Bell Rock Vortex
Bell Rock is the easy one — and the only vortex site of the four that works well for kids, dogs, and mixed-ability groups. The Bell Rock Pathway is rated easy, family-friendly by the Forest Service, with just 185 feet of elevation gain across a wide, hard-surfaced trail you can turn around on at any point.
There's no shuttle restriction: drive up, display a Red Rock Pass, and go. Restrooms are available at the northern and southern trailhead lots — a rarity in Sedona. It's open and unaffected by the current fire closures.
Scrambling higher onto the rock itself is a different and much harder proposition. There is no maintained route to the top.
The facts
- Open right now?
- Open (not in the current closure order)
- Trail to the site
- Bell Rock Pathway No. 96 — three trailheads along SR 179
- Distance
- Pathway is 3.5 miles one-way; walk as much or as little as you like
- Elevation gain
- 185 ft along the pathway
- Difficulty
- Easy, family-friendly (USFS) — the optional rock scramble is not
- Time needed
- As long as you want — it's an out-and-back you can cut short anywhere
- Pass required
- Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful, at all three lots
- Sedona Shuttle
- No direct stop; Route 15 serves nearby Little Horse, which connects on foot
- Parking
- Three lots on SR 179 (Courthouse Vista, Midway, Southern). Capacity not published.
- Dogs
- Yes, leashed — one of Sedona's better trails for dogs. Horses are prohibited.
- Commonly described as
- Described inconsistently across sources — "masculine" in some, "balanced" in others
Getting there
Get directions →Three trailheads, and which to use
Bell Rock Pathway runs north–south along SR 179 with three access points, all requiring a Red Rock Pass:
Northern (Courthouse Vista) — 34.8243, -111.7758. Closest to the classic Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte views, and the busiest.
Midway — 34.8055, -111.7668. About 1.1 miles south of the northern lot; usually the quieter choice for the same scenery.
Southern — 34.7915, -111.7619. In the Village of Oak Creek, 8.3 miles west of I-17 exit 298.
Restrooms are available at the northern and southern lots, per the Forest Service. There's designated horse-trailer parking, though horses are not allowed on the pathway itself. No official space count is published for any of the three.
The pathway versus the rock
These are two very different outings and it's worth being clear about which you're signing up for.
The pathway is wide, hard-surfaced, mostly flat, and shared with mountain bikes. It's the best pick in Sedona for a nervous hiker, an older visitor, a leashed dog, or anyone who wants red rock without commitment. You get excellent views of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte within a few minutes of the car.
Climbing onto Bell Rock itself is unmarked, unmaintained above a certain point, steep, and exposed. The Forest Service does not rate or maintain a route to the top, and there isn't one — the true summit needs roped climbing. People do scramble onto the lower tiers, and people also get hurt doing it. If you go up, the honest advice is to stop while descending still feels easy, because it always feels harder facing downhill.
The vortex here
Bell Rock is the vortex site with the least agreement about what it supposedly is. Visit Sedona's own material describes it as "masculine, action-oriented" in one place and "balanced (slightly masculine)" in another. That inconsistency is itself informative about how firm the taxonomy is.
What isn't in dispute: it's a striking freestanding sandstone butte, it's easy to reach, and standing at its base at sunrise with Courthouse Butte lit up behind it is genuinely worth the trip. Whether you frame that as energy or as geology is up to you — we lay out what's actually been measured on the explainer page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bell Rock a good first hike in Sedona?
Yes — it's the best starter option of the famous sites. The Forest Service rates the pathway easy and family-friendly, with 185 feet of gain over a wide, mostly flat surface, and you can turn back whenever you like.
Do I need the shuttle for Bell Rock?
No. There's no shuttle route to Bell Rock's own lots and no private-vehicle restriction there. Drive up and display a Red Rock Pass.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, on a leash of 6 feet or less. The flat, wide surface makes it one of the better Sedona trails for dogs, especially nervous or older ones. Horses are prohibited on the pathway.
Are there restrooms?
Yes, at the northern and southern trailhead lots — which is unusual for Sedona trailheads.
Can I climb to the top of Bell Rock?
Not on a trail. The Forest Service maintains no route to the summit, and reaching the true top requires technical climbing. Scrambling onto the lower tiers is common but unmaintained, steep, and exposed.
Facts on this page last verified July 28, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.