Cathedral Rock is a stunning outcrop of red rock in Sedona, Arizona, and visitors flock to it for some spectacular photo opportunities. There are great hiking trails both to the base of Cathedral Rock itself and to mountains opposite to get great views, and all will be well worth the trip.
Cathedral Rock is one of the most famous rock formations in Sedona, and for anyone that's ever looked at photos of Sedona it's very likely that one of them was of these rocks. Headlined by twin spires and a large saddle in the middle offering spectacular views, the rocks are also surrounded in legend.
One such legend is of a man and a woman who lived in the valley below, but because they were always bickering they were told by the Great Spirit that if they failed to reconcile, their hearts would become hardened and they'd turn to stone. They didn't heed the warning, and today their images are etched into two of the smaller spires, which look like a man and a woman with their backs to each other.
Legends aside, the rocks are a beautiful place to hike. The saddle in the middle offers spectacular views across Sedona, and sitting on any one of the shelves gives a fantastic view of the creek below. It's the perfect place to watch a sunrise or sunset, with the rocks truly lighting up when the sun hits them.
Seasoned hikers will find the trail relatively easy, but should be careful when they're further into the trek as scrambling up and down rocks will be necessary. They should also remember to bring a blanket or jacket if hiking in the winter or early spring as the temperature can very quickly drop. Equally, in the summer they should make sure to bring plenty of water, as it can be particularly hot in the lower portion of the trail where there isn't much shade.
The Cathedral Rock trail is just under a mile long (or a 1.5 mile round trip) with an elevation of around 600 feet. Not an especially long trail, but it can be made longer if needed by starting on the Baldwin or Templeton trail, which both intersect with this one.
Or, for views of the rock itself rather than views from it, it's an idea to head for the Red Rock Crossing just opposite. This gives some amazing views of the rock formation, and some particularly good photo opportunities will be found.
Cathedral Rock is a great example of red rock formations in the area, and whether visitors wish to see the views from the rock itself or get some great photos of it from a distance, they definitely won't leave disappointed.
Review, comment, or add new information about this topic: