Bell Rock Trail

Bell Rock Trail loops around and climbs partway up the base of Bell Rock, a massive red Coconino sandstone butte in the Village of Oak Creek, 6 miles south of Sedona, Arizona, along Highway 179. The Bell Rock Pathway trailhead is located in the Bell Rock/Courthouse Butte parking area off Highway 179, which requires a Red Rock Pass ($5/day) or America the Beautiful pass; this is one of the busiest trailheads in the Sedona area.

The primary Bell Rock loop covers approximately 5.5 km with about 120 meters of elevation gain on the main path. The trail surface is packed red sand and gravel in the lower sections, transitioning to exposed sandstone ledges as hikers climb higher onto the rock's flanks. Unlike Cathedral Rock to the north, Bell Rock does not have a defined summit trail with metal handholds — hikers may explore the rock's lower terraces on unmarked scramble routes, but the upper portions are not officially maintained. Many visitors simply walk the circumnavigation path at the base, which is suitable for beginners and families with older children.

Bell Rock is one of Sedona's four recognized energy vortex sites and is reputed to be particularly potent; the rock's distinctive bell shape and isolated prominence in the valley contribute to its visual power and spiritual significance. Courthouse Butte, visible immediately to the east, is a similarly dramatic sandstone mesa that can be combined with Bell Rock on the Courthouse Butte Loop (approximately 6.3 km total).

Sunrise visits are particularly popular and reward early hikers with warm pink and orange light on the distinctive red rock; the east face of Bell Rock catches first light exceptionally well. Views from the rock's lower terraces extend across the Village of Oak Creek, Oak Creek Canyon, and distant red rock ridgelines in all directions.