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Okay so here’s the thing about Fay Canyon Arch Hike — most people hike the whole trail and completely miss the arch. The actual arch.
The whole reason you came. It’s not because they’re oblivious, it’s because the turnoff has zero signage and nobody warns you to look for it. That’s basically why I’m writing this.
I walked right past the turnoff the first time I attempted the Fay Canyon Arch Hike and didn’t even realize it. It was weirdly windy that morning and I was more focused on not getting dust in my eyes. Ended up eating a crushed granola bar and staring at my map like… yeah, I messed up.
The Numbers (So You Can Stop Googling)
- Distance: 2.2 to 2.6 miles round trip — depends on how adventurous you’re feeling
- Elevation Gain: Chill ~150 ft if you stay on the canyon floor; a more honest 400–600 ft if you go for the arch and the views above
- Difficulty: Easy on the main trail, Moderate when you’re scrambling up to the arch
- Pass Required: Pass Required: Red Rock Pass ($5/day) or America the Beautiful Pass. Yes, it costs money. Some blogs say it’s free — those blogs are wrong, and the rangers will absolutely remind you of that in person.
You can check the current rates and official fee-free days on the Coconino National Forest official site.
I remember checking the Fay Canyon Arch Hike distance like three times before starting because my legs were already kind of sore from the day before. It felt warmer than the forecast said, and I was rationing my last half bottle of water way too early. I was definitely overthinking the whole thing at that point.
Coordinates for your Fay Canyon Arch Hike:
- Parking Lot: 34.901928, -111.857348
- Trailhead: 34.901731, -111.857824
- Hidden Arch Turnoff: 34.908473, -111.862826 ← save this one
Getting There (And the Parking Situation)
The Fay Canyon Arch Hike is off Boynton Pass Road, about 12–15 minutes west of downtown Sedona. Easy drive, nice scenery, no complaints there.
Parking, though. The trailhead is across the street from the parking lot, which somehow confuses people every single day. The lot fills up fast on weekends and pretty much any day in spring or fall, so if you show up at 10 AM expecting a spot, good luck with that.
Your backup plan is to park at Boynton Canyon or Doe Mountain and walk in via the Aerie Trail. There are also vault toilets in the lot, which, honestly, in the middle of the Sedona desert — appreciated.
We got there around 9:45 AM thinking we were early… nope. Ended up circling twice while sipping lukewarm iced coffee from a gas station cup. Finally grabbed a spot when someone left, but yeah, not as chill as we expected.
Pick Your Adventure (There Are Three)
Option A — The Chill Walk (2.0 miles) Just the canyon floor, cottonwoods, junipers, red rock walls. Perfect if you’ve got kids or don’t love scrambling, or just want a nice morning outside without anyone making you climb anything. Still genuinely beautiful. No shame in this one.
If you love this vibe, check out my full guide on the [Best Easy Hikes in Sedona: 6 Trails Anyone Can Do] for more low-stress options.
Option B — The Arch (2.2 miles) This is the one. Main trail plus the 0.2-mile spur up to the natural bridge. The spur is steep and loose, but the arch is about 90 feet wide and it’s absolutely worth the effort.
That short climb to the arch? Way steeper than it looks. I slipped once on the dusty rock because I wore the wrong shoes, and my hands were full of trail mix instead of balance. Not my smartest moment.
Option C — The Overachiever Route (2.4 miles) Arch plus continuing past the “End of Trail” sign that’s technically lying to you. More on that in a second.
How to Actually Find the Arch on the Fay Canyon Arch Hike
Finding the arch on the Fay Canyon Arch Hike isn’t obvious. No signs. No arrows. Nothing. We definitely missed the turn at first time.
I even saw the little wash and thought “that looks sketchy” and kept walking. Had to backtrack after checking offline maps while standing in the sun eating gummy bears.
At around 0.5 to 0.6 miles in, there’s a narrow wash breaking off to the right that’s your turn. Sometimes there’s a rock cairn marking it, sometimes someone’s knocked it over.
Pro Tip: From the main trail, you can actually spot the arch’s depression up in the cliffside if you look up and to the left at the red rock walls. Once you know what you’re looking for on the Fay Canyon Arch Hike, it’s obvious.
