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Wondering what the best way to tackle the notorious Devil’s Bridge hike in Sedona, Arizona is? Hands down the easiest (and most definitely the prettiest) way is to start at the Mescal Trailhead and go via Chuck Wagon trail! Here’s my experience and guide on hiking Devil’s Bridge from Mescal Trailhead.

Your in-depth guide to hiking Devil's Bridge via Mescal + Chuck Wagon Trail in Sedona, Arizona. | The Wanderful Me

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Oh, Devil’s Bridge.

The hike that damn near gave my mom a heart attack but also helped her see that getting (relatively) close to the edge isn’t necessarily a bad thing but can be immensely exhilarating!

Personally, it’s the hike that I’ll never forget.

Without a doubt, Devil’s Bridge is one of the best treks I’ve ever embarked on (my top favorites were most definitely in Banff National Park though).

Featuring heart-stopping cliff drops, gorgeous views of the surrounding red sandstone rock, a challenging, yet rewarding climb at the end; fantastic photo opportunities, and a great trail that’s easy to follow and shows hikers the best of the Sedona area.

Sophie's mom standing out on Devil's Bridge with a gorgeous background of green trees and red rock mountains.
My mom is the ultimate Insta-model.

But, truth be told… many Sedona visitors do the Devil’s Bridge hike completely wrong!

Why?

Because they start their hike at the actual Devil’s Bridge parking lot.

Which means they have to walk down the ridiculously boring Dry Creek Rd to get to the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead.

And believe me when I say… this road is nothing special (it doesn’t even have any good views and is usually packed with other hikers).

Not to mention, only 4x4s have access to Dry Creek Rd and the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead, which means you’re constantly getting bombarded with irritating dust and dirt from passing cars… yuck.

The more unique and underrated route to go on starts at the Mescal Trailhead and leads to Devil’s Bridge via Chuck Wagon Trail.

Less cars, more parking? Check. ✓
Smaller crowds? Check. ✓
Better views of the Sedona area? Check. ✓
Zero dust from passing 4×4 vehicles? Check. ✓
More opportunities to spot wildlife? Check. ✓

So, as you can see, you’ll definitely have a better experience if you just follow my lead!

Keep reading for my guide on how to avoid the crowds and hike Devil’s Bridge via Mescal Trail and Chuck Wagon Trail.

Also, to get a better idea of how you can see the best of Arizona in a short amount of time, take a peek at my 7-day Arizona road trip itinerary that explores Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, and Sedona!

MESCAL TRAILHEAD TO DEVIL’S BRIDGE VIA CHUCK WAGON TRAIL

Step by step guide on how to get to Devil’s Bridge on this awesome hiking trail near Sedona, AZ!

The Mescal Trailhead parking lot with a few cars in it.
The Mescal “Parking Lot.”

Start by parking your car at the Mescal Parking Lot (pictured above) and head to the trailhead.

It’s marked by a very helpful map (which you should definitely take a peek at before heading off to get a visual of the area and trails).

“Leaving Mescal Parking.”

In no time at all, you’ll come across either a flowing river or dry riverbed (depending on the season). If there’s water, go ahead and use your GRAYL to filter some!

(Wait, wait, wait… you DON’T have a GRAYL Filtering Water Bottle?! Do your hiking and traveling self a favor and get one now! Check it out here and read the raving reviews.)

Sophie filling up her GRAYL filtering water bottle at the river, which is on Chuck Wagon Trail.
Filling up my GRAYL…
Sophie filtering river water while on the Devil's Bridge hike in Sedona.
…and getting all the clean water I want!

Anywho, once you get going on Mescal Trail, about one-quarter mile (.02) of the way in you’ll intersect Chuck Wagon Trail, in which you turn left on.

A sign, which is the meeting point of Mescal Trail and Chuck Wagon trail, pointing towards which way Devil's Bridge is.

About 10-15 minutes into your Devil’s Bridge hike, you’ll come across a part of the trail where it looks like it completely disappeared!

Don’t fret — you’ll actually end up following and walking through (yes, through) the creek bed for a short distance.

It was at this point in the hike that my mom, sister, and I completely veered off course and got a little lost!

But we eventually found our way back to the trail after spotting some fellow hikers. (Who graciously showed us we needed to walk through the creekbed to stay on route!)

Sophie's mom walking through the somewhat dry creek bed that is Chuck Wagon Trail at one point in the hike.
Creek bed you walk through.
A signpost stating which way Devil's Bridge, Chuck Wagon Trail, and Mescal Parking is.
A sign you pass at a sharp turn on Chuck Wagon Trail.

After about 1.2 miles and a few twists and turns on Chuck Wagon Trail, you’ll arrive at the Dry Creek Rd, Chuck Wagon Trail, and Devil’s Bridge Trailhead junction.

A gorgeous view of the surrounding Sedona area.

At this point, it’s easy to follow the Devil’s Bridge Trail due to an ample amount of helpful markers and other hikers heading towards this remarkable Sedona viewpoint.

