Distance: 4.1 miles round trip on trail
Summit Elevation: 4920'
Elevation Gain: 540'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.43
Round trip time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Recommended water: 20 oz.
Parking/Fees: Red Rock Pass ($5/day or $15/week)
Difficulty: Easy
My wife joined me for a couple of hikes in Sedona, AZ. We were hanging around in Arizona while our daughter was at flight camp at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. While she was flying Cessnas, we hiked out to Devil's Bridge. We started at Dry Creek Vista trailhead and headed up the dirt road to the junction with Devil's Bridge Trail. If you have a high clearance vehicle, you can cut the distance in half by driving a mile or so down the rough road. The Devil's Bridge Trail is a wide old jeep trail and weaves through pines and junipers around the backside of Capitol Butte. A few hundred feet before reaching the natural sandstone bridge, the trail splits. The right trail heads to the top of the bridge and the left trail heads below it. We went to the top first to get the required photos. Even though we were early, there were already a few people there. More arrived while we were there and we met about two dozen on their way up while returning. If you don't want to wait in line for photos, I suggest going early. The bridge itself stands about 50' off the ground and is about 8' wide at the narrowest point. It looks more dramatic than it is, but is a really interesting natural feature well worth the short hike.
Start of the rough road toward the Devil's Bridge Trail junction
Start of the Devil's Bridge Trail
A balanced rock near one end of Capitol Butte
Trail split, left goes below the bridge, right goes to the top
Need to work on my vertical leap
Leisa on the bridge, no fear
Another shot on the bridge
A kind stranger took a photo of both of us
Looking up at the bridge from below
Amazing view on the way back
Gorgeous country. How come you get to have all the fun?
ReplyDeleteMadison,
DeleteI was lucky to work a little hiking into the family vacation. From the man who just got back from the Sierras and Wasatch, I'd say you are having your share of the fun! It's all good.