Walking onto Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, Arizona, felt like a test of faith. The largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area is 57 feet tall and looks extremely narrow.
For some, who preceded me, it was enough space to dance around, sit, stand up again, and do so for the camera.
I felt a little more nervous but up for the challenge despite a longstanding fear of heights.
Just because I have a fear doesn’t mean I don’t actively challenge it regularly. Travel has come in handy for this.
Twenty-five years earlier, I inched my way to the edge of the Cliffs of Moher in Western Ireland, 700 feet above the North Atlantic Ocean.
Seventeen years ago, I jumped off a 30-foot waterfall in Montezuma, Costa Rica. And seven years ago, I floated above the clouds in a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia.
Returning to Arizona, the Devil’s Bridge Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Sedona. It’s a relatively easy hike and offers beautiful views of the surrounding red rocks landscape.
That well-deserved favor also means parking challenges, many fellow hikers, and a potentially long wait for your turn to cross the Bridge.
I’m not a huge fan of waking up early for sunrise hikes, but there are times when it’s called for, and hiking to the Devil’s Bridge in Sedona is one of them.
Devil’s Bridge Guide
Parking and Shuttle
Kel and I woke up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday in late September and drove our rental car to the Dry Creek Trailhead. The small parking area was full when we arrived at 6:45 a.m.
As I later learned, visitors will park along the side of the road once the lot fills up, a practice discouraged by local authorities.
The activity can damage the soil and plants and be dangerous for pedestrians and dogs (which must be on a leash).
Nobody was doing that yet, and we didn’t want to be the first. Instead, we drove back to town while I searched for info about the free Sedona Shuttle on my iPhone.
We made our way to the Posse Grounds Park and Ride (20 Carruth Drive) and caught the 7 a.m. Route 11 shuttle back to Dry Creek Vista Trailhead. We arrived at about 7:20 a.m., a delay of about 45 minutes.
Along the way, the driver informed us that the free shuttle had launched about four months earlier. It’s comfortable and air-conditioned, and they provide free bottled water.
Tip: To minimize your wait time for a photo at Devil’s…
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