The day would start out overcast but as morning turned into afternoon the temperature warmed the sky cleared of clouds. By the time we finished our hike, about 3 hours and 45 minutes after starting, the temperature had risen from the mid-50s to a bit over 60°F. We hiked 4.2 miles climbing and descending 270 feet (540 feet total). We spent about 50 minutes just taking in the views and relaxing. Overall the trail follows a hard dirt and sand pathway and footing is generally pretty good.
About a half-hour into our first hike in Sedona. Cathedral Rock stands tall behind Judy and Ken. Photo by Jonathan.
--October 30, 2022 at 9:42 AM.
The Bell Rock Pathway can be accessed from more than one point. We started our walk from the Little Horse Trailhead (parking lot) which is a different location than what you will likely take if you enter “Bell Rock Pathway” into your GPS. We were going to hike along Bell Rock Pathway and then the Templeton Loop which incorporates the HT Trail as well. Prominent views include Courhouse Butte which you can see here. Sadly, I seem to have failed to take a photo of the trail’s namesake feature: Bell ROck which is a shame. I suspect a day that starts out as overcast as this one is the exception to the general rule of Sedona weather.
—October 30, 2022 at 10:19 AM. .
THe red(ish) rocks with lighter horizontal striations are a visual treat that isn’t often out of view in one form or another as Mom, Dad, and I walk along the Bell Rock Pathway.
—October 30, 2022 at 10:26 AM. .
Cathedral Rock stands tall behind Mom. You can, if you follow the right trail, get right up to this formation but expect those trails to be considerably busier than the trails we are strolling along here. We saw several other day hikers and a somewhat greater number of trail bikers.
—October 30, 2022 at 10:53 AM. .
The southwestern desert sun eventually banished the overcast of earlier in the day. By the time we would finish our hike the sky was dotted with just the occassonal cumulus cloud.
—October 30, 2022 at 11:41 AM. .
It is time for lunch just before we reached the Templeton-HT Trail junction. The day has warmed up and the sun has broken through. The only thing that really detracts from the hike is the constant noise of trail coming from State Route 179 which is never that far away.
—October 30, 2022 at 11:41 AM. .
We crossed over a couple of dry washes as we hiked the 4-miles long route. This puddle was the only visible water we saw.
—October 30, 2022 at 12:11 PM. .
You can view an animated map with you pictures, not all of them, showing our hike here.
