Cathedral Rock Trail (Sedona) Hiking Guide
Cathedral Rock is the shortest famous hike in Sedona and the one most likely to surprise people. The Forest Service calls it more of a rock climb than a hike: a little over a mile round trip, but most of the climbing happens on bare, tilted sandstone with a few notched toeholds. The reward is a broad saddle between two spires with Red Rock Country spread out below. Before you go, know that you usually can't park here from Thursday to Sunday.
Permit: Driving in: the Cathedral Rock Trailhead on Back O' Beyond Road is a Red Rock Pass site ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $20 annual, covering everyone in the vehicle; an America the Beautiful pass also works). Thursday through Sunday, and daily during spring break and some holidays, the lot is closed to the public while the free Sedona Shuttle runs, and shuttle riders pay no trailhead fee.
Distance, Climb and Route
AllTrails maps the out-and-back at 1.3 miles with 708 feet of gain and rates it hard. The Forest Service lists 1.1 miles round trip and 669 feet, calls it strenuous, and budgets an hour and a half. Its narrative also mentions a 1.5-mile outing, which includes the unmaintained path that wanders south along the base of the spires to two more saddles. From the lot, basket cairns lead you across a wash and up a moderate slope; at about a quarter mile you reach a broad ledge, then the route climbs steeply over bald rock and through a shallow cleft before following a drainage to the main saddle.
Getting There: Shuttle Days and Car Days
The trailhead sits 0.6 mile up Back O' Beyond Road, which leaves State Route 179 about 3.5 miles south of the 89A/179 roundabout. The City of Sedona's transit FAQ says the trailhead parking is closed to the general public whenever the Sedona Shuttle is operating, which is Thursday through Sunday year-round from about 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., plus every day during spring break and select holiday weeks. On those days you park free at the North SR 179 Park & Ride (1294 SR 179) and ride Route 15, which also serves Little Horse. No reservation is needed, and the city warns that the Little Horse lot is not overflow parking for Cathedral Rock.
The Pass When You Drive
Monday through Wednesday, and outside shuttle hours, you can try the lot, and then a Red Rock Pass is required: $5 for a day, $15 for a week or $20 for a year, sold at the trailhead kiosk or on Recreation.gov, where the pass is tied to your license plate. One pass covers the whole car, and an America the Beautiful pass is accepted instead. Shuttle riders skip the fee entirely, which the Forest Service points out as one of the shuttle's perks.
Footing, Coming Down and Dogs
Going up is the easy half. The rock is polished by heavy traffic and gets slick, and the descent through the cleft is where people freeze, so wear shoes with real grip and keep your hands free; a small pack beats carrying a water bottle. Turn around if you aren't comfortable on the first steep pitch, because it doesn't get gentler. Leashed dogs are legal on Coconino National Forest trails, but we've marked this one not dog-friendly: the scramble is beyond most dogs, and AllTrails also advises against bringing one.
Heat, Light and Crowds
There is no shade at all, and the Forest Service page simply warns that it's hot in summer. On warm days start at first light; the forest's own guidance is to avoid hiking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in summer heat. Monsoon thunderstorms usually build from late morning, and an exposed saddle is the wrong place to be when they arrive. Fall through spring is the comfortable window, and sunset from the saddle is popular, so on car days the lot fills well before then.
Hiking tips for Cathedral Rock Trail (Sedona)
- Check the day of the week first: Thursday to Sunday you'll be riding the free Route 15 shuttle from the North SR 179 Park & Ride.
- Wear sticky-soled shoes and stow everything in a pack so both hands are free for the cleft.
- Descend facing the rock on the steepest pitch if the polished sandstone feels slick.
- Leave the dog at home; the scramble is more than most dogs can safely manage.
- Carry water even for this short hike, since the whole route is in full sun.
Nearby trails to explore
- Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop
- Sedona Airport Loop Trail
- Soldier Pass Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Cathedral Rock's scramble is more fun, and safer on the way down, with someone spotting you. Use TrailMates to find Sedona hikers heading to Cathedral Rock on the shuttle. Download the TrailMates app to connect.