5 Kid Friendly Hikes in Sedona

Majestic Red Rocks

Sedona is truly stunning, and a place that inspires peace and tranquility whilst hiking amidst the red rocks.  That majestic aura though can easily be pierced, and the atmosphere transformed, if there is an unhappy or complaining child in your group.  If you are a parent or have ever travelled with children, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Our family

I have two sons, and we are a family of four who have been traveling to Sedona since my youngest was about 4 years old.  Sedona is a great reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the week and a mini getaway for me and my husband, but with two young children our trips were not without some difficulties.

5 Kid friendly hikes- the list

These hikes are not listed in any particular order.  However, my boys do love Bell Rock.

• Bell Rock 🎟️
• West Fork
• Baldwin Trail 🎟️
• Red Rock State Park
• Boynton Canyon Trail 🎟️

🎟️ A Red Rock Pass is required to park at the trailhead.  Daily and weekly passes can be purchased from the fee sites located in the trailhead parking lots.  Daily Passes cost $5 and are valid for one calendar day, and Weekly Passes cost $15 and are valid for seven (7) consecutive days.   If you are staying longer than a week you can also purchase an Annual Pass for $20 at the Red Rock Ranger Station or the Sedona Visitor Center which is valid for 12 consecutive months.   

Where to start...

Sedona has so many hikes that it can be a daunting task to try to figure out where to go, to make sure everyone has an enjoyable experience, especially if you have children.  On one of our first trips, we made our way to the Sedona Visitor Center, in Uptown Sedona for some guidance.  They were able to provide some helpful tips, the status of the trails, and gave us a very colorful and easy to read map, which my youngest son loved to look at and analyze.

We speak from experience

We have been to Sedona so many times now and have hiked many of the trails, during every season, and at different times of the day.  Slowly we have increased the distances and difficulties of our hikes based on the level of our kids.  Since they are getting older, they are wanting to climb more and be more daring, but we still hike the trails rated easy to moderate. 

Sedona has so many picturesque trails that are within this range of difficulty, that the combinations are practically limitless.  That being said, every time we come to Sedona there are a few trails the boys always ask to hike.  Hence, these 5 hikes have been kid tested and approved (many times) and have been given a "5-stone" rating.

Our rating system 🪨

So, what is this 5-stone (🪨) rating you might ask?  Where the rest of the world has the "star" rating, we have come up with the "stone" rating for hiking.  After all, we are hiking amongst some of the most beautiful rocks in the world.  The highest possible rating is 5-stones instead of 5-stars.  

Bell Rock 🪨🪨🪨🪨🪨 

The best place to park to visit Bell Rock is the Bell Rock Vista Lot off of SR 179.  During peak season however, the parking lot fills up quickly.  Even though it has one of the largest trailhead parking lots in Sedona, Bell Rock is one of the most popular spots for visitors.  From the parking lot you can easily see the unique red rock formation shaped like a "bell" and the trail is also easily visible.  There is also a small, sheltered area with information about the rock formations of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, as well as a sign demonstrating the nearby trails with their distances, and information about the wildlife in the area.

Bell Rock Trail (Pathway) is about a 2-mile out-and-back trail, from the Bell Rock Vista parking lot, that gently winds its way to Bell Rock and the side of the formation.  Follow the signs that point the way to "Bell Rock Climb".  The trail starts out quite wide and flat but becomes slightly hilly the closer you get to the formation.  Once you get on the backside of Bell Rock there are plenty of places to walk around on the flat rocky surface.  If you have little ones, I recommend staying away from Bell Rock Climb, where the terrain can get pretty steep and slippery.  There are several places all around Bell Rock that are safe for kids, but Bell Rock Climb is not one of them.

Another fun fact about this trail is that there are several other easy trails and connectors that can be explored if your group is up to it.  We have found that we return to this hike over and over, as the boy's love to hike and explore the crevices and climb the formation itself now that they are older.  Once they get tired, we just reverse course, and it is a very easy walk back to the car.  One thing to note if you are traveling with children- there are no toilets at this location.

