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, 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.

Here are our favorite instagrammable locations in Sedona, Arizona.

1. Doe Mountain

The photos below are from the top of 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 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.

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.

There are very limited spaces at the 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. Find the shuttle parking lot where the shuttle will come about every 30 minutes and take you to the trailhead.
2. 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.

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

3. 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.

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.

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

When to go: 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.

It was about a 15-20 minute hike to the pools from the trailhead and you can see the trail and how we got there in our video below!

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

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.

When to go: Because this road twists and turns, you can come at either sunrise or sunset!