Devil's Bridge in Sedona is one of the most iconic hikes in the US. Here's how to try it
Hiking has many benefits. Beyond the healthy perks of physical activity, being outdoors boosts mental well-being, fosters an appreciation for nature and builds a sense of stewardship for our public lands. It’s also a great way to meet people with similar interests.
And with recent reports on the negative impacts of loneliness, hitting the trails would seem like a win-win. The trick is to pick trails that attract crowds of people more in the game for the social aspects than for an isolated backcountry experience.
Enter Devil's Bridge in Sedona, one of the busiest hiking destinations in Arizona.
The trail that leads to an iconic natural sandstone arch has been a big draw for ages. Its popularity is bolstered by several factors — easy access, relatively short distance with only moderate difficulty and a huge ooh-ahh punch at the end.
Devil's Bridge is one of the most popular hikes in Arizona
Thousands make the pilgrimage each year to queue up for a photo atop the 50-foot-high arching formation in Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness in Coconino National Forest, just a few miles from Uptown Sedona.
Based on personal observation, many visitors have limited time and/or experience and want to get the most bang per hiking mile. A survey of license plates in the trailhead parking area reveals the nationwide fame of Devil's Bridge: Montana, Utah, Massachusetts, Iowa, Texas, Illinois, South Carolina, California, California, California.
People on the trail are generally courteous, eager to talk and more than happy to snap a photo of you and your group. Some have inspiring stores. Others just want to know the names of surrounding rock formations (Mescal Mountain, Doe Mountain, Bear Mountain and Cockscomb on this hike). Either way, striking up a conversation is effortless.
Anybody who has read my blog over the years knows I prefer more off-the-wall, less crowded trails over the hyper-popular kind. So, what the heck was I doing at Devil's Bridge on a recent weekend after avoiding it for 18 years? Entertaining winter visitors with a gnawing need to check this off their bucket list.
Since my guests were fit but not really hikers, we took the short route beginning at the Mescal trailhead, one of the four best ways to access the trail, including the free Sedona Shuttle service.
What to expect at Devil's Bridge, Sedona
We arrived at 7:30 a.m. and scored one of the last parking spaces. Trail traffic along the first well-signed mile that follows the Mescal and Chuckwagon trails was constant, often coming in fits and spurts of small groups.
Bottlenecks begin where the route gets steeper, ascending uphill on rough-cut sandstone staircases. About 0.2 miles before the bridge, where the route crosses into the wilderness area, traffic slows to a near standstill as hikers meet a fork with one branch heading to the space below the arch and the other to the final stairs to the top.
On weekends, we’re talking an elbow-to-elbow scenario of chatty, awestruck hikers. It’s not the ideal experience for some, but anybody who ventures here ought to know that and shouldn’t expect solitude.
Having been there and done that, I decided to opt out of the line that was tantamount to those at major theme parks but without the turnstiles. I waited in a cypress-shaded alcove with a nice family visiting from Europe while my friends earned their check mark, some fabulous photos and a couple of new friends.
How to hike Devil's Bridge in Sedona
Length:
From Devil's Bridge trailhead: 1.8 miles round trip.
From the Mescal day-use trailhead: 4 miles round trip.
From the Dry Creek Vista trailhead: 5.8 miles round trip.
Rating: Moderate.
Elevation: 4,500-4,910 feet.
Getting there:
Sedona Shuttle (preferred method): Get information about free service from park-and-ride lots in Sedona to the Mescal and Dry Creek trailheads at sedonashuttle.com.
Devil's Bridge trailhead: From the State Route 179/89A traffic circle in Sedona, go 3.2 miles west (toward Cottonwood) on SR 89A to Dry Creek Road. Turn right and go 2 miles to the turnoff for Forest Road 152 on the right. Follow FR 152 past the Dry Creek Vista trailhead for about a mile to the signed Devil's Bridge parking area. The road beyond Dry Creek Vista is very rough. A high-clearance or 4x4 vehicle is required. There are no facilities or fees.
Mescal day-use trailhead: From the State Route 179/US89A traffic circle in Sedona, go 3 miles west on SR 89A to Dry Creek Road. Turn right and go 2.9 miles to Long Canyon Road (FR 152D). Turn right and go 0.2 miles to the trailhead on the left. There’s a restroom at the trailhead. No fees.
Dry Creek Vista trailhead: From the State Route 179/89A traffic circle in Sedona, go 3.2 miles west on SR 89A to Dry Creek Road. Turn right and go 2 miles to the turnoff for Forest Road 152/Dry Creek trailhead on the right and continue a short distance to the parking area. There’s a restroom at the trailhead. No fees.
Details: Coconino National Forest, www.fs.usda.gov.
Read more of Mare Czinar's hikes at arizonahiking.blogspot.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Devil's Bridge in Sedona: How to hike this wildly popular trail