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From the Sedona record

Bell Rock Pathway Sedona (Trail No. 96)

Bell Rock Pathway is an Easy, family-friendly Forest Service trail along SR 179 in Sedona (read October 5, 2026). It is mostly wide and hard-surfaced, with views of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte without climbing the rock. Park at the Southern, Midway or Northern trailhead or at Courthouse Vista; all need a Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful pass, and our Red Rock Pass guide explains it. The Bell Rock lots are not shuttle stops, but the Route 15 shuttle’s Little Horse stop puts you on the Pathway. The corridor is open to the sun, so skip hot middays, and keep Yavapai Vista as a backup if the lots are jammed.

Last reviewed . Sources and dates are listed below.

Bell Rock, a bell-shaped red sandstone butte, rising above juniper and dry grass under a streaked sky south of Sedona
Bell Rock, south of Sedona, July 2010. Photo: Ken Thomas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Two ways in

Private corridor lots (RRP / ATB): Southern, Midway, and Northern trailheads on SR 179, plus Courthouse Vista as a nearby trailhead for Courthouse Butte Loop / Bell Rock / Pathway — prefer the USFS Bell Rock Pathway No. 96 page, Courthouse Vista, and the Passes Program page. Not a trailhead-shuttle stop: the Sedona Shuttle how-to-ride FAQ lists Cathedral Rock, Little Horse, Soldier Pass, Dry Creek Vista, and Mescal — not Bell Rock Vista or Courthouse Vista. Route 15 serves Cathedral Rock / Little Horse from North SR-179 Park & Ride, and the Little Horse stop is a way onto the Pathway: the Forest Service Little Horse Trail No. 61 page (fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/little-horse-trail-no-61, read October 9, 2026 PT; page last updated July 30, 2025) says “Little Horse Trail begins as part of the Bell Rock Pathway.” Confirm on sedonashuttle.com/how-to-ride/ and Route 15. Traveller questions include Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte, parking before shuttle hours for sunrise at Bell Rock / Cathedral Rock, Cathedral rock or Bell rock, Bell rock / Cathedral / Devil’s stacking, husband afraid of heights, easy trail with beautiful red rocks for a first visit, picking one trail out of a few options, moderate hikes without rock scrambling, solo hike to the “top” of Bell Rock, climbed up Bell Rock today, hiking the four vortexes in one day, whether passes are needed for these trails, which hike offers the most breathtaking view, first-time visitor hike advice, and TripAdvisor Baldwin to Cathedral and Bell Rock questions. Some travellers ask about heights and scramble comfort. This index does not give medical advice. Stay on the Pathway; turn around if optional rock feels wrong; check the Forest Service Pathway page.

Bell Rock Pathway No. 96: what the Forest Service says

Prefer the Forest Service page for trail facts. From Bell Rock Pathway No. 96 (read October 5, 2026 PT): popular main trail paralleling SR 179 with access to other trails and red-rock views of Bell Rock, Baby Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and other landmarks; difficulty Easy family-friendly trail; trail character — most of the pathway has a wide, hard surface, some steep hills, and some places around Bell Rock are rocky and rough; multi-use — horses allowed (designated horse-trailer parking at the trailhead) and mountain bikers use the trail, so be on the lookout; restrooms available at the northern and southern trailhead parking lots; trailhead elevation 4,192 ft; elevation change 185 ft; length 3.5 miles one way; time about 2.5 hours roundtrip; Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful required to park at the trailheads. Directions (USFS): from the Sedona exit off I-17 (exit #298), take SR 179 west 8.3 miles through the Village of Oak Creek to the Southern Trailhead; continue north 1.1 miles to the Midway Trailhead (on your right after you pass Bell Rock); from Midway, the Northern Trailhead is another 1.6 miles north on SR 179 (on your right). Check the USFS page before you go.

Courthouse Vista trailhead

Courthouse Vista (read October 5, 2026 PT) is the named trailhead for Courthouse Butte Loop, Bell Rock, and Bell Rock Pathway, with access toward Llama, Templeton, HT, and Big Park trails nearby. USFS notes paved parking, accessible vault toilets, a pass vending machine, and a kiosk. Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful required. Confirm amounts on the Passes Program page — this page does not state day-use amounts from a forum thread. No potable water (USFS). Directions (USFS): from the 89A / 179 junction, 179 south 5.2 miles to the Courthouse Vista left turn (milepost 308.2). Re-check the morning of; have a backup lot or hike if parking is jammed.

