Looking for an easy hike around 2 of Sedona’s most iconic red rock features with an optional climb for panoramic views over the area? Look no further than the Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop Trail!
I love this hike because it has something for everyone: an easy stroll with gorgeous scenery and the option to climb Bell Rock for an adventurous experience that rewards you with amazing views. This is an extremely popular trail in Sedona so navigating it well can be a challenge.
This post is the ultimate guide to hiking in the Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte area of Sedona, including parking information, the best routes to take, hiking tips, and more!
And if you’re looking for more Sedona hikes, check out my list of top 10 hikes in Sedona!
The Best Time to Hike the Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte Loop
The best time to go hiking in Sedona is in the spring and fall, when temperatures aren’t too hot and the weather is nice. Unfortunately, this is also the busiest time to visit.
I suggest planning to hike this trail early in the morning or after 4 pm on a weekday if possible, especially if you’re visiting in the spring or fall. You’ll have an easier time finding parking and see a lot less people on the trail.
Related: How to Hike to Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, Arizona
Do You Need a Red Rock Pass to Hike the Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte Loop?
Yes, you will need a Red Rock pass or an America the Beautiful National Park Pass to hike the Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte Loop.
There are daily, weekly, and annual Red Rock Pass options for $5, $15, and $20, respectively. There are kiosks to purchase your Red Rock pass at both the Bell Rock North and South parkings lots or you can purchase one online here.
If you plan to visit more than 3 National Parks or Monuments on your trip to Arizona (or within one year), getting the America the Beautiful National Park Pass will save you money vs. paying the separate fees at each park. It costs $80 and you must order ahead of time as they will ship you a physical pass.
Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte Overview
Bell Rock is a large butte located just south of Sedona in the Village of Oak Creek. Its tallest point reaches just shy of 5000 feet of elevation. Climbing Bell Rock is a very popular thing to do in Sedona.
Courthouse Butte is the larger butte located just east of Bell Rock. It stands a bit taller than Bell Rock, but you cannot hike to the top of it. There are lots of hiking and biking trails that surround it however.
Many people choose to hike the Courthouse Butte Loop in combination with the Bell Rock climb because the trail systems connect and are close together.
Parking Information
Parking for this hike gets a little tricky because there isn’t a good Sedona Shuttle stop that takes you to any of the Bell Rock parking lots. The closest you can get is the Little Horse Trailhead which connects to the Bell Rock Pathway trail, but it’s a 2-mile walk to Bell Rock one-way. Add on the Courthouse Butte Loop plus the Bell Rock climb and you have an 8+ mile hike doing it this way.
You’re better off getting an early start and parking at one of the 3 lots listed below.
Note: Google Maps has the Bell Rock North Trailhead marked as “Bell Rock Trailhead” and the Bell Rock South Trailhead as “Bell Rock Pathway Trailhead” so keep that in mind when mapping out your route.
Bell Rock South Lot
Parking at the Bell Rock South Lot will put you 1.2 miles from the Bell Rock climb.
If you want to climb Bell Rock near the beginning of your hike, you’ll want to hike the loop trail clockwise. If you want to save the climb for the end of your hike, do the loop counterclockwise.
If you need to purchase Red Rock Pass, there is a kiosk here to do so.
Bell Rock North Lot
The Bell Rock North Lot puts you half a mile from the Bell Rock climb. Hike the loop trail counterclockwise if you want to climb Bell Rock first, or head clockwise if you want to save it for the end.
There is also a spot to purchase a Red Rock Pass in this lot.
Yavapai Vista Lot
The Yavapai Lot is located across the street from the Bell Rock North Lot. It is a much larger parking lot, but it will fill up because this is also a backup lot for the popular Cathedral Rock Trail as well.
Parking here will put you 1.6 miles from the Bell Rock Climb. There is a spot on the trail that goes under the road, so you won’t have to worry about crossing the busy highway. It is a bit further from the Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte trails though.
I would try to park at Bell Rock North or South first, but this is a good backup option if you can’t find a spot at either lot.
How to Hike the Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop
This trail is a little confusing to follow, as there is the “Courthouse Butte” inner loop and the “Big Park” outer loop on the south end of the trail. There are tons of signs and maps, so I recommend taking a photo of the map to keep track of where you’re at.
The map below should help as well:
The orange line shows you how to get to the Bell Rock climb from both parking lots and the dark green line is the Courthouse Butte Loop. The black line is the Big Park Loop. Follow the signs for Courthouse Butte Loop and/or Bell Rock and you should be all set.
You can hike this trail clockwise or counterclockwise. Where you park and if you plan to hike up Bell Rock may influence your decision (do you want to climb Bell Rock near the beginning or end of your hike?).
