A beautiful hike in Sedona. This picturesque landscape can be accessed through a short hike. Parking lots will be full so be prepared to arrive earlier than later. The hike to the vista is short About 30 minutes but it involves a bit of scrambling. Some visitors were able to make it in regular shoes but I suggest something more rugged. Well worth the visit

This hike does not take long but it has some fun elements like bouldering and cool trees. It is a vortex hike but sadly I didnt feel any special energy. Still worth it though, the views at the top are spectacular from both sides. I even saw wedding pictures taken up here!

The parking for this trailhead is pretty limited and its a little confusing if you have to pay to park. I simply put my America the beautiful pass in the dashboard and did not receive a ticket or anything. The trail is absolutely beautiful. It is challenging in many spots in slippery and others. You dont have to go far up to get a very cool view of the Sedona area. if you do make it up to the top your rewarded with a stunning view. We enjoyed going off to the left side up a little bit further and it was completely empty. The walk back down is slippery and you have to pay attention or you will easily end up on your butt or head.

Amazing sunset hike. There is a tricky part about 3/4 of the way up which can require hands on the way up and some sliding on the way down. Otherwise its very straightforward. Lots of people but plenty of space for everyone to enjoy the view.

Cathedral Rock is a short (1.2 miles round trip) but steep (630 ft elevation change) hike that involves the use of your hands to scramble up and down the rocks. And its totally worth it once you get up to the top! The views of Sedona from up there are magnificently breathtaking.This trail is quite popular so make sure to give yourself extra time to find parking if you want to see the sunset. If the parking lots are full at the base of Cathedral Rock, you can also park at the Baldwin trailhead and hike 0.7 miles to the start of this hike.

It was great to climb, but you will need to take your time if not a seasoned climber. My 6 year old son and I made it all the way to the top. Amazing views!

The views are amazing & the energy from the vortex is extremely healing! Its also a great place to meditate & relax (after the vertical hike that is)!

Great place for sunset. Expect crowds. Parking is tough. I parked before trail head at pullout. People afraid of heights beware. Lots of rock scrambling. I loved it. Im an avid hiker. 30 min up and a little less down. Where your Spidey shoes for this one.

I have to address the comment below me. If you can’t social distance on this trail you must be 500 pounds or physically challenged.Now, if you are worried about social distancing just stay home all together.This is an amazing trail, one of the best sunset spots in the area that I know of! It is a bit challenging hime at times but take your time and you will be rewarded with sweeping views of sedona! Also, watch out for rattle snakes as they seem to like that place!

This place is absolutely breathtaking. It is not an easy hike but once you get to the top its very serene. I will be back, the energy from here just makes you feel at peace.

Yes, the trail can be crowded and parking a challenge, but it is worth it. Trail is not very long, but definitely includes some scrambling on all fours - nothing dangerous, just getting up some steep flat rock. But the views from the top are spectacular and worthy of the effort.Parking tip: just wait near one of the lots for a few minutes. People are coming and going all the time. You will not need to wait long.

I just proposed to my future wife here. The view is absolutely beautiful. The best views are at sunset.

This hike had to be the highlight of our trip. We tried a few times to find parking over the first couple days in Sedona but the lots were always full with people waiting for others to leave. We finally woke up early and for to the lot at 0645 and landed a spot. The sunrise hike was simply breathtaking and I highly recommend it! The trail wasnt too busy first thing in the AM but we saw it fill up on the way back down. I think with the limited parking it prevents it from getting out of control like Devils Bridge. Just bite the bullet and wake up early. The hike requires some pretty challenging scrambling at times so have good footwear and be careful! Please please please pack out what you pack in, especially your dog poop bags!

The hike/view was great. As others have mentioned, the trailhead parking fills up quickly but we still managed finding a spot at 8:00 am. Middle section was the most difficult so beyond that its smooth sailing.

Just gorgeous, big steps and some scrambling so might be hard for older/knee issues people.

Really good trail, but parking can be hard to find. Go early if you dont want to wait too long. You can do this trail in about 1 to 1.5 hours if you keep a steady pace. Bring grippy shoes as you will have to walk up and down semi steep rocks. The view from the top is impressive.

First family hike and it was amazing! Such beautiful colors, Glorious mountain ranges and spectacular riverbeds!! Cant wait to come back

Awesome hike! Very beautiful with awesome views!! Can’t wait to go back! Make sure you have both hands free for some scrambling. Best hike I’ve been on so far!!

