How to Hike the Stunning Devils Bridge Sedona Trail
Have you ever heard of the iconic Devils Bridge Sedona AZ? This narrow natural arch is one of the most stunning landmarks we’ve seen on our travels in the USA. If you are adventurous enough you can even walk on the rock bridge. But this is not an experience for the faint of heart!
Sedona is famous for providing several unique rock formations but Devil’s Bridge is truly special. Not just the landmark itself is breathtaking, the hike offers unforgettable views of the red rock vistas and desert plants. The best thing is you can choose from various hiking trails for different skill levels to get to the natural arch.
Find your perfect trail right here and get all the information you need to make this an unforgettable trip! Are you willing to take a walk across to capture the iconic photo on top of Devils Bridge AZ?
Our Other Resources for Sedona:
- 17 Best Things to Do in Sedona, Arizona
- 19 Can’t Miss Hikes in Sedona
- Soldiers Pass Trail: How to Find the Hidden Cave
- Hike Cathedral Rock Sedona: The Complete Guide
- Finding the Secret Birthing Cave Sedona
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What to Bring: Top 5 Hiking Essentials
Insulated Water Bottle: We found out very quickly that having a good insulated water bottle makes a world of difference on our hiking trips. l Hydro Flask
Durable Hiking Footwear: Hiking on different terrain requires sturdy hiking boots you can trust. We totally count on the Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Hiking Boot. l Columbia
Comfortable Hiking Socks: Trust us, a quality hiking sock with a good cushion can make a huge difference in how your feet will feel after any hike. l Darn Tough
Photography Gear: Peak Design with its many smart photography accessories makes capturing our adventurous hiking moments so much easier. l Peak Design
Read the Full Guide: What You Should be Packing for a Hike: The Essentials + Extras
Getting to Devils Bridge Sedona AZ
You have a few options when it comes to parking for the Devils Bridge Sedona trail. There are two parking lots for passenger cars and one parking lot for 4×4 vehicles.
Be aware that if you park in the regular parking lots, you won’t start at the Devils Bridge Arizona trailhead. You have to follow another trail that will bring you to the actual trailhead.
1. Getting to the Devils Bridge Trailhead without a 4×4 Vehicle
There are two parking areas you can leave your car to explore Devils Bridges:
- Devils Bridge Sedona AZ Parking Lot on Dry Creek Road
From Uptown Sedona, head towards West Sedona on Highway 89A. Turn right onto Dry Creek Road. After about 2 miles, keep right to stay on Dry Creek Road. In about 1.5 miles, you will turn right into the Dry Creek parking lot for Devils Bridge Sedona, which is the largest and main parking area.
Due to the popularity of the Devils Bridge hike, this parking lot will fill up quickly, especially during spring, Sedona’s most popular visitor season.
We arrived in this parking lot shortly after 6:30 AM in July and were lucky enough to find one of the last remaining spots in the lot. When we returned back at our car, about 3 hours later, there were a ton of cars waiting for our spot.
- Mescal Trailhead on Long Canyon Road
You can find another option for parking at the Mescal Trailhead which is located along Long Canyon Road. But be mindful, there is very limited parking. Expect rather a few designated spots off the side of the road than a parking lot.
2. Getting to the Devils Bridge Trailhead with a 4×4 Vehicle
If you have a 4×4 vehicle with high clearance and want to venture down the dirt road, you will be able to drive right to the Devil’s Bridge trailhead on Dry Creek Road. The plus side is that you will shorten your hiking time significantly since you will only have to hike 2 miles on the actual Devils Bridge AZ trail.
What Can You Do if You Don’t Find Parking at these Options?
- Wait around for a parking spot to become available but make sure not to block anything.
- Enjoy another nearby Sedona hike, e.g. Fay Canyon Trail, Boynton Canyon Trail, and Soldier Pass Trail.
- Check out more things to do in Sedona.
Hiking Trail Options for Devils Bridge Sedona
There are 4 different easy-to-follow routes that you can choose from to hike to Devils Bridge Sedona AZ depending on the lot you park in.
Route 1: Forest Road 152
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 3.6 miles
Park in the parking lot on Dry Creek Road. Start your hike down Forest Road 152 to the Devils Bridge Trailhead. Then continue along the Devils Bridge Sedona trail.
Route 2: Chuck Wagon Trail from Mescal Trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 4.0 miles
Park at the Mescal Trailhead parking lot. Take the Chuck Wagon connector trail from the Mescal trailhead. Hike along the Chuck Wagon trail to the Devil’s Bridge trailhead. Then follow this trail until you reach Devils Bridges.
