The Devil’s Bridge hike in Sedona, Arizona was a mixture of easy and hard. It was a mixture of horrible and (*cough*) fun. It was beautiful and stressful, calming and chaos. It took a long time but wasn’t many miles. Hiking to Devil’s Bridge or any hike for me really had its ups and downs. Much like building a business, there were emotions, there were thoughts of quitting, there was constant thirst and some aches and pains, but it was definitely worth it!

Subscribe for more tips and inspiration.

The Route

The Devil’s Bridge hike is about 4 miles round trip but took me three hours to hike (plus an additional hour of waiting for a photo) because of elevation and the potential to turn my ankle on the many rocks on the trail. I moved slowly so there’s no doubt it could be done more quickly.

There are three different beginning routes from which to choose (each of varying difficulty levels and lengths) that lead up to the Devil’s Bridge Trail. The Jeep Trail is the easiest and the one I took. It’s a wide, dirt trail with smaller, rocks throughout and is called the Jeep Trail because 4×4 vehicles can drive on parts of it. Then there is the Chuck Wagon Trail, which is more strenuous, and the Mescal Trail, which starts from a different parking lot and eventually connects to the Chuck Wagon Trail. Both the Jeep Trail and the Chuck Wagon Trail start at the Dry Creek Vista Trailhead parking area.

Parking is a premium at the small, Dry Creek Vista lot. It is a smaller parking lot and there is a restroom in the parking lot and maps posted of the trail. But on busy hiking days, expect this lot to be full. Many end up parking on the side of the roadway (which could add a mile or more to your hike), or park at the Mescal Trailhead. But remember if you park at the Mescal parking lot, you must take the Mescal Trail to the Chuck Wagon Trail to the Devil’s Bridge Trail.

Some may find the 1-mile-long Jeep Trail boring. I found it ideal! The dusty red dirt of the trail covers smaller rocks that could easily turn an ankle, so while this portion of the trek was not difficult, it did require my attention. I found myself looking down for most of the walk.

The trails are often busy so don’t expect a solo trek. There will be crowds, so be prepared. I hiked it on a Monday morning in November and while I didn’t feel the trail was overly crowded at all. There were definitely plenty of people around. In the summer and more touristy months, I would expect much larger crowds.

Related: Scottsdale v. Sedona: Which Arizona Destination to Choose 

The Devil

After about a mile on the Jeep Trail, you reach the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead and that’s when the fun (?) really started. The smaller rocks got bigger and became more like boulder stairways. The elevation increased a bit, and deciding which side of the path was the path of least resistance became a hiking game of Tetris I played in my head.

The rocks on the path became stair like and it’s not that they were difficult to ascend, it’s just that there were so many of them. It was like a never-ending red stone stairway not to heaven but to the devil. Every person that was descending the hike I would ask how much further or if it got much harder. Some gave me the truth and some gave me hope.

It was the last quarter of the ascent to the bridge when the hike turned somewhat evil. I had done my homework so I knew what was coming but I didn’t really know what was coming. The stone staircase soon required both your hands and your feet to climb up. And my breathing from both exertion and anxiety started to increase.

I had started to keep pace with a group of three older people, a man maybe in his late 60s or 70s and two women in their 60s. They would stop and catch their breath and I would walk a little further head of them and then do the same. Then they would pass me and we continued on that routine for what felt like a long time. But once we reached the hand climbing portion of the trail, I decided I was part of their group whether they liked it or not. Little did they know they were going to be my new Hiking BFF’s!

Struggling with Writer’s Block?

The Cry

The steep (steep as in vertical) stone stairs became more narrow and only allowed for people to ascend or descend at one time. So you’d climb a bit and then stand to the side so someone could come down. I was looking up at the ominous stone stairs that were much more ladder-like at this point while I stood to the side with my three new BFF’s. My breathing was fast and quick, I could hear my heart in my ears and my eyes were starting to become wet. I tried to ignore the anxiety tears that I knew were inevitable and just patiently wait until this next group of people came down and passed us, but that didn’t work out so well.

An older man coming down the path proceeded to tell the group of hikers below him to be careful because the dusty rocks (aka rock ladder) were slippery. As he climbed down this rock ladder on his butt, he told us all below how he slipped and fell because the rocks I was about to climb UP were so slippery. The more he warned us to be careful and the more I watched him inch slowly down on his backside, the more I could no longer control my eyeballs.