Trail is open during Covid but is really narrow (we’re talking one line of people either coming up or going down, there’s no room for two streams of traffic for part of the trail). Hot as anything and the elevation gain is unreal and rapid. I have the cardio of a squirrel who spent the winter in a cashew factory and boy did this really short 1.2 mile hike beat me down. The steepness also means that it’s difficult to get down unless you don’t mind scooting down on your butt (highly recommended as it’s the quickest way down and the rocks are all worn smooth, so wear some pants with a good seat on them). This is one hike where you’ll need to use your hands to pull yourself up; all rocks are smooth and form so no need for gloves and there is no scree underfoot.

Short but rewarding hike. Kids were 8,12,15 had no problems. Don’t attempt in rain, rocks get slick.

The trailhead is very popular and parking is minimal - Traffic was not moving leading into the lot - We turned around and parked at the Little Horse Trailhead and hiked in - NPS should consider expanding the parking area

Ps. It should be called climbing instead of hiking.1.3 miles that felt like 5, couple of bottlenecks, lots of people and hard to find parking.Tips: Please, if you can, go there with shoes that have grip. I saw people without those shoes and they were kinda struggling. If you are slow (like me), be the bottleneck, but do not rush yourself.Great thing: the view is stunning.If you can, after arriving at the top, go left. Climb a bit more and you will have a top IG photo!

Incredible hike and with lots of amazing views. Worth the effort of getting to the base of the pillars. Lots of people even on the off season, getting here early would be advisable as the parking fills up very fast, we ended up parking up the road on one of the pull outs. Be sure to get your parking pass as it’s still required regardless if you get a real spot.

Definitely wear hiking shoes or just shoes with good grip. The Hike was beautiful and challenging (especially for a shorter person) but well worth the effort.

This is a great trail to take. Note that even with the overflow parking lot, which is free, there is limited parking for this very popular hike.

1 of the 4 votexs in Sedona. A beautiful place to manifest your dreams and aspirations. Dog friendly.

It was beautiful. Well worth the winding road to get there.

Majestic! I highly recomend hiking shoes or shoes with good grip. There are many trails for different hiking levels, it is absolutely beautiful. If hiking during the summer take plenty of water and snacks.

Cathedral Rock is an easy hike for most folks. It does get quite steep at times. Dont forget that you have to make it back down.

Without a doubt the most beautiful place on this planet.

A little hard to climb up there but its beautiful.

A gorgeous short trail. The first part is easy and leads to a number of ledges with beautiful views to the north. The second part is slightly challenging for inexperienced hikers (like me), but it is well marked by cairns and white arrows. The view from the top, in the area between the two main formations, is absolutely extraordinary to both the north and south and is well worth the trip.I traveled between noon and 2:30 on a weekday. The weather was mild for Sedona, high of around 88, which with a small breeze made for a perfect short hike. It wasnt crowded, and the people I did meet were all friendly and helpful tourists. I parked in the lot on Back O Beyond road, which is quite small, but due to the day and time had a couple open spots. Photos cannot do the glorious views justice, try the trail yourself!Note: a few guidebooks I read said the trail was 0.5 miles long. I believe this is as the crow flies, for I and some other tourists felt the constantly switch-backing trail was considerably longer, and its ascent adds to its length. Its still a relatively short climb, though, it took me about 30 minutes.

Good little hike theres the regular trail or off trail which makes it a bit more challenging and funner

Nice little hike that gives you a little difficulty but is doable. Make sure you bring water and comfortable shoes. Its worth the trip to the top. Slow and steady will get you there.

Short hike but steep. Worth it! The views are breathtaking. When you reach the end and see the other side, youre taken away. Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds and the heat. Your Inter-agency park pass will get you in... Just display it. Some rock scrambling to along the way. Im sure on a somewhat clear day, you can catch the sunrise if you time it right.

Hadnt been here before and it was great place to go to kill some time vefore checking in at our hotel. In July its pretty hot so make sure to be out here with plenty of water. It was nice and peaceful and there werent a lot of people around at 3pm.

Ummm.... 1.3 miles.... Yes, but most of it was vertical. AND... 1/3 of it is not hiking, its bouldering... and 1/3 of that was vertical bouldering. There are multiple places where you can stop your hike along the way and be perfectly satisfied with the view, BUT... the view at the top was worth all the struggle (and absolute fear).

Great trail. I did it for sunset. There are cairns marking the way to the Cathedral rock saddle which gives you great views. It’s not a long trail so you can take your time on the way up. There are some scramble moves and when I did them in dry conditions it was fine. Shoes with good grip help

Can be a difficult climb to get to the top, so worth it! Wear hiking boots if possible. Enjoy the view!!