Is Bell Rock on the Sedona Shuttle?

Not at the Bell Rock lots, but Route 15’s Little Horse stop puts riders on the Pathway. From the Sedona Shuttle how-to-ride FAQ (read October 5, 2026), fixed-route trailhead stops are Cathedral Rock, Little Horse, Soldier Pass, Dry Creek Vista (Devil’s Bridge access), and Mescal. Bell Rock Vista and Courthouse Vista are not on that list. Route 15 serves Cathedral Rock / Little Horse from North SR-179 Park & Ride, and the Little Horse stop is a way onto the Pathway. The Forest Service Little Horse Trail No. 61 page (fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/little-horse-trail-no-61, read October 9, 2026 PT; page last updated July 30, 2025) says “Little Horse Trail begins as part of the Bell Rock Pathway.” On sedonashuttle.com’s hiking ideas page (sedonashuttle.com/hiking-ideas-from-sedona-shuttle-stops/, read October 9, 2026 PT), under the Little Horse Trailhead stop: “Hike along the scenic Bell Rock Pathway for an easier, less rocky experience as long as you want before turning around and hiking back the way you came.” There is still no stop at the Bell Rock lots or Courthouse Vista. Travellers confuse Bell Rock sunrise parking with Cathedral’s shuttle-locked lot — if that is your plan, use Cathedral Rock Sedona and re-check Route 15 plus how-to-ride the morning of. Little Horse is not Cathedral overflow — the official FAQ says “Little Horse Trailhead Parking IS NOT to be used as an overflow parking lot for the Cathedral Rock trailhead.” Trail record: Little Horse Trail.

The Pathway walk or the climb

Travellers ask about this often. Bell Rock Pathway means the USFS Easy family-friendly corridor — wide hard surface and views without climbing the formation. Stay on Pathway No. 96; confirm on the USFS Pathway page. An optional climb or scramble up Bell Rock is a different intensity ask — “top” language in traveller threads is ambiguous. Turn around if rock feels wrong; no medical advice; no made-up grades beyond USFS “rocky and rough” near the rock. Traveller questions here include husband afraid of heights, moderate hikes without rock scrambling, picking one trail out of a few options, solo hike to the “top” of Bell Rock, climbed up Bell Rock today, and Cathedral rock or Bell rock. Decide Pathway-only vs climb-optional before you leave the lot. A similar scramble: Cathedral Rock Sedona. Family pacing: Sedona with kids.

Crowds, sunrise and sunset

Bell Rock Pathway is a year-round easy red-rock-views magnet. Confirm USFS trailhead pages the morning of. Backups: Yavapai Vista (USFS — RRP/ATB; short out-and-back with views), Chapel of the Holy Cross, Airport Mesa and Airport Loop Trail, and Cathedral Rock Sedona for a similar scramble with a shuttle. Season / holiday stack: best time to visit Sedona, Thanksgiving in Sedona, and Christmas in Sedona. Day pacing when stacking Bell / Cathedral / Devil’s: Plan a Sedona trip and When to hike Devil’s Bridge in Sedona.

Bell Rock Pathway, Courthouse Butte Loop or “Bell Rock Loop”?

Travellers use Bell Rock, Bell Rock Pathway, Courthouse Butte Loop, and Big Park Loop interchangeably. This page gives no loop mileages; for Pathway stats, see the Index trail record Bell Rock Pathway. Courthouse Butte Loop / Bell Rock Loop / Big Park branches to Courthouse Butte Loop Trail — this page does not state loop miles; check USFS or the Index trail record. Courthouse Vista is the shared trailhead for Pathway, Courthouse loop, and Bell Rock approaches. Related traveller questions include Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte and first-time visitor hike advice.

