A Complete Guide to Hiking Devil’s Bridge Trail in Sedona in 2024

PLANNING TO HIKE DEVIL’S BRIDGE TRAIL IN SEDONA?

We’ve got all the info you need! We’ve been visiting Sedona since 2016 and have personally hiked to Devil’s Bridge. We always love it when we find our way back! It is a beautiful area of Arizona and a place we love to go because of the amazing Sedona hiking trails.

The Devil’s Bridge trail is an easier hiking trail with breathtaking views. The photogenic Devil’s Bridge in AZ is the trail’s highlight and is one of the most sought out pictures in all of Sedona.

Preparing to hike a new or unfamiliar trail can be overwhelming. That won’t be the case for you now that you’ve found your way here. We’ll dive into how to hike Devil’s Bridge and all the other need-to-know details about planning your Devil’s Bridge Trail hike adventure!

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Devil’s Bridge Trailhead

The Devil’s Bridge Trailhead is down Dry Creek Road. Dry Creek Road is a high-clearance road, meaning you will need a high-clearance vehicle with 4WD to park right at the trailhead. If you do not, don’t worry. You can still get to Devil’s Bridge in Arizona you will just need to hike a bit farther.

Devil’s Bridge Trail Access With a 4×4

Dry Creek Road is a 4x4 road that leads to the Devil's Bridge Trailhead — Dry Creek Road, the 4×4 trail leading to the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead

After turning onto Dry Creek Road, you will drive about 1.3 miles to the parking lot. This is a rough and rocky road that, again, you have to have a 4WD vehicle to drive on.

We have driven this road in our rzr and it was much faster than walking down the road. There are a lot of people walking down the road so you’ll have to be careful and alert as you are driving down the road.

This dirt road is pretty rocky, with some larger rocks you have to drive over. If you have a side-by-side, Jeep or other high-clearance vehicle, you won’t have any difficulties driving this road. Do not drive your standard-clearance vehicle down this road.

Devil’s Bridge Trail Parking with a 4×4

Wondering where to park for Devils Bridge? There is a small parking lot at the base of Devil’s Bridge Trail in Sedona. If you are parking here and get there relatively early in the day, you shouldn’t have a problem finding parking because most people don’t park here because of the need for 4WD.

We passed the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead parking lot around 10 in the morning, and there was lots of parking available. But by 12:30 pm, when we came back down, the parking lot was full. The parking lot holds about 12 cars.

On another trip, we drove down the road to this trailhead around 2:00 pm. There was one spot available for us to park in.

The Mescal Trailhead is an alternative parking area for Devil's Bridge Trail — Parking area for the Devil’s Bridge Trail in Sedona

Devil’s Bridge Trail Access Without a 4×4

If you do not have a 4 WD vehicle, there are two different ways to get to the Devil’s Bridge in Sedona – the Mescal Trailhead and Dry Creek Road.

Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, AZ Map

This Devil’s Bridge Trail map illustrates how to get to the trail via Dry Creek Trailhead (in a 4×4 vehicle or walking only) as well as the route you will take on the actual Devil’s Bridge hike.

Mescal Trailhead to Devil’s Bridge Trail

This is the option we chose when we hiked, and we really enjoyed it. It has a small parking lot on the side of Long Canyon Road. There was plenty of parking when we started our hike here, and there were even some spaces available when we left around 1:00 pm.

Parking for Devil’s Bridge at the Mescal Trailhead will take you on a one-mile walk until you reach the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead. This was a really easy part of the trail for our family because it was pretty flat but had enough variety to keep our kids entertained. There were also gorgeous views of the surrounding red rocks and prickly pear cactus.

Hiking Devil's Bridge Trail — Hiking along the Mescal Trailhead to get to the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead

This option is a lot more of a trail compared to Dry Creek, which is a lot more of a road. Mountain bikers also use this trail, so keep an eye out for them as you are hiking Devil’s Bridge.

To get to Devil’s Bridge trailhead from the parking area, you will follow signs for the Mescal Trail. This trail quickly turns into the Chuckwagon Trail. You will follow this trail until you cross Dry Creek Road. Just watch for the trail markers telling you to cross over to reach Devil’s Bridge.

Hiking from the Mescal trailhead is the shortest way to get to Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, AZ, without a 4×4 off-road vehicle. It is about 4.2 miles round trip.

Dry Creek Road to Devil’s Bridge Trailhead

The second option for getting to the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead without a 4×4 is parking in the Dry Creek Road parking lot. After the turnoff onto Dry Creek Road, there is paved parking at the Dry Creek Vista Trailhead.

