Sedona, Arizona, is known for its riveting red rock views, mystical and magical “vortex” sites, mountainous landscape, endless blue skies and multitude of hiking trails. But what if you aren’t a super great hiker or don’t have much time? I gotchu — here’s my list of 5 fantastic short and easy hikes in Sedona that’ll blow your freakin’ mind!
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Earlier this year, I spent 3 incredible days with my mom and sister exploring the Sedona hiking trails and its vibrant town!
We wandered about town, stopping in at every crystal, souvenir and quirky shop on the main drag; filled our bellies at all the best vegan-friendly restaurants; learned about the captivating history of the surrounding land, including the mystical “vortexes”; and–of course–got in our daily steps by hitting the trails!
Since we aren’t the most athletic group of gals, we opted for both somewhat easy and short hikes in Sedona to get the most out of the little time we had in the area and to not completely exhaust ourselves.
So, if you’re like us and aren’t one of those Lululemon-wearing-exercise-junkies with an unlimited amount of stamina and infinite energy, head out on one of these easy Sedona hikes that’ll blow your mind!
5 FANTASTIC SHORT AND EASY HIKES IN SEDONA, ARIZONA
Boynton Vortex
BOYNTON VORTEX QUICK STATS:
- Trailhead: click here
- Hike Length: ~1 mile round trip
- Total Elevation Gain: ~200 ft
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Type of Trail: out & back
Truth be told, I think this easy hike in Sedona is severely underrated! Many visitors tend to opt for Cathedral Rock (which is still awesome — more on that below) or Red Rock Crossing.
A super short and relatively easy hike, featuring only a mildly difficult climb up to the last part of the trail, the Boynton Vortex trail boasts a more unique characteristic that other hikes in the area don’t…
An amazing man named Robert who literally sits on top of the red-sandstone rock tower/vortex at the trail end and plays songs from a wooden flute!
For the past 8 years or so, he’s been coming to Boynton Vortex everyday to play his songs for Mother Earth.
It’s magical. And–if you get a chance to see and hear him, as he’s only here during certain times of the day–an experience you’re not likely to forget!
Though, don’t make the mistake of thinking this is the Boynton Canyon hike! Because it’s not.
While the trailhead is the same, instead of venturing out on the 6-mile long hike that is Boynton Canyon, this is the Boynton Vista / Vortex that specifically heads only to the energy vortex site.
If you’re on the trail, you’ll come to a fork in the road; Boynton Canyon heads left, while Boynton Vista heads right (hint: you’re going to want to go right).
Although, just because this is the shorter hike, it’s still just as amazing! And absolutely perfect for those looking for an easy hiking trail near Sedona. (My family and I loved it!)
Devil’s Bridge
**Personally, I found the easiest way to find great parking and have a nicer, quieter hike to Devil’s Bridge is to go via the Mescal Trail + Chuck Wagon Trail.**
DEVIL’S BRIDGE VIA MESCAL TRAIL + CHUCK WAGON QUICK STATS:
- Trailhead: click here (Mescal Trailhead)
- Hike Length: ~4 mile round trip
- Total Elevation Gain: ~480 ft
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Type of Trail: out & back
Without a doubt, Devil’s Bridge is the most popular hike in Sedona–and for good reason!
Ridiculously epic views, cliffside drops that’ll make your heart skip a beat, breathtaking natural rock formations (like a completely natural rock staircase!), and an adventure you’ll never forget, Devil’s Bridge is high on many travelers’ must-do hikes in Sedona list!
As mentioned above, I wholeheartedly recommend you start your hike at Mescal Trailhead and go from there to Devil’s Bridge via the Mescal and Chuck Wagon Trail.
Why?
Because the regular Devil’s Bridge Parking Lot is actually just on the main road (and it’s not very pretty going from there to the trailhead).
Thus, you’ll find it’s much quieter at the Mescal Trailhead, with more parking and less crowds! Sounds pretty good, eh?
(Click here to read my full guide on hiking via Mescal + Chuck Wagon Trail.)
Another great part about this hike is that it’s a incredibly easy to follow! The path is impeccably marked and you shouldn’t ever get lost (not to mention, there’s usually other people on the trail to follow if you DO get confused).
When you get near the trail end, you’ll begin to climb pretty quickly but don’t fret! The heights may be a bit high but it’s easy to scramble (aka climb with your hands) to the top.
Plus, it’s incredibly worth it! The views are stunning.
So, if you’re ready to challenge yourself a bit and experience one of the best hikes in Sedona, have a go at trying the Devil’s Bridge hike.
Wanderful Tip: This is a Sedona hike with water access! Which means if you bring my favorite filtering water bottle, aka the GRAYL, you can fill up on some fresh water and fill your hiking pals bottle’s too! Get your own here.
Need some inspiration on how to spend one week in Arizona? I’m sharing all my favorite AZ destinations in this post on the ultimate 7-day Arizona itinerary!
