Best Hiking Shoes For Sedona + What Else To Pack
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We spent a month in Sedona and time and time again were so thankful we had the best hiking shoes for Sedona. I’m telling you, half the trails we hiked would not be possible without our super grippy trail shoes. And a major plus that they’re waterproof and cute too!
We were in Sedona in December and January, and got caught in rain, snow, and flooded trails. The waterproof hiking shoes were a must. And the grippy bottoms, shoot, they allowed us to climb into some of the craziest caves and cliff dwellings Sedona has to offer.
So what are the best hiking shoes for Sedona, and what are the other must-pack items? Continue reading to find out!
Best Hiking Shoes For Sedona
Nike Gortex Trail Runners | grab yours here
Gone are the days of needing big, bulky boots, and in are the trail shoes! We’ve honestly never really been fans of hiking boots because they make me hot and claustrophobic. Not to mention they take up loads of space.
Instead, we wear trail shoes. They’re often more grippy than hiking boots. They are waaaayy more comfortable and flexible. And these ones offer protection from dirt and rocks getting inside.
Trust us when we say these Nike Gortex Trail Shoes are the best hiking shoes for Sedona. We could basically walk straight up the slick rock into caves and cliff dwellings. And, we even had people stop us to ask about our shoes because we, “made walking on the slick edge easy”.
Grab the best hiking shoes for Sedona here. Note, we strongly suggest also packing a bag to put your dirty trail shoes in after a hike.
What to Wear Hiking in Sedona in Winter
Hiking in Sedona in the winter can mean hiking in down jackets and pants, or tank tops and shorts. The weather in Sedona is constantly changing, so our top recommendation for what to wear hiking in Sedona is layers.
You’ll also quickly learn that when the sun is out, it’s hot — like super hot. But when you go into shade it’s cold.. as in freezing cold. So layers are a must!
Hiking Pants For Sedona
Some of our favorite hiking pants are our Kuhl pants. They dry quickly when wet, and are breathable and stretchy!
Heather’s pants (found here) are water-resistant and roll up into different lengths for when you get warm. They are super flexible with four-way stretch and can synch in around the waist for a tight fit without a belt.
Jay’s Kuhl pants (found here), are water resistant, have four-way stretch, and are super breathable. And honestly, they look good. Jay’s pants are super styling!
We saw a lot of people in leggings or tight yoga pants while we were on the trails as well. And shoot, if that’s what you’re comfortable in, then wear those! Just make sure to pack a dark color, because the red rock will definitely be getting on your clothes!
I will say because the weather changes so quickly, I always carry a pair of shorts in my backpack (recommended below). And oftentimes, I would change out of my pants and put them on when we started hiking uphill, then back into my pants for downhill and after sunset hiking.
Layers For The Top
Sedona in the winter means the potential of snow and rain. It also means that when you’re up for sunrise hikes or out late for sunset hikes, the temperatures get to near freezing, and you’ll want layers to keep you warm.
We suggest packing a down jacket, this one packs down great, and a rain jacket. The rain jacket offers protection not just from rain, but also from the wind chill! Our rain jackets were lifesavers when hiking after the sun went down from these epic Sedona sunset hikes.
What to Wear Hiking in Sedona in Summer
Protecting Your Shoulders + Arms
When hiking in Sedona in the summer, you’ll certainly be tempted to wear tank tops and shorts.. and shoot, by all means, do, with some sun protection. However, you should also pack clothes that provide protection from the sun.
Lightweight long sleeves, with UV protection are great to wear as a layer over a tank top. You don’t even have to button it up. And even if you can’t see yourself wearing it the entire hike — I get that because I get super hot.. it’s a good thing to bring to just drape over your shoulders if you start to get burnt.
Protecting Your Neck + Face
If visiting Sedona in the summer, I’d definitely suggest bringing a hat to wear when hiking in the Sedona sun. You’ll want to protect the back of your neck and shield your face from getting burnt too.
