Exploring Sedona in the Fall: A Perfect October Adventure
Sedona in the fall is nothing short of magical. With its crisp mornings, golden aspens, and fiery red rock landscapes, it’s the perfect time to visit—before the winter chill sets in but after the scorching Arizona summer. In October, we flew into Flagstaff, rented a Jeep from Turo, and set off for a week of hiking, off-roading, and epic scenery.
Munds Wagon Trail, Sedona
From squeezing in classic hikes like Devil’s Bridge and Cathedral Rock to tackling Merry-Go-Round Rock via the Munds Wagon Trail, this trip had everything: adventure, relaxation, and even a few nights of van life near the Grand Canyon.
Here’s everything you need to know about exploring Sedona in the fall—including the best hikes, off-road trails, and how to snag the right passes for your adventures.
Devil’s Bridge Trail, Sedona
Where to Stay:
For the first part of the trip, we stayed in a few cozy VRBOs around Sedona:
This was a great way to experience different areas while having a comfortable base between hikes.
Lux Hotel Stays:
For the second part, we rented a van from Outdoorsy and took off toward Grand Canyon National Park, camping just outside the park for easy sunrise access. More on that later!
Devil’s Bridge Trail, Sedona
Best Fall Hikes in Sedona
Sedona is packed with iconic hiking trails, and we managed to hit some of the best ones during our trip.
Here’s a breakdown of our favourite hikes, including trail stats and tips!
Subway Cave, Sedona
Subway Cave (via Boynton Canyon Trail)
Distance: 9.7 km (6 miles) round trip
Elevation Gain: 230 m (750 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Boynton Canyon Trailhead (Red Rock Pass required)
This is one of Sedona’s hidden gems. The first part follows Boynton Canyon Trail, a beautiful route through the canyon, before veering off toward the Subway Cave—a stunning rock formation that looks like a tunnel carved into the cliffs.
Pro Tip: The turn-off for the cave isn’t marked, so download an offline map (like AllTrails) before heading out.
Subway Cave, Sedona
Devil’s Bridge, Sedona
Devil’s Bridge
Distance: 6.4 km (4 miles) round trip (from the Dry Creek Road parking area)
Elevation Gain: 120 m (400 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Dry Creek Road (if driving in) or Mescal Trailhead (if hiking in)
This classic Sedona hike leads to the largest natural sandstone arch in the area. The final climb to the bridge is a steep rock scramble, but the views are worth it!
Why the Jeep Helped: Most people have to park at the Mescal Trailhead and hike an extra 3.2 km (2 miles) round trip. But since we had a 4x4 Jeep, we drove up Dry Creek Road to the actual trailhead, cutting our hike time significantly!
Pro Tip: Go early in the morning to beat the crowds—this is one of the busiest trails in Sedona.
Devil’s Bridge, Sedona
Cathedral Rock, Sedona
Cathedral Rock (Steep but Worth It!)
Distance: 2.4 km (1.5 miles) round trip
Elevation Gain: 200 m (656 ft)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead: Cathedral Rock Trailhead (Red Rock Pass required)
This is one of the best sunset hikes in Sedona, but it’s also one of the steepest. The trail is short but intense, requiring some hands-and-feet scrambling up slick rock sections.
Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views over the valley—especially in October, when the golden hour light makes the red rocks glow.
Pro Tip: Start this hike about an hour before sunset for the best lighting. Bring a headlamp for the way down!
Cathedral Rock, Sedona
Seven Sacred Pools & Soldier Pass Trail
Distance: 3.7 km (2.3 miles) round trip
Elevation Gain: 110 m (360 ft)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Trailhead: Soldier Pass Trailhead (Limited parking)
This is a quieter trail compared to some of the others in Sedona. The Seven Sacred Pools are a series of small natural pools that form along the rock, creating a stunning photo-worthy stop.
Parking Here is a Challenge: The trailhead only has 14 parking spots, so arriving super early (or taking a shuttle) is your best bet.
Bell Rock, Sedona
Bell Rock Loop (Best at Sunset!)
Distance: 5.5 km (3.4 miles) round trip
Elevation Gain: 150 m (492 ft)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Trailhead: Bell Rock Trailhead (Red Rock Pass required)
This is a great hike for sunset, with incredible 360° views. Bell Rock itself is climbable, and we scrambled up a little to get a better vantage point.
Bell Rock, Sedona
Munds Wagon Trail, Sedona
Off-Roading to Merry-Go-Round Rock (Via Munds Wagon Trail)
Distance: 11.3 km (7 miles) one way
Trailhead: Schnebly Hill Road
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (4x4 required)
This off-road trail was one of the highlights of our trip! Merry-Go-Round Rock offers stunning views over Sedona, and we had the entire spot to ourselves at sunset. The road up is rocky, steep, and absolutely requires a high-clearance 4x4—so we were thankful to have our Jeep rental for this one.
Passes & Permits for Sedona Hiking
Many of Sedona’s best hikes require a Red Rock Pass, which you can purchase:
Online in advance
At various kiosks around Sedona
At the trailhead parking areas
Cost:
$5 per day
$15 per week
Some trails, like Cathedral Rock, also require a separate parking fee if you park at a trailhead that’s part of the Red Rock Scenic Area.
Ooh Aah Point, Grand Canyon National Park
Side Trip: The Grand Canyon
After a few days exploring Sedona, we rented a van from Outdoorsy and hit the road toward Grand Canyon National Park.
Where We Camped:
Instead of staying inside the park, we camped just outside in Kaibab National Forest, which has great free dispersed camping. This gave us easy access to sunrise at the Grand Canyon, and we loved waking up in the middle of nowhere.
Bell Rock, Sedona
Why Fall is the Best Time to Visit Sedona:
🍂 Cooler temperatures (perfect for hiking)
🍂 Smaller crowds compared to spring
🍂 Fall colours (especially driving up from Flagstaff)
🍂 Golden hour light makes the red rocks even more vibrant
If you’re looking for the perfect time to explore Sedona, October is hard to beat. Whether you’re hiking, off-roading, or just soaking in the views, fall in Sedona is absolutely magical.
Would you visit Sedona in the fall? Let us know in the comments! 🍁🏜️
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