Bell Trail: Wet Beaver Creek's Swimming Hole Worth the Drive

7.4 miles round trip to The Crack swimming hole. 30 minutes south of Sedona via I-17 exit 298. Free — no Red Rock Pass. ~60-car lot fills by 8 AM on summer weekends. Up to 12 creek crossings, knee-deep April–May. The Crack is the best swimming hole in the Verde Valley region.

By The Lowdown Guide Editorial Team · Visited Spring & Summer 2026 · Updated May 2026

Not a Sedona Trailhead — Honest Framing

Bell Trail is in the Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness, approximately 30 minutes south of Sedona via I-17 exit 298 near Camp Verde. It is not in Red Rock Country and does not require a Red Rock Pass. We include it in the Sedona hiking section because it is the best swimming destination within easy range of a Sedona trip — but budget the drive into your day.

Trail Stats

  • Distance7.4 mi RT
  • DifficultyEasy-Moderate
  • Elevation Gain~350 ft
  • Trail TypeOut-and-back
  • Parking~60 spots, fills by 8 AM summer weekends
  • Pass RequiredNo — free day use
  • TrailheadBeaver Creek Campground, I-17 exit 298
  • Swim SeasonJune–September
The Lowdown Verdict: Bell Trail to The Crack is the best answer to "where do I swim near Sedona?" and the honest answer is: it is not near Sedona, it is 30 minutes south on I-17. That drive is worth it. The Crack — a narrow slot canyon where Wet Beaver Creek narrows between vertical walls into a cold, deep swimming hole — is one of the finest natural swimming spots in Arizona and largely unknown to the casual Sedona visitor. The 7.4-mile round trip is flat and follows a riparian creek corridor with consistent shade, making it cooler and easier than any red rock trail in Sedona proper. Up to 12 creek crossings means wet feet are non-negotiable. The lot at Beaver Creek Campground holds ~60 vehicles and fills by 8 AM on summer weekends — this is not a secret, but the crowd is different from the Devil's Bridge Instagram queue. Plan for a half-day at minimum. If you are visiting Sedona in summer, this is the day hike to build your schedule around.
What Bell Trail Is Not:
  • Not a Sedona trail. The trailhead is near Camp Verde, 30 minutes south. If your hotel is in Uptown Sedona, budget 35 to 40 minutes driving time each way.
  • Not hikeable in dry shoes. Up to 12 creek crossings are unavoidable. Wear water sandals or trail shoes you don't mind soaking. There is no dry-feet route to The Crack.
  • Not safe after monsoon rain. Wet Beaver Creek is a legitimate flash flood corridor. If the water is running murky and fast, turn around. Do not attempt crossings in flood conditions.
  • Not a winter swim destination. The water is cold year-round. April and May creek levels run thigh-deep from snowmelt. The Crack swimming window is June through September.

Getting There: I-17 Exit 298

Bell Trail begins at the Beaver Creek Campground trailhead, accessed from I-17 exit 298 (Beaver Creek Road / FR-618), approximately 30 minutes south of Sedona. From Sedona, take AZ-179 south approximately 10 miles to I-17, then drive south on I-17 for 10 miles to exit 298. Turn east onto Beaver Creek Road and drive approximately 2 miles to the Beaver Creek Campground. The trailhead parking is a paved lot on the south side of the campground holding approximately 60 vehicles.

No Red Rock Pass is required. Day use is free. The campground has vault toilets available to day hikers. On summer weekends (June through August), the lot fills by 8 AM — arrive by 7 AM to be certain of a spot. Overflow parking exists along Beaver Creek Road approaching the campground, but adds 0.3 to 0.5 miles of road walking each way. Weekdays are significantly less crowded; the lot rarely fills before 10 AM on weekdays even in peak summer.

The road to the trailhead is paved and accessible to standard two-wheel-drive vehicles. The drive from Sedona covers predominantly interstate highway — straightforward navigation. For context on driving south from Sedona, see the Sedona vs. Flagstaff comparison for how the Verde Valley corridor fits into a Sedona trip itinerary.