What To Pack In Your Hiking Backpack In Sedona
First off, Sedona is the desert, and you should always hike in the desert prepared with extra water and snacks. To further that, Sedona hiking trails are truly not marked that well, and they’re freaking gorgeous. Those two things added together mean you’ll likely be on the trail longer than expected.
Again, leading to needing a backpack with snacks and extra water.
We recommend packing a hiking backpack with a water bladder inside. Water bladders make it easy to access water when on the trail, and allow you to pack much more water than a typical water bottle. They often weigh less than water bottles that carry the same amount of liquid too.
Water
For water, we filled our water bladders and chugged the water as we hiked! It’s especially helpful to be able to just drink right from basically a long straw while you walk instead of having to stop and get out a water bottle.
If water isn’t your jam, remember you’re in the desert.. so it definitely needs to be while you hike. Consider bringing a small reusable water bottle (while also having a water bladder), and add water hydration packets to the water bottle.
Food
There were a couple of times where we went against our own recommendation, and didn’t pack our extra food. And we then had to cut what would have turned into a full day of hiking short. Don’t make the same mistake.. pack extra food and water.
Some extras we like to have in our backpack are tuna, canned, or these single-serving packets, with crackers. Nuts.. we’ve been on a pistachio kick lately — just make sure you don’t toss the shells and instead pack them out with you. Jerky, chocolate, granola bars, and peanut butter honey roll ups are all good choices too!
Toilet Necessities + Trash
Never hit the trail without bringing a small bag of some sort for your trash. Whether it’s trash from your snacks or packing out your used toilet paper, you need to bring a trash bag with you.
We like to just reuse a bag that something came in before. Less plastic waste that way. Alternatively, you can grab a roll of doggy doo bags to keep in your backpack.
Toilet paper and wipes are going to be your friend on the trail and off too. There is a massive lack of public bathrooms at trailheads in Sedona, so you’ll likely being going the bathroom outside, on the trails. Be sure to bring toilet paper (that you pack out) and potentially even wipes for a cleaner bum!
Hand Sanitizer
Okay, you’ll need this not just on the trails but for the public bathrooms in Sedona too. None of the pit toilets in Sedona had hand sanitizer. How that is possible, I have no idea! It wasn’t just empty containers, there was no container of potential hand sanitizer at all!
We even witnessed brand new porta potties being placed along the road, and they also had no hand sanitizer or even an empty pump in them… and they were brand new. Fresh off the truck!
Having hand sanitizer with you not only after going to the bathroom, but also before you eat is always a good thing!
Tweezers
Okay, this may come as a total shock, but yes, you need to bring along tweezers! The trails are full of cacti, and if you accidentally run into one (like Heather did on multiple occasions), you’ll be thankful you have tweezers to pull out the spikes.
Now, more often than not, we were on social trails in Sedona, the ones that aren’t as heavily used. So there were big, lush cacti on a lot of the trails. However, they’re also along the sides of the most heavily trafficked trails. And yes, we’ve read about people falling into them!
Bring some tweezers. Hopefully, you don’t have to use them, but you’ll definitely be thankful you have them when you need them!
Calmoseptine Ointment
Calmoseptine Ointment is the best thing on the market for chaffing. If you’ve never experienced chaffing, good for you! You lucky son of a gun. However, we still recommend bringing this along with you for the healing benefits of the ointment.
We primarily use this ointment for chaffing, and the chaffing goes away within the day. For those of you who don’t know, chaffing is when skin rubs against skin and creates a red burning area. It happens along when hiking between the thighs or in other sweaty areas!
This ointment is a miracle worker, working overnight and on the trails to keep you hiking longer! It also has some major healing benefits for things like cuts, rashes, and scapes! All of which are potential things to happen when you’re on the trails of Sedona!
