6 Hours in Sedona: Two Trails, Your Way

nicoletudisco
2 days ago
6 min read

Six hours in Sedona means one thing for certain: Devil's Bridge, without the four-mile approach hike. What comes next is up to you — how technical you want the driving to be, and which pickup window fits your day. Here's how the two work together on our 6-hour Quick Escape.

Pick Your Pickup Window

Morning (8 AM–2 PM): Devil's Bridge, then Outlaw Trail ending at the Honanki Heritage Site — scenic, easier driving, a stop through 700-year-old cliff dwellings. Back at the shop by early afternoon, the rest of your day free.
Afternoon (3 PM–9 PM): Devil's Bridge, then Broken Arrow — Sedona's signature technical trail. If the trails move efficiently and the season cooperates, close the day with sunset at Lower Schnebly Vista.

One thing decides which trail pairs with which window: Honanki closes to visitors at 3 PM, every day. Start at 3 PM and you can't reach it before the gate closes — Devil's Bridge alone runs until around 5. So the Outlaw + Honanki combo is a morning-window itinerary. Book the afternoon, and Broken Arrow is your second trail.

The Itinerary

Devil's Bridge — Every Quick Escape Starts Here

Devil's Bridge is Sedona's most photographed trail, and most people earn that photo the hard way: a dusty, nearly 4-mile round trip up Dry Creek Road before the actual hiking trail even begins. In the Bronco, you skip almost all of it. You drive the rough access road yourself instead of walking it, park at the true trailhead, and spend your energy on the short, scenic climb to the arch instead of the approach.

Budget about two hours door to door: the drive in, the hike, photos on the bridge, and the drive back out.

Arabella Off Road owner Tony Tudisco and his daughter standing on Devil's Bridge in Sedona, Arizona — Tony (Owner) and his daughter on Devil's Bridge. Even the guy who runs the place still comes back for this one.

Cooler Lunch, Then Trail Two

Pack a sandwich before you leave and drop it in the Yeti with the included ice pack — eating on the move keeps either window comfortable. On the morning pickup, that's slack toward Honanki's 3 PM close. On the afternoon pickup, it's slack toward a shot at sunset. Give yourself 30 minutes to cross town or get to the second trailhead.

Prefer a real lunch stop? Hilltop Deli and Sedona Organic Taco Company are both fast enough not to eat into the schedule.

Morning Window: Outlaw Trail + Honanki Heritage Site

Outlaw Trail runs via Loy Butte Road — about 11 miles of unpaved Coconino backcountry, scenic and approachable, without the technical climbs and ledges that make Broken Arrow feel intense to a first-timer. It's the pick if you want Sedona's backcountry without the pucker factor, or if you're driving with a group that isn't all-in on technical terrain.

The trail leads straight to Honanki Heritage Site, one of the largest preserved Sinagua cliff dwellings in the region — walk beneath the rock overhangs, see pictographs that have held up for 700 years, no ticket or reservation required. Plan on about 30 minutes at the site. There are pit toilets at the entrance, which matters more than it sounds like after a morning on the trail.

The one rule: Honanki is open 9:30 AM to 3 PM, every day, and closes for real at 3 — no late admission. This itinerary gets you there with time to spare, but don't linger too long at Devil's Bridge if you're running this combo.

Ancient Sinagua cliff dwellings built into the canyon wall at Honanki Heritage Site near Sedona, Arizona — Honanki Heritage Site — cliff dwellings the Sinagua built into this canyon wall roughly 700 years ago

Afternoon Window: Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow is the trail behind most of the photos you've seen of a vehicle climbing glowing red slickrock in Sedona. It's short compared to some of the backcountry routes, but it's dense — Devil's Staircase, Chicken Point, and Submarine Rock all sit within a couple of miles of each other. Expect real technical sections: steep rock climbs, off-camber ledges, the kind of grade where the rear camera earns its keep.

