Arizona is home to a marvelous city frequented by millions of visitors every single year, who come to witness the region’s iconic attractions and various unique activities. This city is Sedona, set amid impressive canyons, red rock mountains, and buttes. People enjoy the stunning scenery. They come for Cathedral Rock, Uptown Sedona, Red Rock Scenic Byway, Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive, the city’s splendid hiking trails, and more. One of the most popular and beautiful hikes that people enjoy taking in Sedona is the one to Devil’s Bridge.
The latter features gorgeous red rock scenery and is considered an easy hike. The Devil’s Bridge hike is thought of as the top one thing to do in Sedona for many, and taking a photo on top of the bridge is worth the hike. Here’s a guide to hiking this harrowing rock ledge in Sedona.
What To Know Before Hiking The Devil’s Bridge In Sedona
People willing to hike to the Devil’s Bridge in Sedona must know a couple of things about the loop. For instance, the hike has a distance of 2 miles with a 4x4 and 4.2 miles without a 4x4. Moreover, the time needed to complete this hike is between 1 and 3 hours. The elevation gain amounts to 400 to 500 feet. Additionally, the walk to Devil’s Bridge is mostly easy, with just one short section of steps/rock scrambling.
- Cost: For people to have the chance to hike to Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, they must purchase a Red Rock Pass, which costs $5 per day or $15 per week. Only credit cards are accepted, and the purchase can be made at the trailhead at the fee machine. However, people who have America the Beautiful Pass won’t need to purchase a Red Rock Pass and can access the hike with their existing pass already.
- Recommended: People hiking to Devil’s Bridge must stick to some rules and ethical practices. For instance, they should plan ahead, stay on the trail, properly dispose of waste, minimize campfire impacts, not feed or approach wildlife, be considerate of other hikers, leave areas as they find them, and pack out what they bring to the hiking trail.
How To Hike To Devil’s Bridge In Sedona
Depending on if one has a 4x4 vehicle or not, there are two ways to hike to Devil’s Bridge in Sedona. People who have a 4x4 can park at the trailhead directly, which makes the distance of the hike 2 miles. People who want to get to the car park need to drive on Dry Creek Road. This is where they should traverse the rocky dirt road for around 1.3 miles to reach the Devil’s Bridge parking lot. As for people who don’t have a 4x4, they will have to park their car in the parking lot of the Dry Creek Vista Trail and then walk to the trailhead of the Devils Bridge. This will make the distance of the loop a 4.6 miles round trip.
- Recommended: Walking the Dry Creek Road is not so interested, and there is nothing to see there along this road. This is why people are encouraged to park in the parking lot for Mescal Trailhead. They will need to walk for around 1 mile to get to the Devils Bridge Trail. This will be a 4.2 miles round trip.
Hiking from the Mescal Trail, people will reach Chuckwagon Trail and get to Dry Creek Road. After that comes the parking lot of Devils Bridge. Along the way, people can enjoy the sights of the rocky mountain, the balanced rock, and the scenic views. Later, people will need to hike up some steep and rocky steps with some rock scrambling involved. It’s good that this section is small and ends directly before reaching Devils Bridge. Next to the bridge, people can sit, relax, and enjoy the views at a perfect spot. This is where they can have their photos taken also.
- Recommended: People must expect to wait to get their photo taken because Devils Bridge is one of the most popular hikes in Sedona and is usually crowded. This is why they should hike during the early evening or early morning to avoid the crowds and the midday heat.
Some Tips To Make The Most Of The Hike To Devils Bridge
The spring and fall seasons are considered the peak periods in Sedona, and this is when the hike to Devils Bridge gets most crowded. People are advised to take the walk early in the morning or late in the afternoon. For instance, getting at 7 am to the Mescal Trailhead or the Dry Creek parking lot is an essential thing to do to get a place there.
Also, people can find spots between 3:30 pm and 04:00 pm at the Mescal Trailhead. Late in the afternoon, visitors to Devils Bridge will enjoy the lighting, which is great for photos, and the area will be most likely empty during these times. Another thing that people must consider is to rent a high-clearance 4WD vehicle and drive directly to the trailhead of Devils Bridge. This will allow using the 4WD for other scenic drives in Sedona.