We were here in the early evening and did not find many people on the trail. It is well marked with cairns all along the way. It is a pretty steep climb with lots of rock scrambles. There is one particularly narrow rock valley that is the hardest part of the climb a little below the summit.Once you reach the trail end there is a sign. To the right is a pathway out to a cliff area perfect for pictures and vista views. If you follow to the left you can wind around to the trail that leads up to the vortex area. We were there alone for a while and the wind and shade made for a wonderful rest spot before the climbed back down. All said and done it took us 2 hours round trip.

Super fun. Great hike.

This trail has a gorgeous Vista at the top, however it is not for the faint of heart. Wear proper shoes. Do not go when its wet. Be prepared to slide on the loose pebbles and make sure your hands are free. Expect to practically boulder the last half and therefore basically slide on your butt the first half of the trail back. My eight year old son and I stopped half way and my daughter and husband finished it. Were not good with heights and so glad we stopped. We greatly enjoyed parts of the Templeton and Easy Breezy Trail around the base while the rest of the family finished.

Im sure if you can find parking it may be nice? There are other trails to visit though with better parking situations.

Was only in Arizona for 3 days and this was one of the few places we visited! Glad we did! Great views!!! Pretty easy rock climbing!

Big drum circle really gets rolling about a hour before moon rise on the full moon. Lots of dancing and other instruments too. Lookup Sedona Drum Circle on FB. Great location and responsible wildness!

Best trail in Sedona! The Cathedral Rock Trail is a blast the whole way — every turn and corner is a chance for a new stunning overlook of the land around you.The trail starts out relatively tame but then gets steeper until at a certain point you are forced to scramble up the rocks on all fours. Though it seems daunting at first, it shouldn’t be an obstacle for even a beginner, and the experience is well worth overcoming any vertigo you might have. The hike up takes about an hour, and at the top you’re greeted by stunning views in front and behind you, towers of rock surrounding you, and a very photogenic cliff edge to take a picture on.

Great views and a lovely way to start the day. Not overly challenging.

Probably the best hike of my life, definitely worth it, but not for the faint of heart or those with a strong fear on heights. That being said 100% worth it and I saw both elderly and kids making it all the way up!

We did the easy breezy trail and then went up Cathedral trail for a bit. It does get difficult up there. Being proper shoes. There is a trail that goes around. People were climbing all over. You do have to pay to park. We bought a pass at a circle k that covered us for many places for the week. Definitely worth a visit.

Gorgeous hike! More on the moderate and challenging side. Beautiful views at the top. Definitely recommend.

Made my whole trip the best ever. Cant wait to go back.

Wow, what a hike! First you have a lot of fun scrambling up. Wear good hiking shoes! And I recommend bringing hiking poles, they make the later descend much easier.The final spot has great views at the valleys and mountains. We missed the sunset by just a few minutes, but the upside was that there were zero people at the top. We had it all for ourselves. It’s just awesome.Our descend was a bit sketchy, because it was getting dark. But with hiking poles and some confidence we ended up just fine.Overall, amazing and interesting hike with unbelievable views. Enjoy after the mandatory Devils Bridge.

Fun exciting trail with great views at the top, took my 1 year old goodendoodle and he made it up okay. Only one narrow sketchy climb part

Beautiful views! You can buy a parking pass onsite. Get there early!

Great climb. Not that long...took 28 mins to get to the top. Its a bit of work in some spots for sure but worth the view.

Bring way more water than youd think. Rest in any shade you can find and take your time Excellent views. Follow metal cans of rocks up AND down.

Great place to bring you dogs and its well maintained. Tons of people hiking and a really enjoyable place to go.

The place is amazing and the last part of the trail is super hard... There are no ropes or something that can help you to get there. So... If you are not used to climb rocks, its better to just go until the first giant rock overlook

Awesome short little trail with fun rock scrambling and gorgeous views.

Awesome venue. Except, theres simply not enough parking. Sheriffs stand there & ticket your vehicle all day long.

Awesome views if you hike to the top! Get there early...parking fills up quickly.

Get there early, but there are many spots to down along the road to find parking somewhere. The home has some tough spots, but are doable by most folks. Its not too far, but its a great view.

We went with our dog, which added a small challenge, but he did great. Unshaded hike with minimal parking. We go there around 7:30 and there were 2 spots left in the first lot. Bring your red rocks or national parks pass if you have one. There were lots of people on their way up as we headed down. Templeton trail is another that’s up there and said to be good. Enjoy!

