The destination that drew us to Arizona was the Grand Canyon; that is the original reason that we began planning a trip out west. However, when mapping out our trip to the Grand Canyon State, we had no idea how much we’d fall in love with Sedona. Beautiful photos fill web pages all over the internet, but they certainly don’t deliver justice to this unique desert town. Windy roads looped through steep canyon walls, and picturesque red rock buttes towered above and beyond as far as we could see. Tall pines dotted the mountains, giving the red rocks splashes of dark green. Trails branched off along the two lane highways, leading to even more spectacular rock formations, deep canyons, and cozy pine forests.
While in Sedona, we hiked all over the map: Doe Mountain, Devil’s Bridge, Fay Canyon, Red Rock State Park, Cathedral Rock, Coconino National Forest, and some small trails that snaked through Red Rock Secret Wilderness. We also took a Pink Jeep Tour up the mountain on an off-road adventure!
Red Rock State Park was our first stop. This was our very first taste of Arizona, and we immediately fell in love with the scenery, weather, and the fiery rocky formations along the trails. We wound through Apache Fire Trail, Eagles Nest Loop, and Coyote Ridge Trail, which were all fairly easy trails that provided some incredible views. The sun shone all day, blue skies above with a few wispy clouds as we ventured through the forests. To cap the day, we hiked Doe Mountain at sunset. This was definitely a highlight, as we were completely alone on the trail. The mildly strenuous hike snaked up Doe Mountain, the incline drastically becoming steeper and switchbacks frequenting the trail. Once we reached the top, which was 500 feet in elevation, we were blown away at the incredible sights. In every direction, red rocks, crimson monoliths, and deep red sandstone overtook the landscape. Off in the distance, a storm appeared to be brewing, dark clouds hovering closely over the mountains, threatening to drench everything that lie beneath them. The top of the mountain boasted a wide, flat mesa, a long stretch of wildflowers, rocks, and trees scattering the surface. We explored every inch of the landscape, soaking in the breathtaking 360 views of the one-of-a-kind, Sedona-unique red rocks. One spot almost looked like we were on planet Mars, with its stark foliage, dark red rocks, and dry, deserted atmosphere.
Watching the sun descend into the horizon, we conquered the switchbacks back down the mountain, cherishing the silent atmosphere, peach sky and mountainous backdrop. What a perfect way to begin our trip!
The next day was our off-road adventure with Pink Jeep. We arrived early in the morning; the skies were slowly darkening, a storm looming. The air was chilly, as the desert typically is in the morning. We kept checking the radar, and the rain wasn’t supposed to start until later that afternoon, so we embarked on the tour. Bumping up Schnebly Hill Road, which only allowed 4×4 and foot access, the jeep swayed back and forth, our necks jolting and our laughter floating across the desert. The tour guide pointed out many interesting facts of formations that we passed; among them was Merry-Go-Round Rock, which Elvis Presley famously sang “Dominic” in the 1968 film, “Stay Away, Joe.” Our heads bobbed, our knees bumped into each other, and our hands gripped the side of the Jeep until our knuckles turned white, as we laughed with glee at the thrill and excitement of the adventure. About twenty minutes into our ride, rain began to pour. There were no sprinkles, no warning, just an immediate downpour. A sheet of rain pelted the Jeep, drowning out our voices and drenching us. Giggling, we pulled on ponchos and secured our phones and cameras. Soon, rain transformed into hail. PingPong-Ball-sized hail. Ricocheting off the roof of the Jeep like loud tambourines. This was the wildest adventure! The tour guide kept apologizing and offering to stop and wait out the storm, but we refused, saying we were having the time of our lives.
Continuing to bump up the rocky road, he pointed out a waterfall cascading off the mountains, mentioning that this phenomena is only visible during a heavy rain storm. How lucky were we?! Snaking up a mountain and getting to see a rare waterfall running down a famous, towering red rock that once doubled as a film scene left me thrilled, speechless, and amazed. Riders usually stop at the top of the mountain for about ten to fifteen minutes to soak in the sweeping Sedona landscape; we lasted about two minutes before the biting wind almost blew us off the mountain. Hail was pummeling us, and a sheet of rain was still falling, blowing around the mountain, blurring the landscape in a thick fog. The driver continued to apologize, but we repeated our gratitude; we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way! We are always up for anything adventurous, and that definitely exceeded our expectations! I’d 100% recommend a Pink Jeep Tour for unforgettable memories!
Fay Canyon was our next Sedona hike! What made this one of my favorite Sedona hikes was the “secret” path that veered from the original trail. About a half-mile into the trail, we spotted an unmarked path to our right. I had read about this hidden path, so with our curiosity piqued, we veered off onto this path, and it led us to a steep rock scramble. The original Fay Canyon trail is simple, but the added half-mile rock scramble is not for the faint of heart! The steep incline was staggering. Rocks crumbled as soon as we stepped on them, sending them cascading down the hill in a thunderous crash. No chains were available to grip, so we clenched the rocks and began to climb the hill until we reached the very top, which boasted the Fay Canyon natural bridge. With the natural beauty arching above us, we ventured beneath the bridge and explored the unmarked path. Taking in the sweeping views around us, it was then that we realized how high up we were and how steep of an incline we had just climbed. Due to the secrecy of the trail and the time of year, we were alone on this trail as well. Sedona is a truly magical place!
Devil’s Bridge was the longest trail that we hiked in Sedona, roughly five miles roundtrip. This trail was moderately strenuous, with an elevation gain of 564 feet. The prized natural arch that lies at the trail’s finish line is what most people look forward to. We saw pictures of this natural wonder, and we immediately knew that we had to see it in person. (I saw a photo of someone standing on the bridge with the sweeping red rock landscape as her backdrop, and I knew that I had to snap that same photo of myself). What we weren’t expecting, however, was the beauty that the rest of the trail would contain. Sweeping Sedona landscapes filled the entire trail, from beginning to end. This trail was a bit more crowded due to the popularity of the bridge, but this didn’t skew our views or diminish our moods. I was grateful that people were appreciating the Sedona beauty in the same way that we were.
Cathedral Rock towers over Sedona, making it easily visible from the highway. This trail is simple until you begin to climb the rock itself; then, it becomes highly strenuous. The sudden elevation gain of 744 feet begins as you climb to the summit. I made it halfway up; the staggering height from my position made me dizzy. My wife, having chugged a Starbucks coffee just minutes before our hike, continued to climb until she reached the very top. The caffeine boost fueled her as she rock-climbed to the summit. She said the view from the top was out of this world. As the sun set, painting the sky with pink and orange hues, we made our way back down the rock, using the scattered wire barrels of red rocks as our trail guide, back to ground level. Craning our necks, it was amazing to see how high we had climbed. Even more staggering was looking at the astronomical rock formation from the street view and realizing she had made it to the very top.
Sedona is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever been to. If you are planning a trip to Arizona, make sure Sedona makes the itinerary. Though we tend to pick trails that are moderate to strenuous, there are many easy trails in Sedona that offer sweeping views, such as TeaCup Trail to Coffee Pot Rock. Hop on the AllTrails app or webpage to see all the incredible trails that wind through this desert town! You won’t regret hiking this gorgeous western utopia.
Happy hiking!
To view my post on the Grand Canyon, click here.
To view my wife’s video on our trip to Arizona, click here.
Wonder. Wander. Repeat. 