Route 3: Chuck Wagon Trail from Dry Creek Road
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 5.8 miles
Park in the parking lot on Dry Creek Road. Take the entire Chuck Wagon trail to the start of the Devils Bridge trailhead. Then take the Devil’s Bridge trail Sedona to the natural arch.
On the map at the trailhead, this trail is marked as strenuous but we didn’t get this impression at all. Neither the elevation is very high, nor the length of the trail is very demanding. So don’t let yourself get fooled by the information on the map.
Route 4: Just Devils Bridge Trailhead(4×4 vehicle required)
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 1.8 miles
Park at the Devils Bridge trailhead. To reach this parking lot, it will require a 4×4 vehicle since you have to drive on a dirt Forest Road. Since you will start at the actual Devils Bridge trailhead, you will only hike along this trail.
Map of Devils Bridge Trailheads
What to Expect on the Hike to Devils Bridge Sedona (Route 3)
General Information for Devils Bridge Sedona AZ: Route 3
Difficulty: Moderate with a short section of rock scrambling
Length: 5.8 miles
Type of Hike: Out and Back
Time: 3 hours (depending on the route)
Elevation Gain: about 500 feet
Location: Dry Creek Road
Trailhead: Devil’s Bridge Trail Sedona (No. 120) / Chuck Wagon Trailhead
When to Hike: Hiking the Devil Bridge Sedona trail is perfect all year long. The best time to hike is in spring and fall early in the morning.
Red Rock Pass Sedona, Arizona: Yes (Learn more about the hiking fees in Sedona below)
When we arrived at the Dry Creek Road parking lot, we were not sure which trail would be best to choose. Fortunately, we met a Park Ranger, who highly recommended taking the Chuck Wagon Trail instead of the Forest Road to the Devil’s Bridge trailhead. Later on, we understood her reasons and were very thankful for her advice.
The Forest Road gets a lot of traffic with the 4×4 vehicle, so you constantly hike on a noisy, dusty road. It’s not the best hiking experience and you miss out on scenic panoramic views of Sedona.
Part 1: Chuck Wagon Trail
Don’t get confused about where the start of the trail is. Once you leave the parking lot (close to the restrooms), you find the beginning of the trailhead. Stay towards your right. The trail starts out pretty wide and then slowly gets more narrow.
For the most part, the Chuck Wagon trail is pretty flat. You will wind your way through the beautiful Sedona desert landscape. Along the way be sure to stop and check out the variety of desert plants on the trail.
At certain points along the trail, you will find yourself hiking through a water basin.
After a while, you will reach a sign where the Chuck Wagon trail and the Mescal trail connect. Make sure to continue on the Chuck Wagon trail to reach the Devils Bridge trailhead.
Note: The Chuck Wagon trail is also open to mountain biking. So beware of bikers and share the trail with them.
Once you find yourself on the dirt Forest Road, you know you have reached the end of the Chuck Wagon trail. Here you will want to cross over the dirt road and follow the sign for the Devils Bridge trailhead.
Part 2: Devil’s Bridge Trail Sedona
Continue following Devils Bridge Sedona trail until you reach Devils Bridges. The trail is well marked and very busy, so you shouldn’t have any difficulties finding your way.
On this trail, you will have some elevation gain, especially when you are getting closer to Devils Bridge. You will have to take a short, steep climb up on rocks. If you made it this far, you are very close to seeing the incredible natural sandstone arch, Devils Bridge Sedona AZ.
Devils Bridge Sedona will be on your left-hand side, so don’t forget to keep an eye out for it. You probably won’t miss it because you will see a bunch of fellow hikers on it, taking photos, or sitting near it.
If you want to cross the bridge, approach it from the right side. The bridge is quite wide, about 12′-15′ minimum with a big open space to walk and sit on but you still shouldn’t cross it when it’s too windy. Unfortunately, 1 person has already fallen down the big drop-off.
Part 3: The Hike Back to Devil’s Bridge Arizona Trail Parking
If you parked at the Dry Creek Road parking lot, you can choose to take a different route back. If you are short on time or a little tired and want to have a quick hike back, think about taking Forest Road (Route 1) to the parking lot.
So what does that mean? Once you reach the beginning of the Devils Bridge Sedona trailhead, turn left onto Forest Road 152 and walk down the road until you reach the parking lot.
If you prefer to go back the way you came, cross over Forest Road 152 and continue on the Chuck Wagon trail.
Tip: Want to explore more unique hikes in Sedona? Read all about our 19 Can’t Miss Hikes in Sedona.
