Everything you need to know about parking at the trailhead
Let's be honest: parking at Cathedral Rock can be frustrating. The lot is small, it fills up fast, and on busy days you'll see cars circling like vultures waiting for someone to leave. I've watched people waste 45 minutes looking for parking when they could have been on the trail.
But here's the thing—once you understand the patterns and have a backup plan, parking becomes manageable. This guide will tell you exactly where to park, when the lot fills up, what the Red Rock Pass situation is, and what to do when parking is impossible.
Location: End of Back O' Beyond Road, West Sedona
GPS Coordinates: 34.8261° N, 111.7888° W
Capacity: Approximately 60 vehicles
Surface: Dirt/gravel lot with defined spaces
Hours: Open 24/7 (no gates)
Cost: Requires Red Rock Pass ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $20 annual)
Facilities: One vault toilet, no water, no trash cans
From Uptown Sedona, take AZ-89A west toward Cottonwood. Turn left onto Upper Red Rock Loop Road (just past the Chapel Road roundabout). After about a mile, turn left onto Back O' Beyond Road. Follow it to the end—you can't miss the parking lot.
The drive from Uptown Sedona takes about 10 minutes. From the Village of Oak Creek, it's about 15 minutes via AZ-179 north to the roundabout, then following the directions above.
This is the question everyone asks, and the answer varies dramatically by season and day of the week. Here's what actually happens based on hundreds of observations:
| Season | Weekday | Weekend |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar-May) | Full by 8:00-8:30 AM | Full by 7:30-8:00 AM |
| Summer (Jun-Aug) | Rarely fills (too hot) | Fills by 8:30-9:00 AM |
| Fall (Sep-Nov) | Full by 8:30-9:00 AM | Full by 7:30-8:00 AM |
| Winter (Dec-Feb) | Fills by 9:00-10:00 AM | Full by 8:30-9:00 AM |
If you want to guarantee parking during peak season, be in the lot by 7:30 AM. Earlier is better (7:00 AM is ideal), but 7:30 AM works most days outside of major holidays. After 8:00 AM on a weekend in spring or fall, you're gambling.
The Red Rock Pass is a recreation fee required to park at most trailheads in the Coconino National Forest around Sedona. The money goes toward trail maintenance, facilities, and forest management.
• Daily Pass: $5
• Weekly Pass: $15
• Annual Pass: $20
If you're hiking more than one trail during your Sedona visit, get the weekly pass. If you come to Sedona regularly, the annual pass pays for itself immediately.
You can buy Red Rock Passes at:
• Any Sedona visitor center or chamber of commerce
• Most gas stations and convenience stores in Sedona
• Automated kiosks at popular trailheads (cash/card)
• Forest Service offices
• Online in advance (though it needs to arrive by mail)
There's a self-service kiosk right at the Cathedral Rock parking lot if you forget to buy one beforehand. It accepts cash and credit cards.
No. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass (national parks pass) does NOT work at Cathedral Rock. This is Forest Service land, not National Park Service land. You need a Red Rock Pass specifically.
You've driven to the trailhead at 9:00 AM on a Saturday in April and the lot is completely full. Cars are circling. What now?
When the lot fills up, people park along Back O' Beyond Road. Pull completely off the road onto the dirt shoulder. Make sure all four wheels are off the pavement and you're not blocking the road. This is legal and accepted—you'll see dozens of cars doing it on busy days.
You'll be parked anywhere from 0.1 to 0.4 miles from the trailhead. It's an easy walk on a dirt road, just adds 5-15 minutes to your hike.
You still need a Red Rock Pass for roadside parking—display it on your dashboard.
Parking turnover happens throughout the morning. Most hikers take 1.5-2.5 hours, so if you arrive at 9:00 AM, the 7:00 AM arrivals are starting to leave. Circle the lot or park on the road and walk back to check every 10-15 minutes.
This can work, but it's not guaranteed. You might wait 5 minutes or 45 minutes. If you're on a tight schedule, just park on the road and start hiking.
The lot starts to clear out after 11:00 AM as morning hikers finish. It fills again in late afternoon (4:00-6:00 PM) for sunset hiking, but there's usually a window from noon to 3:00 PM when parking is easier.
Of course, hiking in the midday heat isn't ideal, so this is a compromise. But if parking is your main concern, midday is actually easier than morning.
If parking is a dealbreaker and you have flexibility, come on a weekday instead of a weekend. Come at sunrise instead of mid-morning. Come in winter instead of spring. The experience is better anyway.
Bell Rock, Devil's Bridge, and other Sedona trails have larger parking lots or easier access. If Cathedral Rock parking is a nightmare and you're frustrated, pivot to a different hike. You can always come back to Cathedral Rock another day at a better time.
• Park within the defined spaces. Don't create your own spot in the middle of the lot.
• Don't block the road while waiting for someone to leave. Pull off to the side.
• Don't take two spaces with one car.
• Don't park in a way that makes it hard for others to maneuver.
• Don't leave trash. The lot has no trash cans—pack everything out.
• If you see someone circling, let them know if you're leaving soon.
• Don't linger at your car for 20 minutes while people wait for your spot.
• If you park on the road, pull as far off as possible so other cars can pass.
• Keep your dog on leash in the parking area (required anyway, but especially important in crowded conditions).
There are 2-3 designated accessible parking spaces near the trailhead and toilet. If you have an accessible placard or plate, you can use these spots. They're usually available even when the rest of the lot is full.
The parking lot can accommodate some RVs and trailers, but space is limited. If you're driving something large, arrive early before the lot fills up. There's no dedicated RV parking, so you'll need to take up 2-3 regular spaces, which is fine but be aware you're reducing capacity.
Back O' Beyond Road is narrow and winding. If you're in a large RV, drive carefully and be prepared for tight spots.
Overnight parking is not allowed at the Cathedral Rock trailhead. This is a day-use area only. If you're doing overnight backpacking elsewhere in the area, you'll need to arrange other parking.
Yes, sort of. You can access Cathedral Rock from Red Rock Crossing, but it's a much longer approach—about 2 miles each way on flat terrain before you even start the climb. This adds 4 miles round trip to your hike.
It's a legitimate option if Cathedral Rock parking is impossible and you don't mind the extra distance. You'll get to see Oak Creek and the classic Cathedral Rock reflection view from Red Rock Crossing. But most people prefer the direct trailhead approach.
Red Rock Crossing has its own parking ($10 day-use fee) and can also fill up, but it's a bigger lot.
If you want to be certain you'll get a parking spot at Cathedral Rock, here's the simple formula:
Be in the lot by 7:30 AM during peak season (March-May, September-November).
Be in the lot by 8:00 AM during off-season (December-February, June-August).
If you can't do that, accept that you might park on the road and walk a quarter mile. It's not the end of the world—you're adding maybe 10 minutes to your day.
And if you show up at 10:00 AM on a Saturday in April without a backup plan, you're going to have a frustrating experience. Parking is predictable. The people who struggle are the ones who don't plan ahead.
Now that you know where to park, here's what else you need:
• Complete Cathedral Rock Trail Guide - What to expect on the hike
• Best Time to Hike - Sunrise, sunset, or midday?
• What to Bring - Gear checklist for the trail
• Other Sedona Hikes - What to do after Cathedral Rock