Slide Rock gets all the attention. The Midgley Bridge swimming hole is the better experience.

That's Luca's assessment from our July 26, 2017 visit — and honestly it's hard to argue with. Slide Rock State Park is famous, crowded, and worth doing. But the swimming hole below Midgley Bridge delivers the same red rock canyon setting, the same cold clear Oak Creek water, and the ability to ride the river current — with fewer people and a hike that earns the destination without making you work too hard to get there.

The Bridge

Midgley Bridge was built in 1939 as part of a New Deal era public works project — a 100-foot steel bridge spanning Oak Creek Canyon on AZ-89A approximately one mile north of the Sedona Y. The bridge sits 175 feet above the creek, offering one of the most photographed views in the Sedona area — the red rock walls of the canyon dropping away below, Oak Creek visible as a ribbon of green far beneath. The bridge is narrow and there is no official pedestrian lane — use the small parking area on the north end of the bridge to park and access the trail.

The Hike Down

From the Midgley Bridge parking area, the Midgley Bridge Trail descends steeply beneath the bridge itself — offering a spectacular perspective looking up at the steel spans from below. Follow the Midgley Bridge Trail and turn right onto the Huckaby Trail. The descent to Oak Creek is steep in places and requires attention on loose rock sections. Bring shoes you don't mind getting wet — you will be in the water.

The total distance from the parking area to the swimming hole is approximately 1 mile each way. Elevation loss on the descent is roughly 360 feet — which means the climb back out is the workout part of the day. Factor this into your timing.

The Swimming Hole

The swimming hole below Midgley Bridge sits in a beautiful section of Oak Creek — red rock terraces along the banks where you can lay out in the sun between swims, clear water deep enough for a proper swim, and boulders near the swimming hole to climb between. The creek in this section is clear enough to see the bottom in detail. In the shallower pools along the edges we spotted tadpoles, and snails clinging to the rocks beneath the surface.

On our July 2017 visit we played in the water, explored the creek, and simply sat in it. The highlight for Luca was riding the river current — letting the flow of Oak Creek carry him through the swimming area. Simple, free, and exactly the kind of thing that makes a creek visit memorable for a kid. The surrounding canyon walls create a contained, peaceful feeling that the more open Slide Rock area doesn't have. The red rock terraces are ideal for drying off between swims with the canyon above you.

What Makes It Better Than Slide Rock

Luca's verdict stands for a few specific reasons. The Midgley swimming hole is less crowded than Slide Rock on a typical summer day — the hike filters out casual visitors. The setting feels more intimate and less managed. And there are no admission fees — just a Red Rock Pass required for parking.

The tradeoff is that Slide Rock has more developed infrastructure — restrooms, a paved path, and a more organized experience. Midgley is raw Sedona creek without any of that. Which one you prefer depends on what you're looking for.

The Huckaby Trail — More Than a Swimming Hole Access

The Huckaby Trail itself is worth doing beyond the creek access it provides. From the upper section of the trail before descending to the creek, views of Munds Mountain, Cathedral Rock, Steamboat Rock, Wilson Mountain, and Midgley Bridge itself are outstanding. The trail can be hiked as a loop starting from the Schnebly Hill Road trailhead and ending at Midgley — or in reverse. The full trail is approximately 5 miles with 545 feet of elevation gain. For the swimming hole, the partial out-and-back from Midgley is the standard approach.

More Information

• Red Rock Pass required for parking: $5/day, $15/week, $20/annual — America the Beautiful pass accepted

• Parking: very small lot at north end of Midgley Bridge — arrives early on summer weekends, fills quickly

• No developed facilities at the swimming hole — pack in everything, pack out all waste

• Trail: approximately 1 mile each way, 360-foot descent, steep in places — sturdy shoes required, expect wet feet

• Creek crossings required — wear shoes suitable for water

• No lifeguard — swim at your own risk

• Huckaby Trail full loop: approximately 5 miles from Schnebly Hill Road trailhead

#MidgleyBridge #OakCreek #SedonaSwimming #HuckabyTrail #SedonaHiking #OakCreekCanyon #RedRock #ArizonaSwimming #Sedona #AZPlaces #YavapaiCounty #CoconinoCounty #RedRockPass #ArizonaCreek #SedonaArizona