While staying at Verde River RV Resort, we took several hikes around Sedona and the Red Rocks area. November was the perfect time to hike, because the mornings were cool and comfortable for hiking. Unlike our hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where much of the hike was in the trees and shaded, the Sedona hikes were mostly in the sun. We made sure we planned appropriately, taking plenty of water, snacks, and gear to hike safely.

Devil’s Bridge Trail

Devil’s Bridge Trail is on the northwest corner of Sedona. The trailhead is located on Dry Creek Road. This trailhead fills up pretty quickly; however, there is parking along the side of the road. The hike to Devil’s Bridge is about 4 miles roundtrip. The trail starts out as an easy hike winding toward the base of the more moderate to hard portion up to Devil’s Bridge. There is a turn off on the trail where you can go under the bridge, but we chose to take the harder route climbing up the rock formations to the actual rock bridge. This a very popular trail, and we opted not to wait for others to get off the bridge to walk across it. Just getting to the bridge itself was an accomplishment!

Big Park to Bell Rock Trail

Our next hike was the Big Park to Bell Rock Trail Loop. The trailhead is located on the east side of Sedona on State Route 179. There is a parking lot, however, be prepared for it to fill up early as this is also the lot for the Courthouse Butte Loop Trail. This trail was on the easier side and was 4.5 miles. We were able to see the Courthouse Butte, Cathedral Rock, Chapel of the Holy Cross, and other spectacular views on this trail.

Chapel of the Holy Cross

The Little Horse Trail takes you to Chapel of the Holy Cross. The trailhead is on State Route 179 on the east side of Sedona. This is a 5-mile roundtrip hike, and is on the easy to moderate side. Be prepared to walk up the steep driveway to get to the chapel. Once you get there, however, it is worth the burn you’ll feel in your legs!

While we barely scratched the service of hiking in the Sedona area, we were able to enjoy the amazing scenery and weather Sedona has to offer. We’d love to go back and check off some more of the hikes on our hiking bucket list.

Jennifer Skinnell is the author of the Hope Springs Romance Series available on Amazon. Click here for all the details.