Bell Trail No. 13

Bell Trail trailhead is located a short jaunt from the Sedona exit off Interstate 17. Don't be confused by going to the first trailhead off the road called Bruce Brockett trailhead, which features a large parking area that can accommodate horse trailers and is good for RVs, too. You can park there and take a short connector trail that leads to the Bell Trail, but the primary Bell Trail trailhead is a quarter-mile further down the road. There’s a restroom there and plenty of parking. 

Bell Trail is the primary trail used to access Wet Beaver Creek Canyon and the Wet Beaver Wilderness (2.7 miles from the trailhead). Starting from the trailhead, the trail follows the contours of the canyon from a bench well above the streambed. What starts as a hike through the canyon bottom surrounded by junipers and mesquite trees slowly becomes an escarpment of red sandstone and scenic views of the riparian area, the canyon, and the surrounding mountains and valleys. After crossing Wet Beaver Creek, 3.5 miles from the trailhead, the trail begins ascending the canyon’s southern wall to a high, grassy plateau where it winds through pinyon juniper stands and open grasslands, offering views that stretch past the Sedona Red Rocks Country and to the San Francisco Peaks.

At 7.7 miles long one-way, it traverses a long stretch of the wilderness before exiting and connecting with Forest Service Road 214. Those interested in a more challenging hike can go the entire length, but those who prefer a shorter hike have options as well. Diverging from Bell Trail are White Mesa (1.7 miles from trailhead), Apache Maid (2.2 miles from trailhead), and Weir (2.5 miles) trails, all offering alternative opportunities for recreation. Many hikers and anglers take advantage of the creek that runs parallel to Bell Trail for several miles. Swimming holes are popular destinations during the summertime.

Wilderness areas are rare, wild places set aside by Congress where the land is allowed to retain its natural state, serving as a natural haven for humans to escape modern civilization and for nature to be itself. To help minimize human impacts in wilderness, motorized and mechanized equipment are prohibited by law, including bicycles, strollers, carts, and remote control aircraft, and drones. We also ask that visitors practice Leave No Trace ethics.

In order to protect this fragile desert riparian area, campfires and camping are prohibited along much of the Wet Beaver Creek to help minimize damage to soil and vegetation, reduce disturbances to wildlife, and prevent pollution of the creek. Wet Beaver Creek flows into the Verde River, a critical water source for many cities and communities in Arizona.