A lot of work and some scrambling but well worth it. Got there around 8 am and had to park in the second lot but the hike itself did not seem too crowded. There are definitely some challenging areas on the hike so i would make sure you were hiking shoes or boots. The view off the top is great

Easily accessible. For easy parking best to get there early. Parking fee with machine on site. Take plenty of water....especially in summer!!

Beautiful place to watch a sunrise or sunset. Just make sure to have plenty of water and time. There are some steep places to climb.

It was still super hot mid October but we got up to a ledge and got great photos.

Great hike/climb that had some challenge but not too tough. View was amazing.

Absolutely amazing views. My wife is afraid of heights and pushed herself to climb to the top. She found it challenging but Ive climbed plenty of locations in my life and found it easy. All thats required really is a decent pair of shoes with good grip

A great moderately to hard hike with beautiful views. We hiked it at sunrise and were able to watch the sun come over the mountains. There is some climbing on the rocks but its not too bad.

Lives up to its name! We saw mountain goats, a mule deer buck, and climbers high on a huge rock formation. Overall adherence to mask wearing and physical distancing was great.

Definitely one of my favorite hikes in Sedona. Just not in October. Way too busy.

Strongly recommend visiting this site. The hike to the viewing area shown in the photographs is uphill but quite manageable. The hike to the top of the cathedral is extremely advanced and only recommended for people properly attired!

Easy for most people even with little ones that have good grab and balance techniques. Great view!

This was an awesome experienceIts really steep though. Be prepared with hats, water, sunscreen and a good boot

Literally one of my favorite places on planet Earth. Its a short, slightly challenging climb, with a fantastic view at the end. You will not be disappointed, and you will probably want to move to Sedona when youre done.

Quick and gnarly hike. You gotta climb some rocks that are very steep. A lot of people around, not exceptionally remote. Follow the rocks in the cages.

Loved the hike but we did not finish the whole thing. It felt more like rock climbing as we used our hands a lot. The last bit of the trail is almost completely inclined. We saw one guy just slide down instead of walk. Overall, a good hike to try even if you dont finish the whole thing theres plenty to see from several points up.

Must do hike while in Sedona! Trail head has small parking lot & it is very popular. So it gets crowded. We found a spot roadside luckily. From there on, trail is well marked and easy. Its 0.7 miles to the lookout point from where you can either come back or continue to Cathedral rocks.. carry torch and water if you are hiking late during sunset like us. We lost the way but some local guys helped us reach the parking lot.

Fun hike with a stunning view. Experienced sunrise 30 min after breaking trail at 7am. The well-marked trail had steps and hand groves in strategic locations to make the scramble easier.

Definitely a nice hike with plenty of markings to get you to the top. I dont hike very often and M in OK physical shape so this hike was a breeze. The 1st part of the hike is pretty flat with a little bit of light climbing and as you get closer to the mountain the last half gets a lot steeper. The trail is in really good condition and there are plenty of man made rock steps along the way, and foot cutouts in the rocks as you get a little higher. The view from the top is pretty spectacular.This is a short trail that is considered difficult because of the climbing at the end. Even though it is a short trail you still need to take precautions, hike early morning or evening during the summer months. I would recommend at least 1 liter of water minimum preferably 2. Take a backpack because its hard to hold a bottle and climb, but not impossible. Wear sunscreen and a good pair of sunglasses. There is cell service so you can use the all trails app, just make sure you start with a full charge.I saw somebody with a dog on this hike; I probably wouldnt recommend it, but its not impossible, and getting down is definitely going to be a challenge.Parking is $5 the ticket is good until midnight of that day. Also there is only one unisex bathroom in the parking lot before you hit the trail.

Some very beautiful scenery here, especially if you take the trails to the top of the saddle. Getting to the top isnt an expert climb, but there are some spots that require a bit of physical effort. But, there are plenty of alternative trails with easier access as well, still offering beautiful scenery. The trail does get moderately trafficked, and parking can get a little competitive if you show up later in the day. Check it out!

A short walk or a long hike. Totally you choice! Beautiful and worth the time.

Beautiful, I only explored a very little of the easy breezy trail but the views are still amazing. We went later but the earlier you go the better for pictures. Its a difficult hike they say depending on where you go and how far up you make it. Be careful of mountain bikers because they go fast.

Amazing views with a short hike. The trail is clearly marked.

I experienced the vortex energy on/near a flat rock about halfway up to the big red rock. I did a simple meditation, which spoke to me and was a unique experience.This is a more popular vortex, which means there are usually more people on the trail, which was true in my experience.

