Andrew MacNeil

Jackson M

Cathedral Rock Trail

Camelback Mountain via Echo Canyon Trail

Soldier Pass Trail

Boynton Canyon Trail

Fay Canyon Trail

The Top Dog-Friendly Hikes in Sedona

In the center of the Arizona desert, you'll find Sedona, a magnificent oasis, tourist's dream and one of the most dog friendly areas we’ve been to in awhile. Canyons and rock formations of red color can be found in this area, in addition to resorts and spas. And to be perfectly honest, you can throw a rock in just about any direction and find an awesome trail with amazing views.

Before we get too far, let’s cover Sedona’s new shuttle system. Due to the popularity of Sedona, the city of Sedona recently launched the first phase of its transit implementation plan. The new transit system, the Sedona Trailhead Shuttle, has begun service to several of the area's most popular trailheads. These shuttles run year-round, Thursday thru Sunday. What does this mean to you? Well a few things:

Many of the popular hikes do not allow parking (or have very little parking) at the trailhead. Which means you need to ride the shuttle or bake in extra time to find parking away from the trail and walk in.

While most of the trails in Sedona are dog friendly, the shuttles aren’t quite as dog friendly. Per the Sedona Shuttle website: “Household pets (including dogs) are not considered service animals and the city does not allow them to ride on the Sedona Shuttle unless they are in a pet carrier that can be safely stowed out of the doorway or aisle way.” 

Make sure to check the shuttle schedule in advance if you plan to ride, as the frequency of pickups changes depending on the time and day. 

The Sedona Shuttle is a free service, so no need to bring any cash for the ride.

Devil's Bridge is probably one of the most photographed locations in all of Sedona, Arizona. So, we thought you should get a picture up there too. Parking at the Dry Creek Vista trailhead is very limited, so most people will ride the shuttle in. The beginning of the hike is shared as a 4x4 off-road trail, so if you have a highly off-road capable vehicle, you can drive in and cut the hike down to about an hour (45 min up and 15 min down).  

Cathedral Rock, a 1.2-mile trek in Sedona that is one of the most popular among visitors, captures the spirit of the surrounding area. 

The out-and-back hike is not without its difficulties; however, it is well worth the effort because it leads you through spectacular red rocks and bits of green among the dry colors, with gigantic walls providing the ideal backdrop.

We were going to write something up for this one, but the Forest Service gives a fantastic description of the hike already. So, here you go, “This trail provides a diverse experience beginning in an urban setting and eventually leads into Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness, increasing the potential for solitude. The first half of this trail is often busy, and there is jeep tour and off-road vehicle traffic nearby. Enter at the signed trailhead which is open only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The trail dips to cross a wash then climbs out to the Devils Kitchen sinkhole just off the trail to the right at 1/4 miles. The trail then goes over level ground for 1/4 mile to the "Seven Sacred Pools" (photo) to the left of the trail.” 

“It continues on in the partial shade of Arizona cypress and intersects the end of a jeep road at 1.2 miles. The trail forks at the wilderness area boundary sign 1/8 mile further on. The right branch leads up rather steeply for 1/4 mile to an arch. Great views”

This trek offers some of the most breathtaking views in all of Sedona. This 6+ mile trip is popular throughout the year due to its simple access and magnificent desert scenery, which consists of massive sandstone buttes as well as desert flora. Make sure to hit these two waypoints along the way for some rad photo opps: Boynton Pass Vortex and Subway Cave.

The Fay Canyon Trail is an excellent choice if you are looking for a trek that allows you to get in and get out quickly without sacrificing the amazing views along the way. The straightforward round trip of about 2.5 miles will take you past some breathtaking scenery, including some impressive red sandstone cliffs that will be on both your left and right. Make sure to check out both the Overlook point at the end and the nearby Fay Canyon arch, which is accessed by a short offshoot trail. 

Bell Trail to Wet Beaver Crack Swimming Hole

About 25 minutes outside Sedona in the Coconino National Forest, you’ll find Bell Trailhead. After about 2.5 miles of rolling hills through some beautiful desert prairie, you’ll start your rocky ascent into the canyon before land in the desert oasis of Wet Beaver Crack. This local spot is a great place to swim, rock jump, fish, and bird watch. This remote watering hole also attracts a good amount of wildlife including elk, dear, bear and more.

Along with the same theme as above, there are quite a few dog friendly hotels in the Sedona area. We've included a few of our favorites here for you to choose from.

Sedona’s new shuttle system

Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness

Boynton Pass Vortex

Subway Cave

Hi everyone, my name is Jackson and I'm a 7 year old fox red english lab based out of San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. My page is dedicated to helping pup owners find the best dog-friendly places across the world. 