More Hiking Trails in Sedona, Arizona
- Cathedral Rock Trail
A quick steep trail that leads you up to the top of one of Sedona’s most popular red rock formations, Cathedral Rock. If you are looking for a little bit of rock scrambling and challenge, give this trail a try.
- Soldier Pass Trail
The Soldier Pass trail will lead you into the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness and to some interesting Sedona features along the way. One of those is the Soldier Pass Cave. This trail will definitely keep your interest the entire time.
- Birthing Cave
To find the Birthing Cave you actually have to hike on the Long Canyon Trail. It is an easy and short out and back hike. However, to reach the cave you will need to turn off the main Long Canyon Trail- Read more about how to find the Birthing Cave in our detailed post.
How Long Does it Take to Hike to Devils Bridge Sedona?
You should plan anywhere from 1 to 3 hours to hike Devils Bridge Sedona AZ. The time will vary depending on which trail(s) you take to reach the Devils Bridges and if you have a 4×4 vehicle.
From the parking lot to Devil’s Bridge Arizona, taking the Chuck Wagon and Devils Bridge Sedona trail, took us about 3 hours out and back. However, there are some other hiking options that may make the hike even quicker.
Do You Need a Red Rock Pass for Devils Bridge Az?
You will need a Red Rock Pass or an equivalent pass for this trail. A Red Rock Pass is a permit that is required when utilizing Sedona’s trails that are on National Forest Land. When a pass is needed, it has to be visibly placed on your vehicle’s windshield.
The pass can be purchased at a self-serve machine that is located at many of the trailheads, Ranger Stations, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, and at local businesses in Sedona. It costs $5 for single-day use, $15 for 7 consecutive days, and $20 for 12 consecutive months.
Other passes that are accepted are the America the Beautiful Interagency Pass, Golden Access Pass, and Golden Age Pass.
More Tips for Hiking to Devils Bridge Sedona
There are some tips we would like to share with you to make your hiking experience even better:
1. Arrive Early
Devil’s Bridge Arizona trail is one of Sedona’s popular hikes, so it can get quite crowded. The best way to beat the crowds is to arrive early at the trailhead. By early we’re talking about 6:00 -7:00 AM. Dana is not an early bird either but this trail is totally worth it. Don’t miss out on this incredible hike because you decided to hit the snooze button a few too many times.
2. Check the Weather
It is always a good idea to know the weather before you plan on going out on a hike. We visited Sedona during the hottest part of the year and we would definitely suggest trying to avoid hiking during the middle part of the day. Temperatures can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the trails are mostly unshaded.
3. Pack Plenty of Water
It can get very hot in Sedona, especially in the summer months. Pack enough water to stay hydrated when you do outdoor activities. Don’t know how much water you should pack? Learn more about Hydration Basics.
For extra cool water, we carry an insulated water bottle with us. Our Hydro Flask bottle keeps water cold for 24 hours.
4. Don’t Forget Snacks
Don’t forget to pack a few snacks. We never go hiking without having cereal bars with us. You never know when you will need an extra boost of energy to get you through your Devils Bridge hike. And sometimes things don’t go as planned. It would be a shame to find an interesting connecting trail but having to deny it because you didn’t bring enough snacks.
5. Leave No Trace
Anytime you enjoy the outdoors, it is imperative to follow Leave No Trace principles. The general idea is to leave nature the way it is so that the next generations can enjoy it too. Doesn’t that sound pretty awesome?
Learn more about Leave No Trace.
Our Final Thoughts on the Devils Bridge Trail in Sedona
Devils Bridge Sedona did not disappoint! We would definitely rank the combination of the Chuck Wagon Trail and Devils Bridge AZ trail as one of the best hikes in Sedona. Not just the landmark itself is stunning, getting to the natural arch is a lot of fun too.
We chose to take the most strenuous and longest trail (Route 3) and did not regret it. We got rewarded with gorgeous views of Sedona every minute of the hike. Since we got up early, we didn’t even have to share the Chuck Wagon trail with a lot of other hikers.
We wouldn’t consider either the trail or the Devils Bridges itself as dangerous but you should know your limits and take care when walking on the bridge.
Devil’s Bridge Arizona trail definitely made us want to explore more of Sedona’s can’t miss hikes. If you like the Devil’s Bridge hike, you might also want to explore the Birthing Cave and Cathedral Rock.
Were you Brave Enough to Cross Devils Bridge Sedona? Do You Have More Questions About How to Hike to the Natural Arch?
Drop your thoughts and questions in a comment below!
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