South Sedona · off SR 179 · Steep red rock hike
Cathedral Rock
A short, steep scramble up bare red sandstone to a saddle between Cathedral Rock’s spires, with some of Sedona’s biggest views for just over a mile of hiking.
Opens the Forest Service pass page. From Thursday through Sunday, the trailhead lot closes while the free Sedona Shuttle runs.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Steep hiking trail
Coconino National Forest Trail No. 170
Admission
Red Rock Pass $5/day
Or America the Beautiful; free shuttle Thu–Sun
Hours
No posted hours
Lot closed Thu–Sun while the shuttle runs
Time needed
About 1.5 hours
1.1 mi round trip with a 669-ft climb
Parking
Shuttle Thu–Sun
Small trailhead lot; RVs barred from Park & Rides
Elevation gain
669 ft
Strenuous, with toeholds cut into the rock
What you’ll see
A short climb to a saddle between the spires
In places this is more of a rock climb than a hike, as the Forest Service puts it. Here’s what the trail holds.
Photo: dconvertini on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Start here
The saddle between the spires
Follow the basket cairns across the wash and up toward the spires. At a quarter mile the trail reaches a broad ledge, then climbs steeply over bare rock and a shallow cleft with toeholds notched into the stone. It ends at the top of a wide saddle between two spires, where the Forest Service calls the views quite spectacular.
RV tip: the route is unshaded and steep, and the Forest Service rates it strenuous. Wear shoes with good grip, carry plenty of water, and skip the climb on a hot summer afternoon.
More to see
- The broad ledgeA quarter mile up, the trail levels out on a wide ledge with good views. It makes a fine turnaround if the steeper climbing ahead isn’t for you.
- More saddles and a lava dikeFrom the top, an unmaintained path runs south along the base of the spires to two more saddles between sheer rock faces, with a close-up look at an exposed lava dike.
- Red Rock CrossingThe famous view of Cathedral Rock reflected in Oak Creek is at Crescent Moon Picnic Site, a concession site that charges $15 per vehicle and doesn’t accept Red Rock or America the Beautiful passes.
- Sunset lightLate in the day the spires glow red. Plan to be off the steep sections before dark.
Why go
Big views for just over a mile of hiking
Cathedral Rock’s red spires rise south of Sedona, and the trail to their base is one of Red Rock Country’s best-known hikes. From a trailhead at 4,043 feet it climbs 669 feet in a 1.1-mile round trip, so it’s short, but steep and exposed in places.
For RVers, parking is the puzzle. The trailhead is a small turnout on Back O’ Beyond Road, and from Thursday through Sunday it closes whenever the free Sedona Shuttle is running. RVs, campers and buses can’t use the shuttle Park & Ride lots either, so plan to bring the tow car.
Spring and fall are the comfortable seasons. In summer the bare rock holds the heat and monsoon storms can roll in fast, so start early. If the climb isn’t for you, Red Rock Crossing offers the classic view of Cathedral Rock from the banks of Oak Creek.
Photo: Nikolai Gates Vetr on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Why it made our list
- A 1.1-mile round trip to a saddle between the spires
- A free shuttle Thursday through Sunday
- Park with a $5 Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful pass
- Its reflection in Oak Creek is a classic Southwest photo
- 4.8 stars across nearly 10,000 reviews
For RVers
Getting to Cathedral Rock with an RV
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Leave the RV at camp
The trailhead is a small parking turnout 0.6 mile up Back O’ Beyond Road, with no room for big rigs. Unhook at your RV park and come in the tow car.
Thursday to Sunday, ride the shuttle
The trailhead lot is closed to the public while the free Sedona Shuttle runs, about 7 am to 5:30 pm, Thursday through Sunday. Park the tow car at the North SR 179 Park & Ride (1294 SR 179) and ride to the trailhead; RVs, campers and buses can’t park there.
Monday to Wednesday, go early
On days without the shuttle you can park at the trailhead with a Red Rock Pass or an America the Beautiful pass, but the lot is small. Arrive early, and have a backup hike in mind if it’s full.
Dogs and the scramble
Dogs must be leashed and under control on Red Rock Ranger District trails. Think twice about the steep slickrock sections with a dog, and on the shuttle dogs must be in a carrier or securely muzzled and leashed.
What visitors say about Cathedral Rock
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 4, 2026.
More of a rock climb than a hike.
Coconino National Forest, on the Cathedral Rock Trail · fs.usda.gov
What visitors often mention
Recurring themes in Google’s review topics
Big viewsScramblingSunsets
Google’s review topics most often mention the views (390 reviews) and the trail (146), followed by scrambling (122), rock climbing (87), sunsets (86) and the steep hike (84). Checked October 4, 2026.
What parking passes cost
Prices from the Coconino National Forest, checked October 4, 2026. Senior and military versions of the America the Beautiful pass cost less.
Good to know
Red Rock Pass, day$5 weekly $15, annual $20
Sedona ShuttleFree Thu–Sun, about 7 am–5:30 pm
Crescent Moon (view spot)$15 per vehicle, separate fee
Bring alongGrippy shoesPlenty of waterYour pass
Prices from the Coconino National Forest, checked October 4, 2026. Crescent Moon Picnic Site is a concession site: it takes its own fee or the $50 Coconino Hospitality Annual Pass, not Red Rock or America the Beautiful passes.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Cathedral Rock
- Address500 Back O Beyond Rd., Sedona, AZ 86336
- HoursNo posted hours
Lot closed Thu–Sun while the shuttle runs - Phone(928) 203-2900
- PassesA Red Rock Pass ($5 a day) or an America the Beautiful pass to park at the trailhead.
- Getting thereFrom the junction of SR 89A and SR 179 in Sedona, take SR 179 south 3.5 miles, turn right on Back O’ Beyond Road and go 0.6 mile to the trailhead turnout on the left.
- ParkingA small turnout that closes Thursday through Sunday while the shuttle runs. Shuttle riders park at the North SR 179 Park & Ride, 1294 SR 179.
Check the Coconino National Forest alerts and the Sedona Shuttle schedule before you go; the shuttle also runs daily during spring break and some holidays.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Cathedral Rock
We haven’t written up a Sedona RV park yet, so these are the closest parks we’ve visited. Munds Park is the quickest drive, down I-17 and up SR 179.
Munds Park RV Resort
Full hookups at 6,500 feet in the cool pines off I-17, open April 1 through October 31.
Woody Mountain RV Campground
Pine-shaded full-hookup sites on West Route 66, open year-round on Flagstaff’s west side.
Black Bart’s RV Park
Full-hookup and pull-thru sites a quarter mile off I-40 Exit 198 on Flagstaff’s east side, open year-round, with Black Bart’s Steakhouse next door.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Shuttle Thu–Sun · about 7 am–5:30 pm
Ready to climb Cathedral Rock?
Bring the tow car, grippy shoes and plenty of water, and check whether the shuttle is running that day.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: dconvertini (the view from the spires, the approach and the spires up close; CC BY-SA 2.0), Adam Baker on Flickr (Red Rock Crossing; CC BY 2.0), Ken Thomas (sunset; public domain) and Nikolai Gates Vetr (from the Loop Trail; CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons; the images were resized. Video: Magellan and Greyhound on YouTube. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Cathedral Rock unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the Coconino National Forest’s published materials and publicly available sources. Passes, shuttle times, rules and other details are set by the Forest Service and the City of Sedona and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm details directly with the Red Rock Ranger District at fs.usda.gov or (928) 203-2900. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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