Hiking Cathedral Rock in Sedona is probably in my Top 5 favorite hikes I’ve done, EVER. It is breathtaking. Seriously though, pace yourself on this hike because it’s not for the faint of heart.
Hike Details:
Distance: 1.5 Miles Roundtrip
Difficulty: Difficult, 741 Foot elevation gain
Cost: Need a Red Rocks Parking Pass or America the Beautiful National Park Pass to park in the parking lot, at most $5 if you have neither
Time needed: You could spend as little as 2 hours or up to half of a day on this hike!
General tips for any of the popular Sedona hikes:
#1 – Go Early.
I feel like this is such an obvious tip, but it’s true for any of the popular hikes in Sedona. The earlier you go, the less people. Another reason to go early is to get less sun exposure. Most hikes in Sedona are in the full sun, with very little shade.
#2 – Bring more water than you think you’ll need.
I don’t think I really need to expound on this one. You probably already know that Sedona is in the desert and it gets very dry and hot (even in Winter/Early Spring!). Please make sure to stay hydrated and bring more water than you think you’ll need!
#3- Bring lunch if you can.
On most of the hikes we did in Sedona, we spent more time exploring than we thought we would. I always tried to bring lunch or at least a good snack with us so we don’t get hangry!
#4 – Take a photo of the trail map on each hike you go on.
It’s very very easy to go off the trail in Sedona. Tourists have started to make their own well worn side trails, please do your best to stay on the marked trail!
#5 – Leave no trace!!
As Sedona becomes more and more popular, it seems tourists think leaving trash and graffitiing the red rocks is okay. Please don’t be this person. Please hike responsibly, stay on trails as much as you can, and pack out all of your trash! Let’s keep Sedona beautiful so that as many people as possible can enjoy it’s beauty!
Now lets get into the specifics of hiking Cathedral Rock!
Parking + Best Times to Hike Cathedral Rock
I would recommend getting to the main lot BEFORE 7 AM, lots of people have reported the lot being completely full by that time, even during the week. This is my absolute favorite hike to do in Sedona, so I would absolutely prioritize going early if you can.
Hiking the Trail
This hike is not easy. Just because it’s popular and relatively short doesn’t mean it’s a breeze to hike. You essentially start the hike by climbing up a mountain (aka Cathedral Rock), and there is definitely some scrambling involved. I saw plenty of families on this hike, so Cathedral Rock wouldn’t be an impossible hike with kids, just tricky in certain spots. This trail is not for anyone with mobility issues or an extreme fear of heights. I am somewhat afraid of heights, but I felt comfortable most of the time. I just didn’t go anywhere near the edge and I was okay. There is a portion of the trail about 0.25 miles into the hike, where you have to scramble up a crack in the rock, and that was honestly the worst part for me.
Make sure to wear shoes with a good grip. Hiking shoes would be preferable. Please don’t try to do this hike in sandals or flips flops. Trust me on this one.
Take your time on the way up, and if you start to get discouraged or think the view isn’t getting any better the higher you go, just wait until you get to the top! I promise the view on the other side is 1 million percent worth it! There are plenty of places to stop and rest along the way, and while you’re resting, you are surrounded by insane panoramic views of Sedona.
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How long should I plan to spend on this hike?
I would plan to spend a half day on this hike and bring lunch to eat at the top. This is what we did, and even after spending half of a day, I could’ve spent much longer! Even though it’s a fairly short hike, there are little side trails once you get to the top, and different vantage points to take in the amazing views!
Accessing the Trails off to the side of Cathedral Rock
Once you get to the top/end of the hike and enjoy the breathtaking view for awhile (and maybe catch your breath), head off to the left and you’ll find lots of smaller trails that go right up to the different rock formations! We enjoyed exploring around and just admiring the beauty of it all. This is also a great way to enjoy some solitude, especially if the main view at the top of the hike is super crowded.
Please remember rule #5 and leave no trace so that many people can enjoy this hike for years to come!
Here’s a link to more information about the hike from the US Forest Service, where you can find detailed maps, trail closures, learn about Red Rocks Fee free days, and more:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55264
Are you planning to Visit Sedona soon? Click Here to read other posts I wrote about things to do in Sedona! Let me know if you have any specific questions about Sedona or the Cathedral Rock hike in the comments below, and I’d be happy to answer!
Megan