Sedona Packing Essentials
Aside from all the things you need to pack above… there are a few more essentials that really don’t fit into the what to pack for hiking in Sedona clothes or backpack categories. So we’re listing them in this Sedona packing essentials portion. However, that’s not to say the above-mentioned things aren’t essential items either! 😉
Phone Tripod Attachment
Okay, if you’re in Sedona for photography and you’re using more than just a phone, head to our Camera Gear list here. You’ll find all our recommended camera items for travel!
If you’re looking for just a simple way to take photos of yourself or the group you’re with, we fully recommend the Peak Design phone case and tripod attachment!
Peak Design is our go-to company for all things camera related, and their new phone line is just as great as their camera line. The phone case is sleek and has a finger loop for security. But the best part is that it’s magnetic.
The magnet means you can then attach it to this super sleek phone tripod for quick photos and you can even get their car mount or bike mount and attach it to both of those — with the same magnet case!
It’s a dream phone/camera system and we truly can’t recommend it enough!
National Parks Pass
Yes, that seems like a random Sedona Essential, but if you have a national parks pass it will save you some cash with parking!
All of Sedona is part of the Coconino National Forest, and as such, for the paid parking areas, you can use a national park pass instead of having to purchase a Red Rock Canyon Pass.
The national park pass is $80 for a year, and grants you access to all national parks, monuments, and day use areas for free. It’s a real bang for your buck and saves you a ton of money.
Check out all of the United States National Parks + Entry Fees Here
Headlamp For Night Hikes
Okay, this is essential only if you plan on doing any of the best sunset hikes Sedona offers. You’ll certainly want it if you choose to hike Cathedral Rock for sunset, as you’ll need your hands to scramble back down the trail.
Now, hear me out on this. While I know phones these days have flashlights, they aren’t going to always cut it. It gets dark real quick in the canyons of Sedona. And once the sun goes down, unless there’s a full moon, you’re out of luck for finding your way back to your car.
The trails are difficult to find sometimes, and with lots of offshoots, you’ll want to be able to light up a big area to make sure you’re heading in the right direction in the dark!
READ MORE | 31 Sedona Sunset Locations | yes, you’ll want a headlamp for the trek back
Maps.ME
This app is a total lifesaver in Sedona. Maps.Me is an offline map app that works without service. And, it even has a lot of the unmarked trails, like to the famous Subway Cave and more, right within the app!
We’ve said it 10,000 times already, but I’m saying it again. The trails are not well marked in Sedona. You’ll be happy to have this app downloaded to help you find your way.
Not only is it good for having a map right in your hand, but you can also pin locations you want to visit, and if you read any of our Sedona Guides, you’ll be glad you have this app because we share all the coordinates with you to find things, important turns, and where to park!
Be sure to download the app, and the Sedona region of the map before getting out of service. That way you can access it offline.
READ MORE | Why We Love Maps.Me And How To Use The App
Pack Your Patience + Respect
Alright, it sounds cheesy we know, but you really do need to pack your patience for Sedona. The trails are going to be more crowded than you think. Parking lots will fill up fast, making you park further away and extend your hikes.
And, at popular places like Devils Bridge, Cathedral Rock, and the Subway Cave, you’re almost guaranteed to have to wait in line for your photo opportunity.
Patience is key here.. as is respect.
Be respectful of other people waiting in line and don’t do a full-on photo shoot at popular locations. Respect other’s when they’re taking their photos.. give them space and stay out of their shots. And lastly, respect people on the trail.
On the trails, say hi. Give way to people hiking uphill. Don’t force other people to move out of your way.
More On Sedona!
We spent a month in Sedona finding the best hikes, sunset locations, sunrise spots, and more. We even made complete guides for each trail that wasn’t so easy to find.
Sedona Sunsets | 31 Sunset Locations in Sedona
Sedona Sunsets | 7 BEST Sunset Hikes Sedona
Keyhole Cave | A Complete Guide to This Sedona Cave (with a map)
Sedona Itinerary | A Full Sunrise to Sunset Sedona One Day Itinerary
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