Sedona offers an adventurous getaway in the red rocks for both you and your dog. With over 200 trails, there is an abundance of opportunity to surround yourself with stunning sights created by nature. It may seem overwhelming at first, it sure was for me when I was deciding exactly which trails to hike. I wanted to see them all! With the short time we had in Sedona, I researched to find the best dog friendly trails that would offer great views with easy to moderate difficulty to hike. Below you will find the popular dog friendly trails that I consider must do and I rated them on their level of difficulty. You will also find tips and the things you should bring with you while hiking in Sedona so you and your dog are prepared for anything that comes your way.
Read My Travel Guide To Sedona for Dog Friendly Restaurants And Hotels Here.
Things To Bring With You While Hiking
If you hike regularly with your dog, chances are you already have many of the things you need to conquer hikes in Sedona. There are a few things I recommend that are a little different when hiking in a desert. Bring an insulated water bottle that will keep your water cold. You and your dog will be happy to drink water that is cold versus lukewarm by the end of the hike. I also recommend hiking boots or shoes not regular shoes and consider bringing a K9 Spork Sack for small or medium sized dogs as some of the hikes will be difficult for them.
Here’s a list of thing to bring for a successful and safe hike:
- Hiking Boots or Sneakers
- Backpack
- Insulated Water Bottle
- SPF
- Snacks
- Flashlight
- Lululemon Belt Bag
For Your Dog:
- K9Sport Sack
- Cooling vest or bandana
- Biothane Leash
- Traveling Water Bowl
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Tips For Hiking With Your Dog In Sedona
- Depending on the time of year, the weather can get very hot. Bring along lots of water. Leave some in the car because the dry weather will make you very thirsty! Use a cooling vest or bandana for your dog and make sure it stays wet.
- Some of the trails are difficult and you will need to use your hands to help you climb. Small to medium sized dogs may have a difficult time with the elevation so I recommend carrying them in a back pack such as the K9 Spork Sack. It will allow you to be hands free while they are still safe.
- Hiking boots or shoes are a must! The rocks can be slippery and regular shoes will not be enough. I recommend these boots from Columbia as they are both stylish and comfortable yet under $100!
- The #1 item I would recommend having is the Lululemon Belt Bag. It was CLUTCH from the airport to the trails.
- Download the All Trails App to have detailed information on each trail including a trail map, driving directions and detailed reviews.
Best Dog Friendly Hiking Trails in Sedona + Grand Canyon + Horseshoe Bend
Devil’s Bridge Trail
- Round trip distance: 4.2 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate 3/5
- Elevation Change: 521 ft
Expect this trail to be busy as it is very popular. We arrived at 6:30AM on a Sunday and couldn’t find parking in the lot. We parked on the side of the street on Boynton Pass Rd. If you have a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, you can drive on Dry Creek Road to the Trailhead cutting your hike by 2 miles. If I did this hike again, I would rent an ATV as the first half of the hike is on boring dusty road that you share with vehicles. There is another option to get to Devil’s Bridge trail head using the Mescal/ Chuckwagon Trail. The trail is well marked and starts out very easy. Towards the end of the trail, it is moderately difficult as you climb steep, rocky steps and will need to use your arms to climb some sections. This only lasts for a short section. Teddy walked on his own until we got to this area where we took a short break and put him in his K9 Sport Sack. During busy times of the day, expect to wait to have your photo taken on the bridge. We waited 30 minutes and it was worth it! The bridge is wider than it looks in photos and is more than enough room to walk comfortably. Please be careful on the bridge with leashed dogs and children.
Cathedral Rock Trail + Templeton Trail
- Round trip distance: 1.2 miles
- Difficulty: Very Difficult 5/5
- Elevation Change: 741 ft
This trail is the hardest hike I have every done. In fact, we decided not to go all the way up as it got very steep and I was concerned about falling with Teddy on my back. But please don’t let that stop you from climbing all the way to the top! We saw many people & even a dog go up and down the steepest part of the trail. The views of the red rock formations are magical from the base to the peak so you will get amazing photos anywhere along the trail. For Cathedral Rock Trail, Teddy stayed in his K9 Sport Sack the whole time as it was too steep for him and even me. You need to be hands free for this hike. The Templeton Trail goes around the base of Cathedral Rock and is much easier to hike. There is a lot to see from red rock formations to beautiful streams.
Bell Rock Trail
- Round trip distance: 1.0 mile
- Difficulty: Moderate 3/5
- Elevation Change: 400 ft
This trail is popular because it is one of the four main vortexes in Sedona. Vortexes are specific sites where the energy is said to be more concentrated and useful for self-exploration. The other main vortexes are Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock and Boynton Canyon. For a less active trail, I would recommend walking the Courthouse Butte Loop but keep in mind it is shared with mountain bikes.
Grand Canyon Rim Trail
- Round trip distance: 12.7 miles
- Difficulty: Easy 1/5
- Elevation Change: 583 ft
I recommend doing a day trip from Sedona to the Grand Canyon Rim Trail. It is amazing to see what water has done to rocks over thousands of years! The trail itself is paved and pretty easy to walk. We walked about a mile and took photos along the rim. You may even want to ride a bike as it’s paved. We parked along the street close to the the start of the trail.
Horseshoe Bend Trail
- Round trip distance: 1.4 miles
- Difficulty: Easy 1/5
- Elevation Change: 380ft
This trail is located in Glen Canyon National Park in Page, Arizona. Although a long drive, It’s another good day trip to take from Sedona because it is short and very easy dog friendly hike. It’s about three-fourths of a mile to the lookout where you can see the Colorado River bend and take photos. There is a large parking lot that charges $10 per vehicle to enter.
Have Fun Exploring Sedona!
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