Cathedral Rock Trail in Sedona: First Time Hiker Guide

The Cathedral Rock hike in Sedona is likely the most popular trail in the region. It provides you with a stunning hike, views of the area in general and is especially amazing to witness during sunset/sunrise hours. This post will help you properly prepare for that hike.

Quick info:

• Name: Cathedral Rock
• Location: Sedona Arizona
• Distance: 1.5 miles in and out
• Elevation gain: About 900 feet
• Difficulty: Hard
• Hiker ratings: 5 out of 5
• Recommended? Yes! This is a tough hike but if you do it, the payoff of reaching the top is something else. This is considered one of Sedona’s best hikes for good reason and there’s also people who claim it has a vortex too.

Background:

The Cathedral Rock trail is one of the shorest and most difficult hikes in Sedona. It basically only has you go up a pretty steep slope for over 800 feet. During that time you will be scrambling in many places. Once you reach the top, there’s at least 2 different viewpoints to check out before heading back down the same way. Your end goal with this hike is to reach the very top of the mountain.

For me, this was the first hike I did when I went to Sedona and I was very impressed by it (and also very tired because I rushed going up to catch the sunset views). I was fortunate enough to get there right as the sun was setting and that’s how I was able to capture so many amazing photos. For me sunset time for this hike was (accidently) the perfect time to go and I recommend you go then as well. 

Photos:

Things to know:

• The main parking area only fits about 8 cars (there’s nearby parking lots available too)
• The hike takes about 2 hours for most to complete
• I do not recommend bringing trekking poles here due to the scrambles requiring you use your hands
• Do this hike very early or 2 hours before sunset
• Ideally do this hike in the fall/winter seasons for better conditions 
• Bring adequate hiking gear (hiking shoes, backpack) and supplies (water, snacks)
• There are 2 main overlooks once you reach the top and one of them is often missed by people which is known as the 3 sisters, which is better to view during sunrise (but regardless check it out anyway no matter when you go)
• I do not recommend doing this hike between spring-summer due to the intense heat (and crowds)
• This hike is not recommended for anyone with knee/health issues

Nearby trails to check out:

There are several other trails close to Cathedral Rock and in fact some parts of it connect with it. Here are just some:

• Little Horse Trailhead (about 1 mile away)
• Buddha Beach (1/2 mile away)
• Secret Slickrock trail (1-2 miles away)

Several of these trails aren’t as packed as Cathedral Rock but I would research them on Alltrails first or another app like it just in case. I personally didn’t try any of them so far as I heard about them way later, but some of them require you drive to the trailhead while others in one way or another connect with Cathedral Rock. The more of a beginner hiker you are though, the less I’d go on the connecting trails and just look for the trailheads to start on.

Recommended gear:

• Salomon Speedcross 5 (this is what I wore on the hike then, but any hiking shoes will do too)
• Salomon Hydra Vest 4 (good backpack for short hikes that can hold quite a bit)

Conclusions:

This was one of many trails I’ve done in Sedona and I highly recommend it for more intermediate hikers. The views and experience of climbing this area are truly special. While just about every hike in Sedona is special, this is easily a top 5 for most and that includes me. If you have any questions about it, let me know below but I hope this guide was simple for you to understand and that you enjoy this trail when you go!

More trails to explore:

Aside from this and the other nearby trails I mentioned above, Sedona is just amazing for different hikes and there’s numerous ones that aren’t just the same type of climb to the top of a mountain like Cathedral Rock is. Here are just some I’ve personally done and highly recommend:

• West Fork Trail. Very different than Cathedral Rock as it’s next to a river and there is hardly any elevation.
• Birthing Cave. Great remote hike with a giant cave at the end.
• Fay Canyon. Very simple and short hike to a beautiful canyon with an optional (awesome) arch on the way.
• Devils Bridge. Might be as popular if not more than Cathedral Rock. Beautiful hike but expect tons of people too.
• Best hikes in Sedona AZ. This covers the above trails in a list format, but also includes more hikes to check out in the area.