The thought of hiking down a mountain is more scary to me than hiking up. I have horrible knees (knees of a 60 year old a doctor once told me) and I’m well aware of the toll descending a climb has on your knees. AND on the way down I’ll be looking down. I’d been avoiding looking down at all and was only focused on the up. So as I’m watching this man butt crawl down a rock ladder, I knew that I was going to be him very shortly and I was overwhelmed by the idea of it.

A woman I had passed earlier when things were just starting to get treacherous had instructed me to take off my sunglasses so my depth perception would be better in the shade of the vertical stone staircase I was about to climb. She was descending the climb so clearly she was full of wisdom and I obeyed and put my sunglasses in my backpack. So now, as tears began to flow down my face and I attempted to stifle sobs but also couldn’t breath normally, everyone that was climbing passed me down the mountain gave me a good stare.

One of my Hiking BFF’s noticed my tears and told me it was going to be okay and tried to calm me down. I attempted to do a fun and in no way awkward laugh-cry and explained that this happens to me all the time. I anxiety cry nearly every time I go for a hike. But here I am hiking solo, giggle, sob, giggle, sob.

Finally the older butt climbing man with the big mouth passed me, saw my tears and told me it’s not that bad. I told him, that his story about slipping is what freaked me out! And he apologized and told me as long as I took my time and watched my step, I’d be fine.

I was not comforted but there was no where to go but up at this point.

Finally I reached what I can best describe as a landing on a staircase. The climb wasn’t over, but it was like God offered up this nice little flat area with a fantastic view as a little break spot. Catch your breath and take in the moment, because you’re not done yet!

Another random woman entered my hiking world for a moment and offered to take my picture. I was in the process of recomposing myself after crying while climbing a vertical rock ladder and a photo of myself was not the first thing on my mind. But it was like this random woman knew what I needed in that moment and it was to be distracted from what I still needed to do in order to complete the ascend.

I slapped a smile on my face, took an okay photo and asked the new stranger how much further. She said it was just one last hard little bit and then I was at the top. She pointed it out above and it looked much further than the way she described it.

I waited for my Hiking BFF’s to take their photos and then the four of us began the final portion of the Devil’s Bridge hike. The tears disappeared and I was ready to complete this mission. I had a conquered few rock ladders by now so I was ready for this final section. With the support of my Hiking BFF’s and dry eyes and steady breathing, we climbed the last little bit in order to look out onto the gorgeous scene that awaited.

Related: The Authenticity Is In The Why

The Photo

There was Devil’s Bridge looking like a thin piece of arched stone across a deep valley below. And there was also a long line of people waiting to have their photo taken on top of the bridge.

The view was outstanding! There were so many shades of reds, browns, whites, oranges and grays that looked like lines drawn across the surrounding red rocks that tower around Devil’s Bridge. The green trees so far below remind you how far you’ve climbed and how high up you are. The blue sky was never ending, like your vision had no bounds and you could see for eternity. And the long line of people waiting in line in front of it all was just comical to see.

It’s a busy trail and a popular photo spot so I was prepared to wait in line for my own photo. According to the research I did, during the busiest of seasons, the wait can be as long as two hours for a photo. The line moves as fast as people are considerate to others. Some folks did numerous poses and took their time walking out to the center while others quickly struck a pose and scurried off the bridge.

My Hiking BFF’s decided to not wait for a photo. They hung out for a bit to admire the view, took a few photos of the bridge itself and then headed back down. Before leaving they gave me plenty of words of encouragement that I would be okay hiking down. I could do it, they told me! I thanked them a million times for their support, apologized for crying once again and wished them well on their journey.

I waited for nearly an hour to take my photo but the time went by quickly. I needed that time to catch my physical and emotional breath for a minute. I had a snack and more water. I chatted and eavesdropped on everyone else in line. We watched everyone ahead of us take their photos and gave a running commentary on their poses or the length of time they were taking.

But several times I had to turn away from the people posing on the bridge because it looked more dangerous watching them they it actually was. It felt like some of the people were dangerously close to the edge and with one wrong move, they were going to plummet to their death. So I head to turn away several times to avoid the anxiety. Because much like anxiety and the stories we tell ourselves in our head, it was an optical illusion. Devil’s Bridge is actually quite wide and everyone that came back from taking their photo validated that it wasn’t scary out there at all. But standing in front of it gave you the impression that everyone was within inches of falling to death.

When my turn came, I asked the friendly couple in front of me to take my photo after I had taken theirs and I ran out on to Devil’s Bridge and confirmed that indeed it was not scary out there at all. The climb to get there was much more scary than the actual bridge itself. I quickly took my photos (or had them taken I should say), and ran back to the line of people. I took in the scene one last time and then began my descent.

Feeling stuck in your business?