West Fork Trail 🪨🪨🪨🪨🪨

West Fork Trail is one of the few forested and shaded hikes in Sedona, which is a lifesaver if you are visiting in the summer.  If you are visiting in the winter though, you will want to check to make sure the trail is open.  If the trail becomes too iced over or deemed dangerous it can be closed by the Park Service.  We have been fortunate to hike it during all the seasons, including the winter when there was snow on the ground and the streams were partially iced over and very slippery.  Like every other trail here, the parking lot fills up quickly so be sure to get there early in the morning or the parking lot will be closed once it is full.  The cost to park at the trailhead is $12.00 per vehicle (up to 5 people) and $3.00 per person for walk-ins, bicyclists, or a bus.  To get here, you need to take North 89A about 20 minutes north of Uptown Sedona.  The drive is very scenic but winding.  Keep a close eye out for the turn once you pass Junipine Resort, if coming from Uptown, or you will miss the turn on the left.

West Fork Trail is a relatively flat out-and-back trail that is a little over 3 miles one way, making it around 6 miles round-trip.  This very popular trail is fraught with unique beauty, due to the combination of red rocks, green foliage, and picturesque water crossings.  The trail draws thousands of visitors annually, and because of its popularity, there are toilets, and picnic tables the family can enjoy.  My family has never hiked the full 6 miles, as we usually turn around before we hit 3 miles in, but we absolutely love this hike.  

As you leave the parking lot for the trail, there will a section exposed to the sun, but once you pass the ruins of what used to be the home of Bear Howard you will be greeted by towering cliffs and lush greenery.  As you step under the canopy of shade you soon hear the sound of the creek, which you will hike beside and cross multiple times throughout the journey.  The water level in the creek is usually no more than knee deep, and there are logs and rocks that have been placed to assist with crossing the creek.  A word of caution though, the logs can be slippery, and the rocks can be wobbly, so hiking poles are helpful.

This trail offers several amazing places along the hike to stop and take a break if needed.  There are a few small hills throughout, but the scenery is so beautiful you won't even notice the slight changes.  During the summer, we sometimes stop to have a snack in a shady spot right next to the creek.  On occasion, we even take our shoes off and put our feet in the water, which you will see others doing as well.  No matter how far back you choose to go you will not be disappointed by this trail.

Baldwin Trail 🪨🪨🪨🪨🪨

Baldwin Trail is located off of SR 179, at the end of Verde Valley School Road, in a residential area known as The Village.  It is a little more remote than most of the trails but is still well-travelled due to the views of Cathedral Rock.   The dirt parking lot is of average size but like the others can fill up quickly during peak season.  Hiking this trail in the afternoon sunlight is amazing if you are able.  As the sun is setting, not only will you be in the shade of the rock during a portion of your hike, but Cathedral Rock acquires this stunning orange color providing unbelievable photo opportunities.  There are toilets here also, if anyone in your group needs one before or after the hike.

Baldwin Trail is a 2.3-mile loop, with some hilly and rocky areas throughout the trail.  As you walk the trail the amazing scenery slowly unfolds before you, as if opening a gift.   You don't truly get to experience all of the splendor until you come around one of the corners where Cathedral Rock fully comes into view.  Throughout the hike you experience stunning views, travel through a small meadow and forested area, and emerge again on red rock.  Depending on the time of year you visit, you might even be fortunate enough see water in the creek bed.  If you make it around the loop, be sure to keep an eye out for Red Rock Crossing.  Here, you will get to see the very well-known and widely photographed glorious view of Cathedral Rock.

Red Rock State Park 🪨🪨🪨🪨🪨 

Red Rock State Park is located off of West 89A, just outside of West Sedona, and is a 286-acre nature preserve and environmental education center.  It houses a diverse habitat of both plants and wildlife, with a beautiful creek cutting through the landscape framed by red rocks. The park offers a visitor center, a classroom, a theater, a park store, a restroom, a ramada and hiking trails.   It boasts a 5-mile family-oriented trail system consisting of interconnecting loops, leading to vistas of red rock or along the lush greenery of Oak Creek.  The cost is $7.00 for adults (14+), $4.00 for youths (7-13), and children (0-6) are free.