The last 0.15 miles gains 200+ feet and the surface is a combo of loose rock and slickrock. Wear something with actual grip. The rock is often covered in a fine layer of red dust that acts like ball bearings on the slickrock.
The ground felt like it was moving under my feet because of all that fine dust. I remember wishing I hadn’t worn my smooth sneakers as I slid a bit trying to climb up. Took a break halfway just to catch my breath and drink water.
This is why footwear choice matters—smooth-soled sneakers will have you slipping around in a way that’s embarrassing at best and painful at worst.
That “End of Trail” Sign Is Absolutely Lying
I almost turned around at that sign because, well, it literally says end. But we kept going anyway, mostly because we still had snacks left and didn’t feel done yet. Turned out to be the best decision of the hike.
Most guides wrap up at the arch. But the coolest part of this whole hike is past the “End of Trail” marker at the back of the canyon. If you keep going:
West Ascent — A narrow slickrock ledge takes you up to this anvil-shaped rock formation with 180-degree canyon views. It’s a bit exposed so watch your footing, but the view is one of the best on the whole trail.
Hidden Box Canyon — Just past the “dead end” is a natural rock amphitheater with sandstone walls on three sides.
We sat there for a bit doing absolutely nothing. It was quiet except for some random wind gusts, and I was just eating the last of my chips. Kinda didn’t want to leave, honestly.
Sitting in the Hidden Box Canyon is the most ‘Zen’ moment of the trip. Because the sign scares off 90% of the tourists, you’ll actually hear the silence of the desert.
Ancient Ruins (For the Truly Curious)
The Fay Canyon Arch Hike has two ruin sites (Fay Canyon Kiva and Lookout Ruins), but fair warning — neither is a casual side trip.
Fay Canyon Kiva (34.916467, -111.868352): Moderate difficulty, involves following a wash and actually reading the terrain. Ancient ruins in a canyon. Worth it if you’re comfortable going off-trail.
Lookout Ruins (34.913259, -111.868601): Legitimately difficult. There’s rock climbing and a makeshift ladder involved. Not a first-visit kind of thing.
Ground rules: Look but don’t touch. No picking up artifacts or climbing on walls. It’s federal land and actually the law.
We thought about checking out the ruins but gave up pretty fast. It was getting hotter, and we were already low on water. Also, I realized I had no clue how to properly follow a wash without getting lost.
Photo Tips (Because You’re Going to Want Them)
The arch spans about 90 feet, and from the ledge below, you need a wide angle. Switch your phone to the 0.5x ultra-wide lens.
If you use the standard zoom, the arch is so massive (90 feet!) that you’ll only capture a dark blob of rock instead of the full span.
Early afternoon light gets inside the arch nicely.
Also: the view from behind the arch, looking back out toward the canyon, is genuinely more interesting than shooting straight at the arch face. That’s the keeper shot.
I took a bunch of photos before switching to ultra-wide and they all looked terrible. Just dark rock blobs. Also had to wipe dust off my lens because it got everywhere from the wind.
Dogs, Water, and Don’t Skip This Part
Dogs: Welcome on leash. Check the sand temperature with your palm before letting your dog walk.
If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws. Sand heats up much faster than the air temperature implies.
Water: Bring more than you think you need. The canyon is dry, and a hydration pack is more practical than a bottle when your hands are busy on loose rock.
Your Phone Won’t Save You: Signal is basically gone out here. Download your offline maps while you’re still at your hotel eating your breakfast.
Do not wait until you get to the trailhead; the second you turn onto Boynton Pass Road, your bars will drop to zero.
I saw someone checking the sand with their hand and copied them immediately. It was hotter than I expected, even late morning. Made me glad I packed extra water, even though my bag felt way heavier.
Quick Q&A
Is it better than Devil’s Bridge?
Depends what you want. Devil’s Bridge has the more dramatic single shot — that span really is something. But Fay Canyon is way quieter, no permit lottery, and there’s more to explore once you’re there.
If you’ve already done Devil’s Bridge and want something with fewer strangers in your photos, come here.
Can you walk on top of the arch?
Yep — social trail on the right side leads up there. There’s a real drop on the far side, so maybe don’t run at it.
Cell service?
Lol, no. Download the maps.
Look, the Fay Canyon Arch Hike rewards the people who actually pay attention. Grab the pass, get the offline maps, and ignore the sign.
