Devil's Bridge Trail
Dry Creek Trail No. 52 remains closed
The Pocket Fire order closes Dry Creek Trail No. 52 and land within 100 feet of it through September 30 unless rescinded. Do not confuse that trail with the road or trailhead sharing its name. Read the order and map before hiking.
Devil’s Bridge Trail No. 120 is outside the two current Pocket Fire/Oak Creek closure orders checked September 13, 2026. Dry Creek Trail No. 52 is closed; it is not the same place as Dry Creek Vista trailhead or Dry Creek Road (FR 152). Follow the signed open approaches below and check current Forest Service alerts before leaving.
Choose your approach
| Start | Route and distance | Getting there |
|---|---|---|
| Mescal trailhead | Signed Mescal–Chuckwagon connection; about 4 miles round trip. | Paved-road access for a normal car, or Route 11 from West SR 89A Park & Ride. |
| Dry Creek Vista trailhead | Signed Chuckwagon route; about 5.8 miles round trip. | Paved-road access or Route 11. Do not substitute the closed Dry Creek Trail No. 52. |
| Devil’s Bridge trailhead on FR 152 | About 1.6 miles round trip from the closer trailhead. | Rough unpaved road requires high clearance; Forest Service advises against driving it in wet weather. Not a rental-sedan shortcut. |
Routes checked September 13, 2026 against Forest Service directions and Route 11. Distances depend on where you start.
The facts
- Open right now?
- Outside the current two closure orders; checked September 13, 2026
- Forest Service trail
- Devil's Bridge Trail No. 120
- Distance
- 1.6 mi round trip from the high-clearance trailhead; ~4 mi from Mescal; ~5.8 mi from Dry Creek Vista
- Elevation gain
- 371 ft
- Difficulty (USFS)
- Moderate (USFS)
- Time needed
- About 2 hours from the short approach; longer from the paved lots
- Trailhead elevation
- 4,605 ft
- Pass required
- Check the posted parking fee at your chosen lot; shuttle riders pay no trailhead parking fee
- Sedona Shuttle
- Route 11 serves Mescal and Dry Creek Vista; check the live schedule
- Parking
- Three options; only two are reachable in a normal car. Capacity not published by USFS.
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs permitted forest-wide (6 ft maximum)
- Restrooms
- Shuttle operator lists restrooms at its pickup/drop-off stops
- Shade
- Minimal — this is exposed high-desert trail
Getting there
Get directions →A normal car or the shuttle?
With a normal passenger car, use Mescal or Dry Creek Vista. The Forest Service recommends the signed Mescal–Chuckwagon or Chuckwagon trail connections and advises against walking the unpaved jeep road. Do not navigate by a “Dry Creek” name alone.
Check Route 11 departures and the return trip from West SR 89A Park & Ride, 905 Upper Red Rock Loop Road. The official shuttle FAQ says the trailhead shuttles and Park & Ride are free and shuttle passengers pay no trailhead parking fee. A hiking route being open does not mean the shuttle is running at the time you arrive.
The bridge itself
The final approach narrows and steepens into a genuine scramble — most people put a hand down at least once. The arch is a natural sandstone span roughly four to five feet wide and about 54 feet long, with no railing of any kind, and the drop on both sides is real.
There is no lighting. Do not do this at dusk to "beat the crowds" — the walk out in the dark on exposed rock is how people get hurt.
On crowds: this is the most-photographed hike in Sedona and there is usually a line to stand on the arch. Hiker reports put the wait anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes typically, with much worse during spring break and midday peaks. Those are crowdsourced observations, not an official metric — but the direction is consistent enough to plan around. Early morning is the answer.
Heat and facilities
This is exposed desert hiking. Carry drinking water and use the operator’s hiking guidance when planning. The shuttle operator lists restrooms at its pickup and drop-off stops; that does not establish facilities at the closer high-clearance trailhead. Weather, heat and conditions may make an otherwise legal route unsuitable.
Frequently asked questions
Is Devil’s Bridge open right now?
Devil’s Bridge Trail No. 120 is outside the two current closure orders checked September 13, 2026. Dry Creek Trail No. 52 remains closed. Check the current orders and use a signed open approach; status can change.
Is Dry Creek Vista the closed Dry Creek Trail?
No. Dry Creek Vista trailhead, Dry Creek Road FR 152 and Dry Creek Trail No. 52 are different assets. The current order names Trail No. 52 and its surrounding 100-foot corridor.
Can I drive a rental car to Devil’s Bridge?
A normal car can reach the paved-road Mescal or Dry Creek Vista trailheads. The closer trailhead on unpaved FR 152 requires high clearance; the Forest Service advises against that road in wet weather.
How long is the hike?
The Forest Service gives about 4 miles round trip from Mescal and 5.8 from Dry Creek Vista. The 1.6-mile figure starts at the closer high-clearance trailhead.
Do shuttle riders need a parking pass?
The shuttle operator says Park & Ride and trailhead shuttle trips are free, and shuttle riders are not charged a trailhead parking fee. Drivers should check the posted fee for their chosen lot.
Access information checked September 13, 2026. Check current official rules, opening times and conditions before your visit.