Getting Lost in the Remote Arizona Desert Taught Me More About Travel Than Any Book Ever Could

I’m a firm believer that solo travel mistakes are not failures, but rather valuable lessons.

The impact of the lesson depends on the severity of the mistake, of course, a fact I learned all too well when I got lost in the remote Arizona deserts on a hike. Young and naive, I set off on an unmarked trail in Sedona with no food, water, or map, yet all the confidence in the world. As you can probably imagine, that didn’t work out so well for me, but miraculously, I came out of the whole ordeal unscathed. I like to think my stupidity (calling a spade a spade here!) served a purpose by teaching me what not to do on future travels, and I think I’m right because I haven’t found myself in a similar situation on any of my solo travel trips since that harrowing experience. Are you ready to hear my tale of woe? It never gets any less embarrassing to share, but I always tell myself I didn’t go through all of that for nothing! 

Author's Note: these are generic photos of the Sedona area and do not depict the actual trail I hiked.

Allow me to set the scene (in the most dramatic way possible, of course). It was a balmy June afternoon in Sedona as I pulled into a tiny, unpaved parking lot for an unmarked trail somewhere near Bell Rock. It very well could’ve had a name, but I didn't have AllTrails or a map of any kind, so to this day I still have no idea where I actually was. You’re probably wondering why I didn’t just hike the Bell Rock Trail like a regular tourist, and my answer is that I honestly don’t know. I think it was a combination of youthful rebelliousness, a sprinkle of willful ignorance, and watching one too many "van life" YouTube videos. At any rate, I left my fear (and my water bottle, snacks, and common sense) in the car as I excitedly began my hike. 

I’d be remiss not to mention how beautiful the scenery was. The combination of Sedona’s signature red rocks and the lack of any other hikers made for quite a surreal experience. I even got to enjoy a beautiful view of Bell Rock in the near distance without having to deal with the crowds on the main trail. 

I can’t remember the exact moment when things went wrong on this solo travel hike. All I know is that one minute I was on the trail, and the next, it was nowhere to be seen. I didn’t think much of it at first, continuing in the general direction I was headed with the expectation that the trail would pick back up at any minute. Well, friends, that was not the case. 

For a minute or two, I just stared into the distance like a deer in headlights, wondering what to do next. Eventually, I decided the best course of action would be to turn around and try to retrace my steps back to the parking lot, but this ended up being a nearly impossible feat. My air of confidence evaporated in an instant; I could feel my chest tightening as the situation quickly devolved into something very dangerous. By this time, the sun was creeping ever lower in the sky, its typically magical golden-hour glow feeling ominous. With nightfall approaching and no food, water, or cell service, I was filled with a sense of urgency I had never felt before. My pace quickened -- especially when I started hearing coyotes (I promise I'm not making that up!) and I honestly wasn't sure how the night would end for me.

Then, by some miracle, I stumbled off the trail and into the parking lot just before dusk fell. I was so giddy (and perhaps a bit delusional from dehydration) that I gave my car a hug when I saw it. After drinking approximately a gallon of water in under five minutes and shoveling down a few granola bars, I started feeling like my old self again—albeit with my head screwed on a smidge tighter.

Don't be like me (although I'm almost certain you have more common sense than I did)—download the AllTrails app on your phone so you don't have to worry about getting lost on solo travel trips. If you can sign up for AllTrails+, that would be even better! Perks like offline map access let you explore remote areas with confidence.

Despite my awful ordeal, I still think Sedona is one of the best places for solo travel in the U.S. Have you ever been, and if so, do you agree? Share your thoughts in the comments! Check out our previous article for some handy solo travel tips. It's always good to be prepared before a trip, but even more so if you're going it alone!