Give it about two hours to drive it properly and actually get out at the viewpoints.

Black lifted Ford Bronco descending a rock ledge obstacle on Broken Arrow Trail in Sedona, Arizona — A Quick Escape Bronco picking its way down one of Broken Arrow's obstacles.

Bonus, Not a Promise: Sunset at Lower Schnebly Vista

If you booked the afternoon window and the day is moving efficiently, Lower Schnebly Vista is a short hop from Broken Arrow — both trailheads sit just off Highway 179. No hike required, just a short walk from the parking area to a wide-open overlook above eastern Sedona.

Whether you make it depends on the season. In summer, with sunset past 7 PM, there's real room. In fall and winter, when the light goes down as early as 5:20, a 3 PM start may put you at Broken Arrow's finish right around sunset — worth checking the chart below before you book, and no issue either way: the two trails are the main event, sunset is what you get if the timing lines up.

Approximate sunset times in Sedona, arrive 20 minutes prior (Arizona doesn't observe daylight saving time):

Winter (Dec–Feb): ~5:20 PM – 6:10 PM
Spring (Mar–May): ~6:25 PM – 7:15 PM
Summer (Jun–Aug): ~7:00 PM – 7:40 PM
Fall (Sep–Nov): ~5:25 PM – 6:30 PM

The morning window doesn't include a sunset stop — you're back at the shop by 2 PM either way, evening free for whatever's next on your trip.

Return Bronco

Back at the shop having covered more of Sedona in six hours than most visitors see in a week.

Why a Lifted Bronco for a 6-Hour Sedona Escape

A/C vs. side-by-sides eating dust
Comfort for the long haul — more than a Jeep and way more than any ATV
Push-button 4WD — no floor-shifter learning curve
Front and rear cameras — confidence on every descent, in every light
Yeti cooler included — and bonus ice pack
Trail guide + restaurant picks — written by local off-roaders, not a chain tour
We're available by phone the whole rental — questions get answered in real time

Want More Time? Read These Next

A Full Day of Sedona Off-Roading Without Wasting a Minute — both trails, no rush, and only $56 more (plus tax and fees) than the Quick Escape.
24 Hours in Sedona: The Off-Road Itinerary with Sunset AND Sunrise — keep the Bronco overnight and catch both ends of the light, guaranteed.
A Weekend in Sedona Off-Road: The 2-Day Lifted Bronco Itinerary — six trails, two sunsets, the full treat.

FAQ

Which pickup window should I choose? If you want the easier drive, cliff dwellings, and your afternoon/evening free, book 8 AM–2 PM. If you want Sedona's signature technical trail and a shot at a Schnebly sunset, book 3 PM–9 PM.

Can I do Outlaw and Honanki on the afternoon pickup instead? No — Honanki closes at 3 PM daily, and a 3 PM start can't get there before then. That combo only runs with the morning window.

Is Broken Arrow too technical for a first-timer? It's more intense than Outlaw — steep slickrock, off-camber ledges — but the Bronco's push-button 4WD and cameras make it manageable for most first-time off-roaders. If you'd rather ease in, the morning window's Outlaw Trail is the gentler option.

Is sunset guaranteed with the afternoon window? No. It depends on the season and how the trails run that day. If you want sunset guaranteed, the 12-hour and 24-hour rentals build it into the itinerary regardless of time of year.

Do I need off-road experience to rent a Bronco? No. We walk you through the Bronco at pickup. Push-button 4WD is easier than a manual Jeep — but we have a Jeep too if you insist!

Where do I park my personal vehicle? You'll park your vehicle in place of our Bronco for the rental.

Is this a good option for a couple? Either window works for a date. The morning pairs well with an evening still ahead of you — dinner, drinks, whatever's next. The afternoon trades that for a shot at a tailgate sunset.

Can I customize the stops? Yes. Every pickup includes a build-your-day conversation. The itinerary above is a menu, not a mandate.