On a recent trip to Arizona, my wife and I were lucky enough to spend some time in Sedona. Best known for its breathtaking red rock formations, energy vortexes, and vibrant arts scene, Sedona is a truly unique place. Plus with Arizona having a legal recreational cannabis system in place, there are a few great dispensaries in town to visit before you hit the trails!
We only had 24 hours to spend in Sedona and there are literally hundreds of hiking trails to choose from. It was difficult for us to pick just 3, but we went with Cathedral Rock, Devils Bridge, and Birthing Cave. All 3 were shorter hikes that offered us a variety of different view points and potential sesh spots to choose from.
On this trip, I had chosen to take the Scorpion Pipe along. Its compact, lightweight design makes it perfect for on the trail, plus the name was all too fitting for a desert hike. The Scorpion Pipe is also very durable so there were no worries about it breaking in case it fell out of my pocket during some of the more difficult portions of our hikes.
Devils Bridge Trail via Dry Creek Road
We first hiked the famous Devils Bridge Trail, which is an out and back trial just under 4 miles total. The bridge feature this trail is famous for, is the largest natural sandstone arch in Coconino Natural Forest. The hike itself is very easy but there is a steep climb as you approach the arch itself. Because of the natural bridge formation and breathtaking views of Red Rock Country, this hike is immensely popular and usually quite busy.
The bridge can appear intimidating to cross, but once you get to the base, it’s actually quite wider than most pictures would have you believe. The arch is 5 feet wide at its thinnest point but the 54 foot drop may still be a bit much for some adventurers. I highly recommend tackling this portion of the hike BEFORE you smoke. You’ll want to be as coordinated and clear minded as possible for this feature!
For our sesh spot, we chose a portion of the trail about a quarter of a mile away from the bridge. Since this trail is so popular it’s rare you can smoke without strangers going by. Because of this, the Scorpion Pipe was perfect since the swivel cover and folding stem allows you to quickly extinguish the bowl and toss it back in your pocket, if need be.
Overall I’d rate this hike a 6.5/10. The main feature is best enjoyed sober so it’s not the ideal hike for an “enhanced” adventure. And as I mentioned, it is typically very busy without many side trails for a discreet smoke sesh. The Scorpion Pipe is the best tool from the Wolf Grinders arsenal for this hike, mainly because of its discreet nature.
Cathedral Rock Trail
Cathedral Rock Trail is another very popular hike in the Sedona area. It’s a very short out and back hike that measures just over 1 mile. It’s quite challenging at multiple points and does require some scrambling across smooth sandstone rocks but the views at the top are well worth the effort.
One thing I loved about this hike, was that there are a few portions where the trail is very open and you can wander away from the crowds a bit. This made for a great sesh spot with the Scorpion Pipe. You can sit and relax, while taking in the 360 degree views. The distinctive red rock formations truly make you feel like you’re on another planet!
I’d rate this hike a 9/10 on the cannabis friendly meter. It’s challenging but not terribly and the views are unmatched. Although it’s a very popular and busy hike, there are still portions where you can get your own space for a relaxing sesh.
Birthing Cave Trail
This was my hands down favourite hike of the trip, and honestly one of my favourite hikes of all time. What sets it apart for me was the unique cave formation you get to sit inside of that offers a spectacular view. It’s another short out and back hike that’s just under 2 miles.
The main feature is the Birthing Cave, which is a wide cave that contains a little nook you can climb into and sit. The vantage point from this nook can be seen below, it sheds some light behind the name of this cave. It’s a bit of a scramble to get up to but makes for a top tier sesh spot.
Since this trail isn’t as popular as the other two mentioned, we actually got the cave all to ourselves as well! The pocket friendly Scorpion Pipe was also perfect for this trail since the little nook in the cave was quite small, making it difficult to carry a backpack or bag of any sort with you.
I’d rate this trail a 10/10 for a high hike, but we may have just been lucky to have the cave to ourselves!
Designed to go with You