There is a 4x4 road leading to the Devil's Bridge Trailhead — Dry Creek Road, a 4×4 trail leading to the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead

From here, you can walk down Dry Creek to the Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, AZ. The hike is about 4.6 miles if you park here. This is the road you would drive down if you have a 4×4, so remember that vehicles will be on the road. There isn’t much shade, in the summer it can be dusty and is not the most exciting walk.

You will need to get to the Dry Creek Road parking lot early in the morning to get a parking spot here. This parking area is a lot more popular than the Mescal Trailhead and fills up fast.

During peak visiting times, parking here can fill up by 8 am. It is best to get to the Devil’s Bridge hike early in the morning or plan on hiking later in the afternoon.

If the parking lot here is full, you will need to park before you turn onto Dry Creek Road along Boynton Pass Road. Parking along the side of Boynton Pass Road adds about half a mile to the overall length of the Devil’s Bridge hike. It can be longer depending on how far up Boynton Pass Road you have to park.

The Devil's Bridge Trail is relatively flat until the very end — This trail is suitable for kids, but they may need some help with the final climb to the cave.

Trailheads

Family hiking Devil's Bridge trail — One of the views from the Devil’s Bridge Trail

You will need a Red Rock Pass for Devil’s Bridge Trail Sedona parking. The cost is $5 for the day or $15 for the week. If you will be in the area for more than a day, you will want to purchase the weekly pass. The other most popular hikes in the area, like Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock, all require the Red Rock Pass.

You can purchase the Red Rock Pass at a machine at the trailheads using a credit card.

If you have the America the Beautiful Pass, you can also use this instead of the Red Rock Pass. This is one of our biggest recommendations if you travel a lot because it can save you so much money. If you’re heading to the national parks in Arizona, like the Grand Canyon and Saguaro, this pass will get you into those as well.

Devil’s Bridge Hike Stats

Distance from Devil’s Bridge Trailhead: 2 miles
Distance without 4×4 Clearance: 4.2 miles

Elevation Gain: 521 feet
Difficulty: Easy except for the final ascent to Devil’s Bridge
Route Type: Out and Back
Length of Time: 2 to 3 hours

Devil’s Bridge Trail

Once you reach the Devil’s Bridge Trail head, there is about a one-mile short hike. This Sedona hiking trail starts pretty easy but gets harder as you get closer to the bridge. It isn’t too difficult but does require some scrambling and going up some steep rocky steps.

My six-year-old twins hiked the main trail, and they did most of it on their own. There were a couple of larger steps that they needed help with, but besides that, they could handle most of the trail. We did have to stop for breaks as we were hiking up to Devil’s Bridge in AZ.

If you’re bringing lunch, there is a large flat area that is a good spot to stop for lunch or take a break before your final ascent to the bridge at the end of the trail. At the top, the trail narrows and can be crowded with people waiting to take their pictures.

It’s also a great place to take pictures with the beautiful red rocks in the background.

Tips for the Devil’s Bridge Hike

Devil's Bridge in Sedona AZ — Every step of Devils Bridge Sedona offers a beautiful vantage point!

Devil’s Bridge in Arizona is Dog-Friendly

The Devil’s Bridge trail in Sedona is dog-friendly as long as your dog is leashed! There are some steep rock stairs, so keep that in mind when deciding whether this trail is a good fit for you and your dog. If you have a smaller dog, you may need to carry him or her in these sections of the trail.

The rock stairs can also get congested with people going up and down, so you’ll need to keep your dog close to you as you are in these parts of the trail.

Devil's Bridge in Sedona, Arizona — Devils Bridge Sedona is an amazing spot to visit when traveling in Arizona.

This is one of the most popular trails in the Sedona area because of the iconic pictures of standing on Devil’s Bridge. Remember, there will be others on the trail, so be respectful and share the trail with fellow hikers.

Be Prepared to Stand in Line for Pictures

At the top, don’t be surprised if you have to stand in line to get your picture taken on the bridge. While we were there, the line was about 15 minutes, but it can get a lot longer. Some people were saying they had waited for over 45 minutes during other visits to Devil’s Bridge in AZ.

There were a lot of people offering to take pictures for other groups because it can be tricky to get a picture after waiting in line if everyone in your group wants to go out on the bridge.

View from Devil's Bridge Trail — We always have the best time exploring Devil’s Trail.

Get There Early for Parking

No matter the time of year you visit, Devil’s Bridge parking can be a struggle. If possible, get an early start to avoid Devil’s Bridge parking issues.

If you have found that the Dry Creek parking lot is full, check out the Mescal Trailhead parking before opting for the Boynton Pass overflow parking. We actually prefer this trail over walking the Dry Creek Road.

Safety At Devil’s Bridge in AZ

There are some steep drop-offs when you get to the top. Before you walk out on the bridge, there is an area where you can sit and take pictures of the bridge without actually going out onto it if you have a fear of heights. This area is kind of slanted, so make sure to be careful.

If you decide to go out on the bridge, it is a good idea to be cautious because there are large drop-offs on both sides of the base of the bridge. Once I was actually out on the bridge, I did not feel unsafe. For me, it was much worse looking at the bridge than going out on it.

Devil's Bridge Trail is pretty easy until the final ascent to the bridge — Devil’s Bridge Trail is only one of the great hikes Sedona, Arizona offers!

Some people sit right on the ledge or do handstands for their pictures. I went out with one of my daughters and stood in the middle of the bridge. I didn’t feel like we were in danger of falling at all.

The bridge is pretty wide, making it easy to walk on and off. You also can’t really see over the sides from the middle of the bridge, which makes it not so scary. Just use common sense, exercise caution, and stay within your comfort level.

And, as always is the case when hiking, especially in warmer weather, be sure to have plenty of water on hand and wear sun protection.

Other Sedona Hikes

My family hiking Cathedral Rock in Sedona — Cathedral Rock is another one of our favorite hikes in Sedona.

Cathedral Rock: This is one of the most spectacular hikes in Sedona, especially at sunset. You do have to scramble up some rocks to get to the top, but don’t let that stop you. This is one of our favorite hikes in Sedona.

Bell Rock: This is a beautiful rock formation that is fun to explore as you climb to the top. This is a great trail to explore, especially if you are visiting with kids who love to climb. There are beautiful views of Sedona from the top. It’s also a popular site for many of Sedona’s vortex tours.

Birthing Cave: This is a really easy hike with a short ascent into the cave itself. This is a relaxing trail with beautiful views of the red rock formations from inside the cave.

Soldiers Pass Cave: This is an interesting trail with many things to see along the way, like the 7 Sacred Pools and the Devil’s Kitchen. The trail ends at the Soldiers Pass Cave which is fun to climb up into and explore.

Broken Arrow Trail: This is a beautiful trail to explore on foot. It’s a moderate route that requires scrambling over rocks here and there. This trail is also accessible via high-clearance 4WD vehicles if you’re looking for a more thrilling adventure on the trail!

FAQ: Devil’s Bridge Trail

Is Devil’s Bridge in AZ Worth It?

The Devil’s Bridge Trail in Sedona, AZ is definitely worth visiting, especially if you want to take your picture on the bridge. It is a relatively easy trail with great views of the largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area!

How Long Does it Take to Hike Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, AZ?

On average, it takes two to three hours to hike Devil’s Bridge. Add extra time if you are hiking with little ones who may need more frequent breaks or if you are planning to enjoy lunch along the trail.

Plan for extra time to wait in line if you want to take your picture out on the bridge as well. If you are hiking during peak season or another very busy time, this can add up to an hour to your visit.

Why is it Called Devil’s Bridge?

It is called Devil’s Bridge after the large sandstone arch at the end of the hike. It is Sedona’s largest sandstone arch. The arch was formed by wind and weather erosion.

Is Devil’s Bridge Trail Difficult?

We thought this hike was relatively easy, with some moderate challenges as you make your way further down the trail. There are some steep steps and areas that require rock scrambling along the way as you get close to the bridge.

Do You Need a Reservation for Devil’s Bridge?

Reservations are not required to hike Devil’s Bridge Trail. You will need to purchase a Red Rock pass to hike this and other surrounding Sedona trails.

Can Kids Do Devil’s Bridge Hike?

Yes! Devil’s Bridge Trail is a great, family-friendly hike in Sedona. Our kids had a great time on our hike. Just be sure to exercise caution and keep everyone together, especially when you reach the portion of the trail that is more steep and when walking out onto the bridge.

Is it Better to Do Devil’s Bridge in the Morning or Afternoon?

The best time to hike Devil’s Bridge will depend on the experience you’re looking for. We recommend getting an early start for the best chance of scoring a parking spot. Sometimes, there are fewer crowds in the late afternoon, which is also when the natural lighting is best for stunning photographs at the bridge.

Conclusion: Devil’s Bridge Trail

Sedona is one of our very favorite places to explore time and again. We really loved our journey along Devil’s Bridge Sedona. It was a great time and we experienced some of the most beautiful views.

We hope this guide has helped you put aside any parking and other logistical concerns as you plan your own travels to Sedona to enjoy this hike. It’s one not to miss! Enjoy the adventure!

Additional Sedona Travel Blogs

Sedona is such a magical place to visit. Every time we find ourselves in Arizona, we stop by, even if it is just for a couple of days. The beautiful scenery and amazing hiking trails make it a great place to visit. It is also a great place to drive through if you are heading out on a road trip through the American Southwest.

If you’re looking for more info on traveling to Sedona, Arizona, check out these additional Sedona travel guides: