All four start within a short drive of Casa Alta, and each shows a different side of the red rocks. They are listed from easiest to hardest.
A wide, hard-packed path that runs north from the Village of Oak Creek past Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. You do not have to walk all of it. Twenty minutes in, you are already standing under Bell Rock, which makes this the one to pick for mixed ages or a first morning in town.
Parking: There are three trailheads along State Route 179, with restrooms at the north and south lots. You need a pass to park (see below).
A steady, gentle climb through juniper and red slickrock to Chicken Point, a broad sandstone shelf with views in every direction. Chicken Point sits on the far side of Twin Buttes, the butte you look at from the deck at Casa Alta. It is quieter than its neighbors and a good first proper hike of the trip. Jeep tours reach the same point by a different route, so you may have company at the top.
Parking: The lot on State Route 179 is small and fills early. The free Sedona Shuttle also stops here.
This loop circles both Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, so the view keeps changing the whole way round. The back side is far quieter than the front. Most of it is gentle, with some rocky, uneven stretches and very little shade.
Parking: Start from the Courthouse Vista or Bell Rock Vista trailhead. You need a pass to park.
Short, steep, and the one everyone talks about. These are the spires you can see on the horizon from the house. The trail climbs nearly 700 feet up bare rock, and in places you will use your hands. The saddle at the top looks out both ways across the valley. Skip it if the rock is wet or icy, or if anyone in your group is uneasy with heights.
Parking: On the days the Sedona Shuttle runs, the trailhead lot on Back O' Beyond Road is closed and the shuttle is the way in. On other days the small lot fills early.
Check availability and book online, where you'll see current rates.