps.
Happy Trails! You Might Also Like These Blog Posts- Amy
