Cathedral Rock, the iconic red rock overlooking Sedona's Oak Creek, is one of Sedona's biggest tourist attractions. Tens of thousands of people hike the challenging Cathedral Rock Trail each year.

But Sedona visitors hoping to hike Cathedral Rock this spring should plan with trail closures four days a week.

The Coconino National Forest's Red Rock Ranger District, which manages trails in the Sedona area, recently We have announced that we will be temporarily closed. Cathedral Rock Trail and adjacent maintenance areas.

The Forest Service told The Arizona Republic the closure was necessary to protect the public from possible landslides during construction.

Cathedral Rock Trail is temporarily closed for the following reasons:

Why is Cathedral Rock closed?

The Cathedral Rock Trail is closed for maintenance work, including rigging and rock cutting to construct a retaining wall and new steps on the trail. Coconino National Forest spokesman Brady Smith said the work involves using wire rope slings to safely move rocks, often on steep slopes.

He said the closure was necessary because the work could cause potentially dangerous rock failures.

When is Cathedral Rock Trail closed?

The nearby area, including the Cathedral Rock Trail and the junction where the Cathedral Rock Trail meets the Templeton Trail, will be closed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, through April 13.

Smith said the trail will be open Sunday through Tuesday while maintenance is performed.

When will Cathedral Rock open?

The Cathedral Rock Trail is scheduled to reopen daily starting April 14, but Smith said it may reopen sooner depending on the progress of the work.

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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who has been covering travel and tourism since 2014. The purpose of his job as a consumer travel writer for the Arizona Republic is to help readers overcome the stress of travel and get the best value for their money on vacations. Please contact Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter). @salerno_phx.

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This article originally appeared in the Arizona Republic. Sedona's Cathedral Rock Trail is closed.What hikers need to know