Oak Creek and Cathedral Rock, Sedona

Coconino National Forest,
Yavapai Counties,
Arizona

Hiking Trails:
Baldwin Trail
Red Rock Crossing Trail

Total Time: 0:30 hours
Estimated Distance: 1.2 miles

Pros: Very scenic area
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/spLBSJnTFnL4ftuJ9

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

Cathedral Rock is perhaps the most popular landmark in Sedona. It's a giant sandstone promenade jutting from the desert floor, with a good climb up to the middle of the formation. Due to its popularity, there are heavy crowds and very limited parking. We didn't want to compete with everyone climbing this formation, so opted for a back route to enjoy the scenery as well as the nearby scenic creek. We had already done a fairly large hike earlier in the day at Brins Mesa, so this was more like a short scenic walk as we departed Sedona and headed south.

We parked at the end of Verde Valley School Road the parking area. We took the Baldwin Trail east down to the valley, and at the bottom we took the Red Rock Crossing Trail west, and then at the creek we took a break enjoying the desert oasis. We then took the road at that point back up the road to the parking area.

Map of the Route

Yehudah and I with Cathedral Rock Behind Us

Cathedral Rock in the Distance

Descending into the Verdant Creek Area

Oak Creek

Bell Rock Sunset Hike, Sedona

Coconino National Forest,
Coconino / Yavapai Counties.,
Arizona

Hiking Trails:
Bell Rock Trail

Total Time: 1:00 hours
Estimated Distance: 1.9 miles

Pros: Scenic Formation and Views
Cons: Busy area and limited parking
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult but short

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JVMvqYVnAdgG8uYe8

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

The last time I had been in Sedona, many years earlier, I had approached it from the north from the Grand Canyon. I was mesmerized by the Sedona scenery and did a hike in Oak Creek Canyon at that time. However, upon driving through Sedona to south to pick up the highway back to Phoenix, I noticed Bell Rock and decided that I had to come back and climb the rock. 

Well, this was my return trip, and I knew I needed to climb Bell Rock. Bell Rock is one of the most iconic formations in Sedona. It's a giant red sandstone rock/mountain poking out of the surface, right next to another similar though larger formation called Courthouse Butte. The trail up the rock/mountain doesn't quite go to the very top, which is very steep, but it does go up and you can climb up higher beyond. As you get higher, the way up gets steeper and more difficult. I climbed up to the point where I started feeling out of my comfort zone and then turned around and went back down.

We had finished the previous hike to the Mescal Mountain area about an hour before sunset, so figured Bell Rock was a perfect choice for around sunset. We went to park in the Bell Rock parking lot, but found it to be full. Apparently it is almost ALWAYS full. So we drove around across the street to Yavapai Vista Point, where we found plenty more parking. We took the path and crossed Route 179 to the trailhead, and then took the Bell Rock Trail up, enjoying the amazing sunset upon the red rocks of Sedona.

Map of the Route

Sedona Rock Formations, Looking North

Courthouse Butte

Bell Rock

Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte

Yehudah at Bell Rock

Scenery along the Trail

Scrambling up Bell Rock

Great Views

Long Canyon Trail Mescal Mountain Loop Sedona

Coconino National Forest,
Yavapai Co.,
Arizona

Hiking Trails:
Long Canyon Trail
Deadman's Pass Trail
Mescal Trail

Total Time: 2:00 hours
Estimated Distance: 4.4 miles

Pros: Very scenic area
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Google Maps of Parking:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rWvAj9FGgyCTvc9c6

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

I was in Arizona for a tradeshow, and decided to take a small trip up north to Sedona for some good hiking prior to the show. We arrived in the late afternoon, so a four hour hike was very appropriate. We parked at the Long Canyon Trailhead, and took the Long Canyon Trail to the Deadman's Pass Trail, with a view of the beautiful scenery along the path. We then took the Mescal Trail up the mountain along the side of Mescal Mountain, and then along the rock around the arch of the mountain. We then took the Mescal Trail back to our car. This is a highly scenic route especially along the Mescal Trail, and is highly recommended.

Map of the Route

Trailhead at Long Canyon

Long Canyon Trail

Deadman's Pass Trail

Ascending the Mountain on the Mescal Trail

Dramatic Scenery Along the Mescal Trail