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The
Devil Made Me Do ItDevil's Bridge, Sedona (Sedona.biz) - Everywhere I read that hiking to the Devil's Bridge is a "moderate" hike. My wife and I like to hike, but you won't see us scaling Bell Rock anytime soon. So, when we read "moderate" we thought we'd give it a try.
Devil's Bridge is the largest natural sandstone arch is Sedona, and it's well worth the hike if you're prepared for some steep sections and you've got a strong stomach.
The trailhead can be found on FR 152 off of Dry Creek Road which is off of Hwy 89A. The first thing you need to know is that FR 152 is a rough dirt road. I'm talking a roller coaster ride and pot holes galore. If you're driving a small car be prepared to bump your head on the roof a few times. We thought the dirt road would never end, and we actually considered turning back because of the beating our small car was taking. But we forged on and found the parking lot on the right after driving for, they say, 1.3 miles.
The initial hike in is quite easy. It
begins on an old jeep trail that's wide and easy to
maneuver with many trees providing
cover from the sun. The hike itself is only a 400 foot
elevation change and it's 1.8 miles roundtrip, taking about
1.5 hours to hike.
About three-quarters of a mile into the hike is where you need to make a decision. There's a divide, and if you go to the left, you'll end up directly under the 50 foot arch. If you go right, you'll go to the top of the arch with its beautiful views of the Verde Valley.
When you take the topside trail, be prepared for two short, but steep, scrambles up stone staircases. It wasn't bad, but we didn't expect it.
When we got to Devils Bridge, my immediate thought was "Is that thing stable?" Of course I knew it was but from the trail it looks like it could collapse in the middle at any moment.
I decided to venture out. Or, should I say, "the devil made me do it." It was, of course, wider than it looked but I didn't feel comfortable going out to the middle. I definitely would not recommend that children go out on the arch, even with supervision.
All in all, hiking to the Devil's Bridge was a great experience and a lot of fun. Seeing the arch was definitely the highlight. Just be prepared that the hiking is not "moderate" for the entire trek.