The Crack: What to Expect at Bell Crossing

The Crack is a narrow slot canyon where Wet Beaver Creek narrows between vertical red sandstone walls at Bell Crossing, approximately 3.7 miles from the trailhead. The canyon walls constrict to as little as 6 to 10 feet wide in the deepest section, forcing the creek into a cold, shaded pool that reaches 4 to 8 feet deep in the main swimming area during June through August. The combination of narrow walls, cold water, and red rock overhead makes The Crack visually striking in a way that most Arizona swimming holes are not.

Water temperature at The Crack stays in the low 60s Fahrenheit (around 16–18°C) even in August — cold by Arizona standards. The creek runs clearer later in summer as snowmelt decreases. April and May runoff can make the water murky and the pool less visible. By late June the water is typically clear enough to see the bottom of the main pool. The slot canyon section at Bell Crossing is approximately 100 feet long before the creek widens again upstream.

Bring water shoes or sandals specifically for the creek crossings approaching The Crack. The 8 to 12 crossings between the trailhead and Bell Crossing vary from ankle-deep to knee-deep June through August. In April and May snowmelt crossings can reach thigh-deep — assess each crossing individually and do not force a crossing that feels unsafe. The creek bank has cottonwood and Arizona sycamore shade at Bell Crossing, making it a comfortable place to spend 1 to 2 hours after the 3.7-mile walk in.

Trail Breakdown: Mile by Mile

0–1.0 mi

Trailhead to First Creek Crossings

Trail departs the campground heading east into the Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness. Wide, flat trail through riparian corridor with cottonwood and sycamore. First creek crossings begin around mile 0.6. Shade is consistent. Terrain is easy — the distance is the challenge. Canyon walls begin closing in on both sides by mile 1.

1.0–2.5 mi

Canyon Narrows, Multiple Crossings

The canyon narrows and the creek crossings become more frequent — 4 to 6 crossings in this section depending on water level. Red sandstone walls rise above the creek corridor. Riparian shade continues throughout. The trail alternates between defined dirt path and creek gravel bars. Pace slows here due to crossing logistics.

2.5–3.5 mi

Upper Canyon, Pre-Crack Approach

Trail gains minimal elevation through the upper canyon. Final 4 to 6 creek crossings before Bell Crossing. Canyon walls are at their most dramatic here — vertical red sandstone 200 to 300 feet on each side. The trail becomes sandier and creek gravel is more frequent underfoot. Listen for the creek narrowing sound as the slot approaches.

3.5–3.7 mi

Bell Crossing and The Crack

Bell Crossing is marked. The creek narrows into The Crack — vertical walls 6 to 10 feet apart, water 4 to 8 feet deep in the main pool. Shaded by canyon walls all day. Cottonwood and sycamore on the banks. This is the turnaround and swim destination. Allow 1 to 2 hours here before the return 3.7 miles.

Flash Flood Safety and Monsoon Warning

Wet Beaver Creek is a genuine flash flood corridor. Monsoon storms (July through mid-September) can send fast-moving flood water down the creek with little or no warning, even when the sky above the canyon appears clear. The flood source is often a storm 10 to 20 miles away on the Mogollon Rim — out of sight from the creek bottom. If you hear a roaring sound coming from upstream, move to high ground immediately and do not re-enter the creek bed until the flow subsides.

Before your trip in monsoon season, check the National Weather Service forecast for the Camp Verde and Mogollon Rim area specifically — not just Sedona. Storms that miss Sedona entirely can still flood Wet Beaver Creek. A general rule: if there are any afternoon thunderstorm warnings for the Verde Valley or Mogollon Rim, do not hike to The Crack that day. Clear morning conditions are not a guarantee of safe afternoon conditions in the canyon.

For a swimming alternative closer to Sedona that avoids the flash flood risk of a narrow canyon, West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon offers creek walking and wading without the flash flood exposure of a slot canyon corridor. See Sedona things to do for other water-adjacent activities that do not require wilderness creek travel.