What a great hike. Tons of people walking and hiking. Not many people make it to the end of the trail but if you should go to the end as you can see the other side of the cathedral rock. The view at the top is gorgeous and you can touch and feel the rock. The incline could be tough if you are not fit but you will be rewarded once you get to the end. The view you see on the way to the top is amazing as well.

Sedona is located 100 MI (160KM) north of Phoenix near Flagstaff. It is a small town known for the red rock formations and overall outdoor feel of the area. During the summertime many people venture up north to Sedona and Flagstaff to escape some of the summer heat in the Phoenix area. This is a great location to visit if you want to do hikes and is great for photographers. It isn’t uncommon to see couples taking engagement photoshoots all throughout Sedona due to the beautiful backdrops the mountains provide. There is limited parking for this trail so you may need to park on the side of the road, so if you want to avoid the hassle of parking and maneuvering around others during the hike as well as avoid the heat try looking into starting your hike prior to 9AM. It takes around 2 hours to arrive to Sedona from Phoenix and certain trails like this one can get very crowded after around 10AM and even earlier in the summer so you have to plan accordingly. This particular hike which leads you to cathedral rock takes around 1.5 hours to complete depending on how busy it is and how many stops you make. It is very tricky in certain parts where you must climb on all fours up narrow waterways. Because of this we suggest traveling light and in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and to complete the hike you may need to leave your furry friends behind unless they’re small enough to carry. During the summertime it is also necessary to be aware of monsoon season which causes heavy rain in short periods of time which can lead to flash floods in the area. Nevertheless, once arriving at the top you will see a vast landscape that showcases the various layered textures of the surrounding mountains in the desert. If you’re ever in Northern Arizona this is definitely a place worth visiting and a good hike to do! As you approach the top of the Cathedral Rock Trail it will open up into this large bowl below and there will be space to walk around the edges like this one pictured. Despite how it seems the path to get there is not too narrow and there is plenty of room to stand but it can be quite scary depending on how close you are to the edge. To get this particular angle of the area this photo was taken near the end of the trail as you first come up onto this concourse. This angle allows you to get the edge of the rocks to the side as well as the area below. At the time that we went we were able to take pictures with only one other couple waiting to take photos after us. Because this is the ideal location to take photos at we imagine there is probably quite a long wait during popular times of the day. Prior to hiking anywhere we always like to check the recent conditions using @alltrails to see if there are any recent hazards to know of. It’s also good at providing you with more accurate info on the amount of time to complete a hike as well as how busy it gets during certain hours!- @wanderingwithustwo

This was a nice short hike with lots of elevation gain. The parking area gets full at the Cathedral Rock Trailhead, but there are many places to park if you park along a pull off on the road (may have to be inventive). I do not know if this was legal, but “everyone was doing it”. My 6yo loved this hike, because it was a rock scramble in many places. He was the line leader, and that kept him going to the top. If you do this hike, wear proper shoes (no flip flops) and some parts are steep. There is nothing very difficult with this hike, but there were a few people that were scared and turned back. Surprising, the way down was not as hard as I was expecting. The hike is hard, but not too hard of a hike that has great views and a feeling of accomplishment.

Excellent long loop done CCW with some steep sections on the backside.

Awesome trail...would recommend on sunrise or sunset for great views....plenty of times to take a breather when needed... very high elevation change throughout the short hike...parking can get full...also have a good view red rock country... highly recommended

Fun hike! Scrambling and uphill, but its not hard

Great place to hike and clean up your energy!

A good strenuous hike. Wear hiking shoes to grip the rocks. Or choose the trail that is more level.

This hike is not for the average hiker. Those not easy with heights be prepared, steep trek. My wife and I only made it up a lower portion of Trail and decided to take easy trail following the base of the vortex. Great views of Sedona from what we could see, one of the most photographed areas we heard.

Very tough hike but lots of fun! Takes a lot of strength, better for physically fit people.

Very peaceful locationBring a mat so you can sit down and zone out

It is a nice little hike up to the base of the rock. If you want to keep going, the trail is marked with barrels of rocks but just know that youll be climbing a pretty decent incline up the rock to get up to the next viewpoint.

Super busy and no parking$5Cool hike though, bottlenecks one one point. Dont bother on a weekend

I was not ready for this..lol but it was well worth it. An amazingly beautiful view from the top. There are parts of the trail that are tough and involve some climbing and navigating but there are different levels where you can stop and rest and enjoy the majestic views. This was definitely a check off of my bucket list. There are enough people on the trail willing to help and we even ended up doing yoga on one of the outcroppings overlooking the desert below... mind blowing.