Which pass the Bell Rock lots take

These are separate payments, and travellers often mix them up. Red Rock Pass (USDA Forest Service / Coconino NF): required (or ATB) to park at Bell Rock Pathway / Vista and Courthouse Vista. America the Beautiful (interagency pass): can stand in for Red Rock Pass at many Coconino NF fee sites, including these corridor lots. Coconino Hospitality (concessionaire sites, e.g. Crescent Moon / Red Rock Crossing; Call of the Canyon / West Fork): not the Bell Rock Pathway parking — different fee system; better as a different day; check fees before you go; this page does not state amounts. From the Red Rock & Coconino Passes Program page (read October 5, 2026): Bell Rock Pathway/Vista, Courthouse Vista, and Yavapai Vista = RRP or ATB. Confirm amounts on the Passes Program page — not a forum thread. Purchase pointer: Recreation.gov Red Rock Pass. Traveller question: do I need to purchase passes for the following trails? — answer RRP/ATB inside this guide; the full pass guide is Red Rock Pass Sedona. Other Hospitality-fee sites: Crescent Moon / Red Rock Crossing as a view-of / creek day; West Fork for another Hospitality-fee day.

Yavapai Vista, a backup view

When Pathway lots are jammed or you want views of Bell Rock / Courthouse from across SR 179, Yavapai Vista is the backup. From USFS (read October 5, 2026): about 0.5 mile out-and-back on the page; all skill levels; dogs on leash; vault restrooms; no potable water; Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful required. Check before you go; this page does not state a Yavapai Vista trail record. Other options: Chapel of the Holy Cross, Airport Mesa, and Cathedral Rock Sedona.

Vortex, heat and shared use

Bell Rock is a classic named vortex site and often appears in “four vortexes in one day” beginner stacks. This page makes no spiritual claims. DIY vs guide is covered on Do you need a guide for Sedona vortex sites? The Pathway is an open SR-179 corridor — midday on a hot day is a poor default; see cool things to do on a hot day in Sedona. This page does not give medical or heat-illness advice. USFS notes horses and mountain bikes on the Pathway — be on the lookout. This page does not state dog policy — Sedona with dogs; family pacing and climb difficulty: Sedona with kids. After the hike: Sedona coffee shops.

If you want a different shape of day

No made-up restaurants, lodging, unofficial shuttle brands, Uber guarantees, or shoulder-parking advice. A similar scramble, with a shuttle: Cathedral Rock Sedona and Cathedral Rock Trail. Drive-up contrast: Airport Mesa and Airport Loop Trail. Landmark without scramble: Chapel of the Holy Cross. Stack pacing: When to hike Devil’s Bridge in Sedona and Devil’s Bridge Trail. Same name, nearby trail: Courthouse Butte Loop Trail. The Pathway by shuttle (Route 15’s Little Horse stop; Little Horse Trail begins as part of the Bell Rock Pathway): Little Horse Trail. Creek / canyon: Slide Rock and West Fork. Season / pacing: best time to visit Sedona and Plan a Sedona trip. Hot midday: cool things to do on a hot day in Sedona. Kids / dogs: Sedona with kids and Sedona with dogs. Alternate shuttle-day hike: Soldier Pass Trail. Vortex questions: Do you need a guide for Sedona vortex sites? Jeep tour or on your own: How bumpy are Sedona jeep tours? Holiday peak: Thanksgiving in Sedona and Christmas in Sedona. Soldier Pass / Subway has a different shuttle and gate setup — see Soldier Pass Trail. Crescent Moon / Red Rock Crossing is Coconino Hospitality (not RRP/ATB) — a different day; check fees before you go; this page does not state amounts. This page does not deep-link a car-free guide and does not link a shuttle guide that is not live.

Next steps

Decide Pathway-only vs optional climb — different products; turn around if rock feels wrong. Check the Forest Service Bell Rock Pathway No. 96 page before you drive — Easy family-friendly; 3.5 miles one way; 185 ft elevation change; about 2.5 hours roundtrip; rocky and rough near Bell Rock. Pick Southern, Midway, Northern, or Courthouse Vista — Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful; re-check Courthouse Vista and the Passes Program page; Recreation.gov Red Rock Pass for online purchase. This page does not state fill clocks or shoulder-parking advice. The Bell Rock lots are not shuttle stops (the trailhead stops are Cathedral / Little Horse / Soldier Pass / Dry Creek Vista / Mescal), but Little Horse Trail begins as part of the Bell Rock Pathway, so Route 15 to Little Horse puts you on it. Meant Cathedral? Use Cathedral Rock Sedona plus Route 15 and how to ride. Courthouse / Bell Rock Loop naming → Courthouse Butte Loop Trail without giving loop miles. Hot midday → cool things to do on a hot day in Sedona. No medical advice. Vortex questions: Do you need a guide for Sedona vortex sites? No spiritual claims. Other options: Cathedral, Airport Mesa, Chapel, Devil’s Bridge timing, West Fork, Slide Rock, trip-shape, and best time. Have a backup if lots are full or the climb is packed. This page does not deep-link a car-free guide. Corrections are free and need no account.