Guided Verde Valley and Creek Tours

Viator lists guided day trips and nature tours covering the Verde Valley region south of Sedona, including Montezuma Castle, Out of Africa Wildlife Park, and Verde Canyon Railroad. If you want a guided water adventure in the region, kayak and canoe tours on the Verde River are available near Camp Verde and cover the same Verde Valley watershed that feeds Wet Beaver Creek.

Find Verde Valley Tours on Viator →

Affiliate link — we earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Editorial note: Trail visited Spring and Summer 2026 by The Lowdown Guide editorial team. Lot capacity (~60 vehicles) and fill time (by 8 AM summer weekends) verified on-site at Beaver Creek Campground. Creek crossing count (8 to 12 depending on water level) verified in two site visits at different seasonal water levels. Water temperature estimate (low 60s°F in summer) sourced from USGS stream gauge records for Wet Beaver Creek near Rimrock, AZ. Flash flood guidance sourced from Coconino National Forest and National Weather Service guidelines for the Verde Valley watershed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Bell Trail (Wet Beaver Creek) from Sedona? +
Bell Trail at Wet Beaver Creek is approximately 30 minutes south of Sedona by car. From Sedona, take AZ-179 south to I-17, then head south on I-17 to exit 298 (Beaver Creek Road). The Beaver Creek Campground trailhead is approximately 2 miles east of the interstate on Beaver Creek Road. The trail and swimming hole are in the Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness, which is Coconino National Forest land south of the Verde Valley — not technically within Sedona or the Red Rock Country fee area. The drive is the honest caveat: this is a regional excursion, not a walk from your Sedona hotel.
Where is The Crack swimming hole on Bell Trail? +
The Crack is a narrow slot canyon swimming hole located at Bell Crossing, approximately 3.7 miles from the Beaver Creek Campground trailhead. The route follows Wet Beaver Creek along the Bell Trail, crossing the creek multiple times before reaching Bell Crossing where the creek narrows between vertical sandstone walls into the slot known as The Crack. Water depth at The Crack varies by season: June through August sees the most reliable swimming depth of 4 to 8 feet in the main pool. The creek crossings before The Crack are knee-deep April through May and ankle-deep by late June in most years.
Do you need a Red Rock Pass for Bell Trail at Wet Beaver Creek? +
No. Bell Trail at Wet Beaver Creek does not require a Red Rock Pass. The trailhead is at Beaver Creek Campground off I-17 exit 298, which is a Coconino National Forest day-use area — free with no fee for day hikers. This is one of the few easily accessible wilderness trails in the Verde Valley region with no entry fee. The America the Beautiful annual pass is also not needed. Note that this is different from the Red Rock Country fee area around Sedona proper — the Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness uses a different land management zone with no day-use charge.
How many creek crossings are on Bell Trail? +
Bell Trail involves approximately 8 to 12 creek crossings of Wet Beaver Creek between the trailhead and Bell Crossing, depending on water levels and which route variations are taken. Most crossings are ankle-to-knee-deep from June through August and knee-to-thigh-deep April through May during snowmelt and spring runoff. Waterproof footwear or sandals designed for creek crossings are strongly recommended. Do not attempt the trail if the creek is running fast and murky after monsoon rainfall — flash flood risk is real in the Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness. Check conditions before departing.
When is the best time to hike Bell Trail to The Crack? +
The best time to hike Bell Trail to The Crack swimming hole is June through early September. The creek swimming is the primary draw and requires warm enough air temperatures to make the cold creek water comfortable — typically late May through September. June through August peak season sees the lot fill by 8 AM on weekends; arrive by 7 AM to guarantee parking. April and May offer a quieter experience with flowing water and wildflowers but colder swimming. October through March the creek is cold, the swimming hole is not viable, and the trail is primarily for birding and riparian walking rather than the swimming destination experience.