Devil’s Bridge Trail

Coconino National Forest, Sedona

There’s nothing inherently evil about the Devil’s Bridge Trail. It’s the drive to the trailhead that’s possessed by demons. Sharp rocks, big boulders, deep ruts, steep drop-offs ... Forest Road 152 passes through the seven gates of hell. It’s rugged. And threatening. In fact, unless your “other car” is a 25-ton infantry fighting vehicle, you’ll have to consider the other options. And there are several. One is to park at the Dry Creek Trailhead and hike about a mile on FR 152 to the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead. (You could bike it, too. If you have a bike.) Another option is to park at the Mescal Trailhead, which is located along the shoulder of Long Canyon Road.

From there, the hike heads east on a red-dirt track. The trees are piñons and junipers. About 20 feet tall. You’ll see manzanitas and prickly pears, too. Then, after about a minute, you’ll come to a wash. Most of the time, it’s dry. However, if there is water — usually in the spring or during the monsoon — it’ll slow you down. Like a moat. Once you get across, you’ll continue meandering through the trees and eventually drop down into another small wash. The trail follows the bottom of the streambed, which is rocky, but not technical. Then, after about 15 minutes of overall hiking, it intersects the Chuckwagon Trail. 

Veer left onto the Chuckwagon and continue doing what you’ve been doing. Along the way, you might see Steller’s jays — a swatch of bright blue against a palette of earth tones. If you get an early start, you might see hot air balloons, too. Even more impressive are the views of the surrounding red rocks, including Mescal Mountain to the west and Courthouse Butte to the south. 

Ten minutes past the intersection, you’ll arrive at the Devil’s Bridge Trail. Turn right onto the DBT and continue a few minutes more to FR 152. Just across the road is the official trailhead for this hike, which leads into a wide valley on the north side of Capitol Butte. 

The DBT is a short, easy trail that begins as an old jeep road. It’s all uphill from this point forward, but it’s not enough to slow you down. About 10 minutes in, you’ll come to a cairn on the left that marks a faint trail. Your instincts will say no, but it’s a worthwhile detour that winds for 30 or 40 yards to a great view of Devil’s Bridge, the centerpiece of the hike. 

Despite its name, the rock formation is technically an arch, not a bridge — it was created by wind and weather erosion and not by flowing water. Nevertheless, it’s an impressive landmark that ranks as the largest natural sandstone arch in the area. Late afternoon is the best time to make a photo from this vantage point.

Back on the main trail, you’ll quickly cross into the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness, which is home to elk, black bears, mountain lions, ringtails, badgers and bobcats. It’s unlikely you’ll see any of those on this route, but the social responsibilities of hiking in a wilderness remain the same. Specifically, adhering to the principles of Leave No Trace (see below). 

Continuing up, you’ll pass through a wash and a thicket of trees, after which the trail veers left and arrives at a steep set of natural rock steps. It shouldn’t take more than two minutes to make the climb. At the top, the trail levels off and heads east. 

Although it’s always a good idea to watch your step, you’ll want to start looking to your left, too. Almost immediately, you’ll see the bridge in that direction. To get there, keep walking and follow the trail as it continues through some trees and down to the rim. The bridge will be to your left. Proceed with caution and enjoy the views, which, as you’ll see, are antithetical to what you’d expect at a place called Devil’s Bridge.