Devil's Bridge Trail: Sedona's Most Popular (and Crowded) Hike

By The Lowdown Guide Editorial Team · Updated April 2026

Getting to the Trailhead

Devil's Bridge has three trailhead options (USFS), and which one you use dramatically changes your hike distance:

Devil's Bridge Trailhead (direct) — Requires a high-clearance vehicle. From AZ-89A, take Dry Creek Road (FR152) about 2 miles to a fork, then continue on the unpaved right fork about 1.3 miles to the Devil's Bridge Trailhead and parking lot. This final stretch is rough with washboards and ruts and is not recommended in wet weather. From this trailhead the hike to the bridge and back is just 1.6 miles round trip with 371 feet of elevation gain (USFS) — about 2 hours round trip, by far the shortest option.

Mescal Trailhead — Standard 2WD-friendly dirt lot on Long Canyon Road (from Dry Creek Road, continue to the stop sign, turn right, and go another 0.2 miles). No high-clearance vehicle needed. From here, the Mescal-Chuckwagon trail connection to Devil's Bridge and back is 4.0 miles round trip (USFS).

Chuckwagon / Dry Creek Vista Trailhead — Paved access at the end of Dry Creek Road, no high-clearance needed and the largest lot of the three, but it still fills by 8am on spring and fall weekends. This route adds 2.1 miles one-way of moderately easy rolling trail — about 2.9 miles one-way to the bridge, or 5.8 miles round trip (USFS) — the longest but easiest-to-reach option for a standard car.

A Red Rock Pass is required at all three trailheads: $5 per vehicle per day, $15 per week, or $20 per year (USFS). The America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) also covers this and all other Red Rock Country fee sites — if you're also heading to the Grand Canyon on a day trip, it pays for itself immediately.

Shuttle option: The free Sedona Shuttle (run by the City of Sedona, not a paid tour trolley) serves the Dry Creek Vista and Mescal trailheads from the West SR 89A Park & Ride (905 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd). It runs Thursday through Sunday, 7am to 5:30pm, with extended seven-day service during peak periods. Riding to the Mescal Trailhead gets you the 4.0-mile round trip without the parking battle.

The Trail Breakdown

The trail from the Chuckwagon / Dry Creek Vista Trailhead — 2.9 miles one-way to the bridge (USFS) — breaks into three distinct sections:

Mile 0–1 (Flat Wash): The first mile runs through a sandy desert wash with minimal elevation change. It's exposed and can be hot midday — this is where you'll want your hat. The trail is wide and easy to follow. You'll share this section with OHV traffic if any jeep tours are running.

Mile 1–2.3 (Rocky Switchbacks): The trail climbs via switchbacks through red sandstone terrain. The footing gets technical — loose rocks and embedded boulders. Trekking poles help on the descent. Most of the climbing happens in this stretch — USFS lists 371 feet of total elevation gain for the direct route to the bridge, and the longer Chuckwagon approach covers the same net gain over more distance.

Mile 2.3–2.9 (Slickrock Shelf to Arch): The final approach crosses an exposed slickrock shelf with good views into the canyon below. You'll see the arch before you reach it. The last scramble to stand on the arch requires climbing a narrow rock ledge — a section the Forest Service describes simply as "a long way down," so use caution and common sense. It is manageable for most adults and older children who are comfortable on rocky terrain.

The Arch Experience

Devil's Bridge is the largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area, standing 50 feet high (USFS). The walkable portion on top narrows in places — wide enough that most people can stand on it without gripping anything, but narrow enough that you're aware of the air on both sides.

The drop below the arch is significant — visually dramatic but not the 600-foot cliff it looks like in photos. On peak days, there is typically an informal queue to walk onto the arch itself. People are generally respectful about taking turns for photos, but expect to wait 10–20 minutes on busy weekends.

The viewing area below the arch (looking up at it) is where the iconic photo comes from — not from on top. If you see what looks like a perfect reflection pool in photos labeled "Devil's Bridge," that is a social media-generated myth. There is no water feature at Devil's Bridge. The classic shot is a standard telephoto from the viewpoint below, showing a person standing on the arch with sky behind them.

The arch itself has no fencing or railing. Children should be closely supervised near the edges.

Crowd Reality Check

Devil's Bridge is the most visited trail in Sedona. This is the current reality:

• Spring weekends (March–May): Parking lot full by 7:30–8am. Cars overflow onto Dry Creek Road. The arch itself has a line by 10am.
• Fall weekends (Sept–Oct): Similar crowds to spring but slightly better. September shoulder season is the sweet spot — cooler temps, fewer peak-summer tourists, before fall leaf-peeper crowds hit.
• Summer (June–Aug): Dramatically fewer people because it's hot. Doable if you start before 6:30am and carry 2–3 liters of water. Mid-trail at noon in June is genuinely dangerous.
• Weekdays year-round: Significantly less crowded. If you have schedule flexibility, Tuesday–Thursday mornings are the best Devil's Bridge experience you can have.

If parking is full when you arrive, do not park on private property or blocking the road. Options: drive back to the shuttle pickup, wait in the lot for turnover (usually 20–30 min), or go hike Bell Rock first and return to Devil's Bridge after 2pm when early arrivals have left.

Gear and Safety

Devil's Bridge is not a trail to do in flip-flops. The rocky terrain on the middle and upper sections requires closed-toe shoes with grip. Trail runners are ideal; day hiking boots work fine. The slickrock near the arch benefits from sticky rubber soles.

• Water: Minimum 2 liters per person. In summer, carry 3 liters. There is no water on trail.
• Sun protection: Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. The wash section and slickrock shelf are fully exposed.
• Trekking poles: Helpful on the rocky descent, especially for anyone with knee issues.
• With children: The trail itself is manageable for kids 8+ who are used to hiking. The arch scramble and the arch itself require direct supervision — there are no barriers.

Download an offline map before you go — cell coverage is spotty on the trail. AllTrails has a reliable GPS track for Devil's Bridge. See Sedona travel planning for general logistics on visiting Red Rock Country.

Who This Trail Is Right For

Devil's Bridge works well for anyone who can handle 4 to 6 miles of rocky terrain via the standard trailheads (or as little as 1.6 miles round trip if you have a high-clearance vehicle for the direct road). It's a step up from Bell Rock in technicality and commitment but far less demanding than Cathedral Rock.

Good fit for: Families with teenagers, fit adults looking for a half-day hike, anyone who wants the Instagram photo, history buffs interested in natural geology, and people who enjoy moderate challenges with a clear destination payoff.

Not the right trail if: You have a significant fear of heights (the arch walk-on is mildly exposed), you're hiking with children under 6 who cannot be closely supervised on rocky terrain, or you want solitude — this trail will always have other people on it.

Looking for the most dramatic hike with the best views? See Cathedral Rock Trail. Looking for a classic vortex hike that's more accessible? See Bell Rock Trail. For the full Sedona hiking guide with 8 trails ranked by difficulty and experience type, start there.