Red Rock State Park has several trails and connectors but the ones we take to make a loop are as follows:

From the Visitor Center take Bunkhouse Trail, over the Kingfisher Bridge, turn right onto Kisva Trail, turn left onto Eagle's Nest Trail and follow it up around until it joins back up to Kisva Trail near the river, follow Kisva Trail back to the Kingfisher Bridge, and retrace your steps on Bunkhouse Trail back to the Visitor Center.  Below is a brief description of each section of the trail to help you determine which path is best for you.  When you put these all together the hike is approximately 3 miles.

Bunkhouse Trail is a .75-mile round trip paved walk from the Visitor Center ending at the Kingfisher Bridge.

Kingfisher Bridge is a wide pedestrian only bridge that crosses Oak Creek.

Kisva Trail is about a 1.7-mile loop if you decide to hike the entire trail, but we only travel about one third of the trail before we turn left onto Eagle's Nest Trail.  This trail is a flat and easy, smooth, sandy path beside the creek.

Eagle's Nest Trail is a 1.9-mile loop where you can enjoy distant panoramic views of Cathedral Rock.  Be forewarned though, this is the parks steepest ascent rising approximately 300 feet at the start.  It is also a very winding switchback like trail that will take you near a few steep drops, but the stair like areas on the trail make it navigable as long as you are steady on your feet.  Hiking poles are also helpful to add another point of contact for stability.  If you have any doubt about anyone's abilities, this is the trail I would forego as there are many others to choose from.  It does however provide some of the best views in the park.

Boynton Canyon 🪨🪨🪨🪨🪨

Boynton Canyon is located off of West 89A in West Sedona.  From 89A you will need to take Dry Creek Rd to where it dead ends into Boynton Pass. At Boynton Pass take a left, heading West, and follow the road around till it dead ends into Boynton Canyon Rd.  At Boynton Canyon Rd take a right, heading East, till you see the Boynton Canyon trailhead on your right.  This parking lot is extremely small, so you will see a plethora of cars that are parked along the road, who have made their own space to be able to enjoy the trail.  There is also one toilet here if needed.

Boynton Canyon Trail (to the Vortex) Boynton Canyon Trail is a 3.6 mile out-and-back trail that is considered moderately challenging, but the Boynton Canyon Vortex Trail can be considered an easy 1.5 miles out-and-back hike.  Boynton Canyon is one of the most popular trails in Sedona, with both visitors and locals alike, by virtue of its amazing views and being home to the well-known Boynton Vortex.  The trek to the Vortex site is approximately .25 miles from the parking area till you see a sign for Boynton Canyon Vista to the right.  Take this Vista Trail for approximately .4 miles, which will take you slightly uphill, to two tall rock formations.  Both of these rock formations are considered Vortexes.  We walked all around the rocks up here and did let our children climb around a few areas.  We did not however let our children climb all the way to the top of the formations since it was pretty high and very steep.  The views of the Enchantment Resort nestled in the valley nearby were beautiful, as were the distant views of the rocks in the other direction.

The path you choose is yours...

I hope this gives you a starting point if you are traveling to Sedona with children and want to experience some hikes the whole family will enjoy.  Like I said earlier, there are so many easy to moderate hikes in Sedona, and only you know the capabilities of your family.  The 5 hikes listed above though, have been kid tested and approved by my two boys, and they highly recommend these trails.  For reference, one of them is incredibly active and can't sit still, while the other is way more relaxed and laid back.  Though they are both very different in many ways, they both agree that these are some amazing trails they keep wanting to re-visit. 

I wish you and your family a wonderful time and hope your adventures in Sedona are as memorable and ours.