The Descent

I took my cues from the earlier butt climbing man on my way down and immediately sat on my butt and “climbed” down the rock ladder with zero shame or tears. I waited patiently for anyone ascending and then made my way down extremely slowly and quietly. I wasn’t going to make anyone else cry on my way down!

I took it very slowly, and was mindful of every move so as not to slip and it honestly was not too bad. My butt was doing most of the work too so my knees didn’t hurt too bad either. At least until I got to the more normal stone staircase portion of the hike down. My knees definitely felt every step during that portion but I took my time and did not shed any tears. I felt much more lightweight. I had reached the top and was on my way home so the pressure was off.

By the time I reached the dusty, dirt Jeep Trail portion of the hike again, my feet, knees and back definitely hurt. I had drank two large bottles of water and was still thirsty, and I was ready to be back at my car. The hike was two miles each way (four total) but for some reason it seemed soooo much longer than that. I walk a trail at home that’s about three miles and I complete it quickly and while my body feels some slight aches, it was not like the aches and pains I was feeling on this four-mile hike.

Finally I reached the parking lot. I hit the restroom and collapsed into my rental car. I sat there awhile before driving out of the parking lot to find a good margarita or a martini.

I had just conquered the devil and was in need of a drink!

Related: Layoffs Lead to Impact and Income

Hiking Lessons Learned: Be Where Your Feet Are Now

Whenever I look back on a hike, I always see the correlation to life lessons learned or business building. I don’t often recognize it in the moment of actual hiking because I’m focused on survival. But when I reflect back I see it.

I had a random Instagram Reels song stuck in my head for much of the hike. It was just a funny clip that sang, “Bitch you’re doing a good job. Biiitch you’re doing a good job.” That was my mantra for the Devil’s Bridge Hike. I said that to myself a million times. I stared at my feet for most of the hike so I wouldn’t fall and chanted to myself (sometimes out loud when no one was around) that I was doing a good job. I was putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward however slowly that may have been.

Much like building a business, the miles seem to go on forever. You celebrate not turning an ankle on the dirt trail only to turn the corner and realize now you have to climb stone staircase after stone staircase. You reach that goal and achievement but you aren’t done yet, there’s another obstacle ahead. It’s a rock ladder and you must use your hands and your feet to climb. Think you can do that? Oh, you’re gonna cry about it? Do you want to quit? Ok cool, you didn’t quit so here’s a nice little reward and a landing area with a cool view where you can hang out for a bit, take some photos. But the big business goal, the dream, the booked out client list, the consistent income, that’s up even higher. You’ll have to keep climbing to reach that viewpoint.

There’s always more to climb in business. There’s always a setback and a bigger, better goal ahead. But I’m learning that I need to be where my feet are now in hiking and in business, and I need much more practice at both.

I know I’m not alone when I say I often worry about or want for what’s ahead instead of focusing on what’s under my feet at the moment. Instead of being exactly where my feet are now. Instead of worrying about today’s next step. The stone step that is directly in front of me. That’s where I (we) need to put our focus in life and business.

It’s okay to have an uncertain, anxiety-filled cry every once in awhile as long as you keep moving forward and make those small steps to reach the larger goal. You’ll meet random people along the way who will help you climb and tell you all will be okay. There will be passersby who tell you it’s too hard and strangers who will help to take your mind off things in the moment. And all of those people and those vertical staircases are important in your journey.

Because when you do reach the viewpoint (whatever that goal of a viewpoint is for you personally) you will remember each step you took to get there. If you focus on each small step as you go, you’ll reach the goal. It does.not.matter how long it takes, if you are taking action and moving, you will reach each goal as they come.

Be where your feet are now and don’t worry about how much further on your journey that you have to go. You’ll get there. But stop for a minute and look where you are now!

Isn’t it beautiful?!

 

What to Bring on a Hike

If you read my journey and want to hike the Devil’s Bridge Trail yourself here are a few things I would suggest you bring on a hike like this.

• Layered Clothing (it’s chilly in the shade, and hot in the sun)
• Hat
• Hiking Boots
• Hiking Socks
• Backpack
• Camera or Phone (there’s very spotty service on the hike)
• Chapstick
• Headlamp Light (if you plan to hike sunrise or sunset)
• Sunscreen
• Change of Shoes in the car (I wished I could take off my hiking boots when I reached the car)
• Granola Bar, Power Bar or Snacks
• Water, Water, Water, and More Water

Related: Life Lessons Learned While Hiking at Sunrise in Bend, Oregon

 

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MY CONTENT COACHING SERVICES?