How to Hike to Devil’s Bridge Arizona

When visiting Sedona, the hike to Devil’s Bridge Arizona is a can’t-miss activity! We visited Sedona for a day during our 4 days in Northern Arizona, and this was my favorite hike in the area. With its scenic overlooks of colorful landscapes, unique garden of stacked rocks, and the iconic Devil’s Bridge, what’s not to love about this hike! Overall, it is a mostly easy walk, so you will not have to sell your soul to get here.

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To Pay or Not to Pay

I have seen a few websites state there is a $5 day pass that must be displayed for this hike. And I have seen others say there is no fee. We did not pay a fee, nor did we see a ranger or any signs asking us to pay a fee. But the devil is in the details, so I did some research. I found where the Cococino National Forest does require you to purchase and display a Red Rock Pass. Information on where to purchase these passes can be found here. However, since Devil’s Bridge is located in a national forest, you may also display your America the Beautiful Pass or Every Kid Outdoors Pass in lieu of paying for the Red Rocks Pass.

When to Do the Hike to Devil’s Bridge

The hike to Devil’s Bridge Arizona is a very popular and crowded hike. Also, there is little to no cover from the sun, and the desert can get hot as hell mid-day. Therefore, I recommend you begin this hike early in the morning or later in the evening. If you decide to hike in the evening, make sure to time it so you are not hiking in the dark. Spring, fall, and winter months are the best to avoid the excessive heat during the summer months. There’s a reason this is called Devil’s Bridge, and it is not because the bridge is evil! As a side note, make sure to carry plenty of water on this hike.

From Devil’s Bridge Trail Parking Lot

Turn right on Dry Creek Road from Boynton Pass Road and drive about 0.2 miles to a paved parking lot. If this lot is full, which it was for us, park on the side of the Boynton Pass Road and walk the additional 0.2 miles in. If you have a 4×4 (and the road is open), you can continue driving on Dry Creek Road past the parking lot to the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead. This will cut out 1.2 miles each way. We did not have a 4×4, so we had to walk along the road, which was quite long and boring. If you park at Devil’s Bridge Trail parking lot, this hike is 4.2 miles. If you drive a 4×4 to the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead, your hike will be 1.8 miles.

A Better Option to Start Your Hike

If you want to begin your hike with a less boring and more scenic route, start at the Mescal Trailhead. To get here, continue on Boynton Road (passing the Devil’s Bridge Trail Parking Lot) until it dead ends. Turn right on Long Canyon Road and continue for 0.3 miles, and the parking area is on the right. This parking lot is very small and only holds a few cars, so make sure to get here early. You will see a sign that directing you to the Devil’s Bridge and Chuck Wagon Trails. After a short walk, you will get to an intersection. Follow the sign to Devil’s Bridge. You will eventually get to another junction. Again, follow the sign to the correct path. If you hike to Devil’s Bridge from the Mescal Trailhead, you will walk 4.2 miles.

Unfortunately, we were not able to hike to Devil’s Bridge via the Mescal Trailhead. Heavy rains in the previous days made the creeks impassable, so we had to turn around and drive back to the Devil’s Bridge Trail parking lot.

UPDATE: In 2021, I went back to Sedona as part of a Perfect 3-Day Getaway and was able to complete the hike to Devil’s Bridge via the Mescal Trail. I can attest that this route is the way to go for several reasons. First, when the Devil’s Bridge parking lot was already full when we arrived, there was plenty of parking spots still available at the Mescal Trailhead. Also the views along the Mescal Trail were a thousand times better than the walk along the jeep trail on the traditional Devil’s Bridge hike.

Hike to Devil’s Bridge Arizona

No matter which route you take, you will arrive at the Devil’s Bridge trailhead after traveling about 1.2 miles. The trail intersects with Dry Creek Road, and a large sign marks the trailhead. Your first 0.5 miles along the Devil’s Bridge Trail is an easy walk, with a slight increase in elevation. The final 0.3 miles is much steeper at an average 18% incline. There is no rest for the wicked on the path to Devil’s Bridge. In a couple locations, you will have to scramble up rocks, but these areas are very short and very doable. Whether you are going up or coming down, you will need to take turns with passing traffic.

Once you get to the trail’s end, you will likely see a line of hikers has formed. People are in line to wait their turn to go out onto Devil’s Bridge and have their picture made. The unwritten rule is you take pictures for the group waiting in line in front of you, and the group waiting behind you takes your picture for you. There were about 5-6 groups in line before we arrived, and we waited approximately 30 minutes before it was our turn.

I am usually scared as hell when it comes to being beside a drop-off, but surprisingly, walking onto Devil’s Bridge did not bother me. You could say I triumphed over evil!

Other Cool Things to See on the Hike to Devil’s Bridge Arizona

While Devil’s Bridge Arizona is the main attraction on this hike, it is not the only sight to see. On the way up the trail, look for a large rock platform that serves as a scenic overlook of the valley and colorful rock formations in the background.

Another amazing sight was the stacked rock garden. I always love seeing where people have stacked rocks while I am hiking. But I have never seen so many stacked rocks in one place before. The only way I could describe it is a garden of stacked rocks. Make sure to build your own stacked rock because idle hands are the devil’s workshop.

Hike to Devil’s Bridge Highlights

Trailhead: Devil’s Bridge Trailhead Parking Lot or Mescal Trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate
Time Required: 2-4 hours (1-2 hours if drive 4×4)
Mileage: 4.2 miles (1.8 miles if drive 4×4)
Elevation Gain: 564 feet
Route Type: Out and back
Time of Day: Early morning – There is no shade on this trail and can be extremely hot in the afternoon hours.
Season: Winter, Spring, and Fall are all good seasons. Summer months are hot as hell.

Next time you visit Sedona, Arizona, don’t let evil win by missing out on the walk to Devil’s Bridge!