Top 5 Instagrammable Places in Sedona; How to Get There and When to Go

Are you a travel enthusiast seeking breathtaking natural beauty? Look no further than Sedona, Arizona; a stunning desert town that boasts awe-inspiring red rock formations, and picturesque vistas.

Whether you’re an avid photographer or simply love capturing stunning moments for your Instagram feed, Sedona offers an abundance of photo opportunities that will captivate your followers.

Let’s dive into why Sedona should be near the top of your list for Instagram-worthy travel destinations and the best places to capture those pictures.

Also! Make sure to checkout my 3 days in Sedona itinerary. Full of hikes, tips, and the best places to eat.

Check out these top-rated Sedona adventures while you’re getting some gorgeous pictures. If you book an excursion through these links, I get a commission. So thank you!

Red Rock Wonders

One of the most iconic features of Sedona is its vibrant red rock formations that dominate the landscape.

The striking red rocks create a stunning contrast against the clear blue skies, making for a jaw-dropping backdrop for your Instagram photos.

Some of the must-visit red rock formations include Cathedral Rock (covered below), Bell Rock, and Courthouse Butte. These towering sandstone formations offer countless angles and perspectives for your photography, from capturing the first rays of the sunrise to the warm glow of the sunset.

Gorgeous Hiking Trails

Sedona is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, with a vast network of hiking trails that wind through the red rock formations, and meandering creeks.

These trails offer an opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty of Sedona and capture some incredible shots for your Instagram.

Popular trails like Devil’s Bridge, Cathedral Rock, and West Fork Trail offer backdrops that are perfect for capturing that Instagram-worthy moment.

Top 5 instagrammable places in Sedona, Arizona.

1. Doe Mountain

How to Get Here

Doe Mountain is located just off Boynton Pass Road and is not one of the hikes that requires taking a shuttle. The parking lot is a decent size and we found this entire area pretty empty of cars and hikers.

Trailhead Coordinates

34.893240, -111.864932

Hiking Doe Mountain

To get here you will need to hike up the side of the mountain with a 500+ foot elevation gain. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow with minimal obstructions. It is 1.5 miles to the top of the mountain and back to the parking lot making it an easy trek.

When to go

We got lucky and made it here on a cloudy day so it didn’t matter. However, if the sun is shining, we recommend coming at sunrise.

2. Devil’s Bridge

Probably the most well-known hike, and arguably the most Instagrammable place in Sedona, is Devil’s Bridge. Because of its popularity, you will most likely end up in a line of others waiting to take their photos on the bridge.

Be prepared to WAIT and don’t be one of those people in line complaining the whole time – we all know the type. Don’t rush the people taking pictures and don’t be the person out there who doesn’t know what pose to hit. When it’s your turn be prepared and get it over with.

We started this hike around noon and waited between 30-45 minutes once we made it to the bridge. We offered to take pictures for others and honestly had a great time talking with everyone else in line.

How to Get Here

There are very limited spaces at Dry Creek Trailhead lot (the closest parking lot to Devil’s Bridge Trailhead) so unless you are going very early or late, it’s not worth it to try to park there. Here is what we recommend instead:

1. Park at the Shuttle Lot

Find the shuttle parking lot where the shuttle will come about every 30 minutes and take you to the trailhead.

2. Park at Mescal Trailhead

Coordinates: 34.901785, -111.826748

Another option is the park at the Mescal Trailhead and follow the Devil’s Bridge signs. This is what we did and we liked it more. This makes the hike 2.5 miles out and back but we preferred the extra walking time rather than waiting for a shuttle.

Trailhead Coordinates

34.903036, -111.814095

Hiking Devil’s Bridge

This is a moderately easy hike and can be very short if you’re able to park at the trailhead. However, unless you get here around 5:00am, you probably won’t get a spot. This means your hike will most likely turn into a 2+ mile hike roundtrip.

When to go

Before sunrise. You wan to be here early so you don’t have to wait for prime lighting.

3. Cathedral Rock

Cathedral Rock and Devil’s Bridge are the most famous Sedona hikes. This means there will be people competing for space (both parking and on top of the rock) with you and competing

Don’t wait until right before you want to shoot to get here. Chances are, you’ll need to take breaks while climbing up (let’s face it. No one wants to take their photos with a super red and sweaty face.) Come early and take your time climbing up.

How to Get Here

This hike requires taking the shuttle Thursday – Sunday between 7:00am – 5:00pm.

If you want to come during the shuttle hours, you’ll want to park here. Don’t try to park in a parking lot closer. This is a highly trafficked hike and they will tow your car.

Now if you want to get to Cathedral Rock for sunrise or sunset, you most likely won’t want to wait for the shuttle. In that case, you can park at the trailhead as long as there is space. We waited in a parking lot about 3 minutes from the trailhead until they opened up the street at 5:00pm and had no trouble getting a space.

Trailhead Coordinates

34.825131, -111.788530

Hiking Cathedral Rock

As people who like to hike and are pretty active, let me tell you that this hike was CHALLENGING. Not only does it include a 741 foot elevation gain, it also includes rock scrambling. Luckily, it is pretty short – only 1.2 miles out and back.

When to go

Make sure you are here to get your photos at sunrise. As you can see in our pictures, the background is too backlit if you come at sunset. You can park at the trailhead if you get here before 7:00am!

4. Seven Sacred Pools

This hike was super easy (which we LOVE!) and the pools are gorgeous to shoot at. Honestly, we found this spot to be a little underwhelming in person. However, it is one of the most gorgeously instagrammable places here in Sedona.

How to Get Here

This hike requires taking the shuttle Thursday – Sunday between 7:00am – 5:00pm.

If you are coming during shuttle hours, you will want to park here. The entire drive up to the trailhead will be in a neighborhood and they will tow your car if they do not recognize it. We recommend not taking the risk and just using the shuttle.

However, if you want to park in the shuttle lot and walk to the trailhead rather than wait for the shuttle, it is only a 25 minute walk!

Trailhead Coordinates

34.884297, -111.783864

Hiking Seven Sacred Pools

It was about a 15-20 minute easy hike to the pools from the Soldier’s Pass trailhead (yes, this is the correct one to get to Seven Sacred pools) and you can see the trail and how we got there in our video below!

When to go

We got lucky and made it here on a cloudy day so it didn’t matter. However, if the sun is shining, we recommend coming at sunrise.

5. Boynton Pass Road

Boynton Pass has many locations that are beautiful for Instagram photos. All it takes is finding the spot you want to shoot, a place to park (you can’t park just anywhere in Sedona) and some patience.

Because this is a pretty popular road, there will be a lot of running in and out of the street to get the perfect shot.