Airport Mesa Loop Trail
AIRPORT MESA LOOP TRAIL QUICK STATS:
- Trailhead: click here
- Hike Length: ~3.3 miles
- Total Elevation Gain: ~320 ft
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Type of Trail: loop trail
With stunning panoramic views of the surround rock formations and the city down below, this is hands down one of the best sunset hikes in Sedona!
When the setting sun hits the red sandstone rock, it’s as if the mountains light on fire. And when the sky turns into a kaleidoscope of pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, and blues, you don’t be able to keep your mouth closed — as this experience is literally jaw-dropping.
Not to mention, Airport Mesa Loop is one of the best easy hikes in Sedona with access to one of 4 magical “vortexes”, which is an area of concentrated energy rising from the earth.
While you might not feel anything, some hikers claim to experience a shift in energy that manifests into slight tingling of the skin, a feeling of higher vibrations throughout the body or a sense of peace!
Cool, right?
The actual hike itself is pretty dang easy and will likely take around 1.5 hours, depending on how much you stop to take a break, photos, etc.
Furthermore, don’t forget to pack sunscreen! This hike is particularly exposed to the strong Arizona sun so this is an essential item to pack for your hike.
To see my favorite brands of chemical-free, zero waste sunscreen, check out this post! (It’s focused on Bali but these are great sunscreens for any warm destination!)
Palatki Heritage Site Ruins
PALATKI HERITAGE SITE HIKE QUICK STATS:
- Trailhead: click here
- Hike Length: ~0.9 miles
- Total Elevation Gain: ~157 ft
- Difficulty: Easy
- Type of Trail: out & back
One of THE best historic hikes near Sedona, trekking to the Palatki ruins is both easy and ridiculously cool!
Located in Coconino National Park, just outside of Sedona, the Palatki Heritage Site features ancient pictographs and petroglyphs, as well as historic Native American ruins showing where the people used to live and how they utilized the area.
As someone who loves this type of history, I was totally mesmerized by the Palatki ruins and ancient dwellings!
This easy and short Sedona hike itself really isn’t much of a trek — more like a walk. And it’s a guided walk as well, as to access the ruins you need to go with one of the volunteer park rangers. This is what makes this hike really great for families with kids.
With that said, if this site sounds like something you’d like to experience while in Sedona, definitely call ahead and make a reservation!
The park rangers only take a certain number of visitors each tour and it can get packed during busy season.
Cathedral Rock
CATHEDRAL ROCK TRAIL QUICK STATS:
- Trailhead: click here
- Hike Length: ~1.2 miles
- Total Elevation Gain: ~744 ft
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Type of Trail: out & back
With wildly good views of alien-looking red rock formations and the opportunity to visit one of the mystical Sedona vortexes, Cathedral Rock Trail without a doubt one of the most popular short hikes in Sedona that attracts swarms of adventurists.
Though Cathedral Rock hike isn’t as easy as others mentioned on this list, it’s remarkably short at just 1.2 miles roundtrip and so worth the effort to get to the top!
You’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the surrounding Sedona area that will blow your freakin’ mind.
Keep in mind, that while this hike is short, it’s not really suitable for small children, elderly, or inexperienced trekkers!
There are many steep places that would make anyone’s heart skip a beat — thus, a bit of hiking experience is recommended, as well as good hiking boots (though good, supportive tennis shoes are also okay if that’s all you have).
You can find my favorite hiking boots here and my favorite tennis shoes here.
As someone who has visited this area a few times now, these are most definitely my personal favorite hiking trails in Sedona!
Though, no matter which hike you choose to venture out on, you’re going to have a spectacular experience that’ll no doubt blow your freakin’ mind.
Are you planning a trip here and looking for the best short and easy hikes in Sedona? Did any of these catch your eye? Or, on the flip side, have you went out on one of these hikes? If so, what was your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Sophie xx
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Amy D.
October 17, 2020 9:50 pmSophie,
I just wanted to say thank u so much! We hiked to the Devils Bridge today and followed your recommendation and it was worth it! The scenery was beautiful… it is out of this world for sure! We loved it!
The Dille’s
Sophie
October 19, 2020 9:03 pmOMG Amy! I’m so happy to hear that 🙂 And I’m so glad you had a fabulous time! That is such a beautiful area to hike.
Sherri
July 20, 2021 4:44 pmWe are looking forward to visiting Sedona soon. These hikes are great suggestions for us. Can our two smallish dogs go on these hikes with us?
Elizabeth
March 14, 2021 7:02 pmSophie..thank you for posting this. I am traveling to Sedona in May with my daughter. She is an ICU nurse and has been working with COVID19 patients for over a year now. I think this is a trip that will be great for the soul which she needs right now. We’ve talked about trailing to the Vortex’s yet we just want to sit back and relax and not be rushed or exhausted each day. I will definitely pin this post and keep it close at hand for when we arrive. Be well.
Nina
January 23, 2023 2:42 pmI hiked the boynton and had the pleasure of meeting Robert. He is truly a kind soul, and I listened to him play his flute. I melted. Btw the info you posted about the hikes soooo helpful. I absolutely love Sedona!!!