Near the end of the trail, coming up towards the actual Devil’s Bridge landmark, you’ll have to do some climbing!

Sophie's sister climbing the natural staircase up towards Devil's Bridge landmark.
My lovely sis slowly climbing the natural rock stairs.
Mind-blowing red red formations you see while hiking Devil's Bridge trail.
Some wild red rock formations!

Now, it’s not super duper hard! Just make sure to use both your hands and feet to stay steady and take your sweet time. There’s no need to rush!

Also, for this point in the hike, it’s probably important for me to say that you must have good shoes — ones that are comfortable and good for hiking!

Personally, I wear super supportive tennis shoes (like these). But hiking boots are awesome, too! (I use hiking boots like these for more strenuous treks.)

After the last climb, you’ll finally arrive at Devil’s Bridge! Where you can chill out, catch your breath, have a nice long drink of water, and admire the fabulous views.

Sophie walking across the path towards Devil's Bridge.

Don’t forget to — carefully! — walk out onto Devil’s Bridge and take some awesome photos. There will likely be plenty of other people there to take one for you!

Sophie and her sister sitting out on Devil's Bridge with a crazy beautiful background of blue skies, green trees, and red sandstone rock formations.

(If not, I recommend traveling with a small tripod to get the job done yourself. I use one like this!)

On the way back, make sure to yet again take your time going down the steep parts. Don’t want to get yourself hurt!

Just as easy as it was to follow Mescal Trail and Chuck Wagon Trail to Devil’s Bridge, it’s easy to follow on the way back, too.

Ever thought about hiking in Wales? Check out my post on hiking Moel Morfydd in North Wales for some inspiration!

A towering red rock mountain surrounded by green trees and blue skies.

TIPS FOR HIKING DEVIL’S BRIDGE IN SEDONA, AZ

1. Bring Enough Water

This goes without saying but mother of god, make sure to bring enough water! Hydration is key — especially when embarking on a summer hike in Sedona, as this time of year can get ridiculously hot.

(Hint: NOT bringing enough is one of my top 5 reasons people suck at hiking! Read the full blog post here to find out the 4 other reasons…)

A dead tree in the foreground with a towering red rock formation in the background.

2. Watch Out for Bikes on Mescal Trail

Mescal Trail is mainly known as a biking trail and is heavily used, too.

So, just keep your eyes and ears open when hiking the short distance on Mescal from the trailhead parking lot to Chuck Wagon Trail (which is not a bike trail).

A trail marker stating which way Mescal Parking, Devil's Bridge, and Dry Creek Vista Parking is.

Need a few reasons to visit Banff National Park this year? Well, I’ve got 7 for you! Click here to read the post.


3. Pack Along a Good Camera

If you want to get mind-blowing photos of your Devil’s Bridge hike or the surrounding Sedona red rock landscape, then packing along a good quality camera is essential (not just an iPhone, although the newer ones are very impressive these days!).

Personally, I travel with a Sony Alpha a7 and it is fabulous! Check it out here.

Previously I traveled with a Sony Alpha a5000, which is an older model but still just as good! It’s a bit smaller and lighter, so it’s a great camera for hiking. Check it out here.

A withered dead tree branch in the foreground with a rough-looking red rock mountain in the background.
Part of the Devil's Bridge hike with red rock "stairs" and views of surrounding red rock mountains.

4. Don’t Pack Too Much Though

While you should definitely pack a good amount of water and a high-quality camera, don’t overpack!

There’s nothing worse than uncomfortable back pain while hiking!

As a frequent hiker, here are the hiking essentials I bring:

A cliffside with green trees and red rock mountains surrounding it.

5. Go Easy on Yourself

For beginners, hiking Devil’s Bridge might push your limits. If you start feeling woozy or lightheaded, go easy on yourself and take a break!

Again, hiking is all about having a good time in nature and breathing in the fresh air! Don’t rush yourself; listen to your body and adjust to your needs.

Fellow hikers walking through a dry creek bed towards Devil's Bridge in Sedona, Arizona.

Well, hope this guide on hiking Devil’s Bridge via Mescal and Chuck Wagon Trail helped you plan your awesome trek to this incredible Sedona landmark!

It’s truly a magical hike and though it can get very busy throughout the year, it’s definitely worth it.

Are you planning a trip to Sedona or a hike to Devil’s Bridge soon? Have any other questions or need some more guidance? Head to the comment section below and ask away!

Sophie xx



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Looking for hike Devil's Bridge while visiting Sedona, Arizona? Don't go the traditional hiking route! Follow my guide and hike via Mescal Trail + Chuck Wagon Trail, the more unique and underrated route to Devil's Bridge. #devilsbridge #sedona #hiking #arizona #unitedstates #usa
Looking for hike Devil's Bridge while visiting Sedona, Arizona? Don't go the traditional hiking route! Follow my guide and hike via Mescal Trail + Chuck Wagon Trail, the more unique and underrated route to Devil's Bridge. #devilsbridge #sedona #hiking #arizona #unitedstates #usa

As mentioned above, this post contains affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through the links, this site receives a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure here.


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