What this page will not say

It does not state lot-fill clocks, wait minutes, space counts, shoulder-parking advice, or tow / citation rules. It does not state scramble grades beyond USFS “rocky and rough,” Courthouse loop miles, or a shuttle guide that is not live. It will not mix Red Rock Pass, America the Beautiful, and Coconino Hospitality as if interchangeable, and it does not state Crescent Moon / Hospitality amounts. It will not name lodging, restaurants, unofficial shuttle brands, or Uber guarantees. It will not give medical, heat-illness, or fitness advice, deep-link a car-free guide, or make up Yavapai Vista or Bell Rock Loop trail records. Fee and trail figures are dated reads from the official pages; if those pages change, trust those pages.

About this page

This page covers visit logistics from the Forest Service Bell Rock Pathway No. 96 page, Courthouse Vista, Yavapai Vista, the Red Rock & Coconino Passes Program page, and the Sedona Shuttle how-to-ride FAQ (to confirm which trailheads are shuttle-served), not lodging or restaurants. Every dated trail figure below was read from those pages on October 5, 2026. Confirm them on those pages the morning you go. It does not state lot-fill clocks, scramble grades beyond USFS language, medical advice, or unofficial shuttle brands. Bell Rock Pathway (Trail No. 96) is the Forest Service’s Easy family-friendly corridor trail along SR 179 — a wide, hard-surface pathway with some steep hills, built for views of Bell Rock, Baby Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and neighboring red-rock landmarks. Confirm difficulty and current notes on the Forest Service Bell Rock Pathway No. 96 page before you commit. Stay on the Pathway if you want those views without climbing the formation. USFS also flags that some places around Bell Rock are rocky and rough — treat an optional scramble up the rock as a different product from the Pathway stroll. This page is not a fitness or medical receipt. Access is private multi-lot parking on the SR 179 Bell Rock corridor — Southern, Midway, and Northern trailheads, plus Courthouse Vista as a nearby named trailhead for Courthouse Butte Loop / Bell Rock / Pathway access. A Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful is required to park. Open the Passes Program page and the USFS trailhead pages the morning you go. Check the official pages before you go; this page does not state which lot fills at what clock time. Unlike Cathedral Rock, the Bell Rock lots are not shuttle stops. The Sedona Shuttle how-to-ride FAQ lists Cathedral Rock, Little Horse, Soldier Pass, Dry Creek Vista, and Mescal — not Bell Rock Vista or Courthouse Vista — but the Little Horse stop puts riders on the Pathway: the Forest Service says “Little Horse Trail begins as part of the Bell Rock Pathway” (read October 9, 2026). If you meant the scramble that locks to Route 15, see the Cathedral Rock Sedona guide. Arrive with a plan and a backup hike if the lots are full or the optional climb feels wrong. The dated counts this page can honestly print are jeep, trolley and trail records this index already holds for a Sedona day — they are not Red Rock Pass amounts or lot-fill clocks: As of October 9, 2026 that is 24 trail records, 6 jeep tour records and 2 trolley tour records. The comparison pages below are the lists.

What this index currently holds

Trails
24 trail recordsChecked via: Count of compiled, non-sample records in this index
as of October 9, 2026
Jeep tour
6 jeep tour recordsChecked via: Count of compiled, non-sample records in this index
as of October 9, 2026
Trolley tour
2 trolley tour recordsChecked via: Count of compiled, non-sample records in this index
as of October 9, 2026
Last reviewed
October 9, 2026
as of October 9, 2026

More long-form answers and the comparison pages this page points at. Figures on those pages come from the records, not from this map. The full shelf is on guides; the compact list is on traveller questions.

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