OUR EXPERIENCE: We did this hike in late March on a late afternoon on Sunday. It had rained earlier that day and we got caught in a bit of rain during our hike as well (you can definitely tell from the photos in this post!). I was worried about finding parking, but we were finally able to find a spot at the Bell Rock South lot. We hiked counterclockwise and saved the Bell Rock climb for the end. I absolutely loved this hike and it was fun seeing the rock formations get larger as you hiked closer to them!
Bell Rock Climb Only
Length: 0.8 miles
Elevation gain: 609 feet (AllTrails has the elevation gain wrong)
Type: out-and-back
Difficulty: moderate to strenuous
Time: 1-1.5 hours
If you want to climb Bell Rock only, try to find parking at the Bell Rock North lot since it’s closest to the trail.
Once you reach the Bell Rock summit, you’ll notice different layers of rock that people are zig zagging up. There are wire rock cairn baskets to help keep you on the trail, but you can climb up any way you want. There are multiple routes up the rock, and it was fun strategizing which way was best. You’ll see people climbing up all different ways over the rock.
The nice thing about this trail is that you don’t have to go all the way to the top if you don’t feel comfortable. You can still get some fantastic views part of the way up. The scramble does get more strenuous and steep the further you go.
I underestimated this hike a bit. I’m not sure if the rain made the trail more slippery or not, but there were quite a few places where I struggled to get traction, even in my hiking shoes.
The views from the top were phenomenal. It was cool seeing the rain come in from the top of the rock!
Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte Loop Only
Length: 3.6 miles
Elevation gain: 341 feet
Type: loop
Difficulty: easy
Time: 1.5-2 hours
The Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop is an easy stroll around both rock formations. You’ll get up-close 360 degree views around both rocks that are truly spectacular.
If you’re not up for the Bell Rock climb, this hike is a great alternative to still enjoy the scenery without the climb. It’s equidistant from both Bell Rock North and South lots.
Bell Rock Climb + Courthouse Butte Loop
Length: 4.2 miles
Elevation gain: 800 feet
Type: loop
Difficulty: moderate to strenuous
Time: 3-4 hours
If you’re up for the Bell Rock Climb, I highly recommend adding the Courthouse Butte Loop as well. Your hike this way will be around 4.2 miles, depending on where you park.
Get the best of both worlds by enjoying the close-up views of both rocks combined with the panoramic views from the top of Bell Rock. We saved the Bell Rock climb for the end of our hike, but you could also hike in the opposite direction and do it first.
Tips for Hiking the Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte Loop
Wear hiking shoes with good traction if you want to climb Bell Rock. This trail gets steep and slippery in places so it’s important to have good traction.
Start early or go late. Because of the popularity and not having a good Sedona Shuttle stop for this trail, the parking lots fill up quickly. Try to get to the trailhead by 8 am or after 4 pm on a weekday if you can.
Wear sun protection. With very few exceptions, hiking in Arizona is out in full sun and the Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop is no exception. Bring sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and plenty of water on your hikes.
Related: 10 Amazing Hikes in Sedona, Arizona
More Things to Do in Sedona
There is no shortage of amazing hikes to do in Sedona! Check out this list of the best hikes in Sedona for more details and add one or more of these trails to your itinerary:
- Devil’s Bridge
- Birthing Cave
- Cathedral Rock Climb
- Airport Loop
- Soldier Pass
I hope this post helped you plan your Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte hike! Do you plan to do both of these trails or just one? Let me know in the comments below!
-Megan
More Information on Arizona
ARIZONA ROAD TRIP: This 9-day northern Arizona road trip that starts and ends in Phoenix takes you to Sedona, The Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest National Park, Flagstaff, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and more!
THE GRAND CANYON: One of the 7 wonders of the world, a trip to the Grand Canyon is a must. Check out my ultimate guide to visiting the Grand Canyon South Rim or learn how to visit the Grand Canyon in the winter.
FLAGSTAFF, AZ: Located in the heart of northern Arizona, Flagstaff is a neat little town that makes a great home base for exploring the nearby attractions. There are 3 incredible National Monuments within an hour drive, Lowell Observatory, and plenty of other things to do. Make sure to check out the brewery trail while you’re in town!
PAGE, AZ: Page makes a perfect long weekend destination and is packed with famous attractions like Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and more. Check out the top 12 things to do in Page to help you plan your visit!
PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK: Petrified Forest is a highly underrated National Park that you can visit in one day with fascinating geology and unreal scenery. It’s a 2.5-hour drive from Sedona and makes a great road trip stop. Check out my guide to Petrified Forest here.
SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK: Located in Tucson, walk among the nation’s largest cacti. It is a 5 hour drive south from Petrified Forest.
MONUMENT VALLEY: Incredible scenic drive full of sandstone buttes where many famous movies were filmed. It’s located 3 hours northeast of Sedona and will be on your way to Moab, Utah. Check out my guide to Monument Valley for more details on how to visit!
