Cathedral Rock Loop
The Cathedral Rock Loop is a nice alternative to the traditional Cathedral Rock Trail, which can be impossible to get a parking spot for and only gives you one view of Cathedral Rock. If you’re willing to travel a little bit further, this loop gives you more views and some stretches of quieter trail if you’re lucky.
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Route Description for Cathedral Rock Loop
Cathedral Rock is one of Sedona’s most-visited (and busiest) rock formations. If you want to hike out to see it but can’t get a spot at the tiny parking lots that service it, we recommend trying out this loop. This route is longer and requires a bit more elevation gain, but you’ll see the rock from all angles.
We still recommend trying to arrive early for this hike or trying it closer to sunset. The trails around Cathedral Rock tend to be at their busiest in the late morning.
From the trailhead, take Kaibab Trail a few steps to the 4-way junction. Stay right onto Slim Shady Trail. Continue on this route to the junction with Templeton Trail and take a left. Follow this route as it leads you to Cathedral Rock. Our route loops around the rock without ascending it, but you can climb up if you’d like. Continue looping around the base of Cathedral Rock. Staying next to the rock gets you onto Hiline Trail, which will take you across the ridge of rocks to the southeast of Cathedral Rock and back to the trailhead.
Getting to the Cathedral Rock Loop Trailhead
The trailhead for Cathedral Rock Loop is off the Red Rock Scenic Byway.
Route Information
Cathedral Rock Loop Elevation Graph
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