Sedona · Hard · Out and back

Cathedral Rock

Short and steep: up slickrock and a notched cleft to the saddle between the spires of Cathedral Rock, Sedona's best-known landmark.

Distance
1.2 mi (1.9 km)
Ascent
643 ft (196 m)
Time
About 1 h 15 min
High point
4,705 ft (1,434 m)
Grade
Hard

Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.

0 mi1 mi4,705 ft4,058 ft
Move along the height chart to see each point on the map.
Cathedral Rock
Outdoor Craziness · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The hike

From the trailhead on Back O' Beyond Road follow the basket cairns across a wash and up a moderate slope towards the spires. After a quarter of a mile the trail comes out on a broad ledge and crosses the Templeton Trail. Above it the route climbs bare rock and a shallow cleft with toeholds cut into it, then works across ledges and up a drainage to the wide saddle between two spires, with views out over Sedona and the Verde Valley. Return the same way, taking care on the way down.

It is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) round trip with 640 feet (196 m) of climbing; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Hard: the Forest Service calls it more of a rock climb than a hike, and you will need your hands.

The trailhead car park is closed whenever the Sedona Shuttle runs, from Thursday to Sunday all year and daily in some holiday weeks: park free at the North SR 179 Park and Ride and take the free shuttle. On other days a Red Rock Pass or an America the Beautiful pass is needed to park. The rock is unshaded and hot in summer, and there is no water. An unmaintained path leads on along the foot of the spires for those who want more.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.

Good to know

  • Short but steep: up slickrock chutes, using hands in places, to the saddle below the spires
  • Sedona's most photographed rock, with views across the Verde Valley
  • The car park on Back O' Beyond Road is tiny and fills early; the Sedona Shuttle stops here

Getting there

Start: Cathedral Rock Trailhead · Parking fee. 34.82514, -111.78830

Directions to the start

Places to stay nearby

Rooms in and around Sedona: Booking.com → Expedia →

Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.

Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.