Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is a red, hot mess of paradise. it has been growing more popular in the last decade, and we hate to encourage more people to go to a place we love so much, but what can we say? We’re givers.

Transportation

Just to get to Sedona you will probably have had to rent a vehicle or drive your own. There is no train and while there are shuttle services, once you get to Sedona you will need some way to get around. If you want to set up a shuttle, a cursory google search will give you a few options, but again, you’ll need some way to get around when you’re there, so plan accordingly. If you’re into ATVs or horses though, there will be options.

There are many sites and hikes but they are not within walking distance of each other, and if you want to go another two hours north to the Grand Canyon, you will want a vehicle. Almost everything is accessible by road, so you will not need anything out of the ordinary. There are buses, taxis, and ridesharing (in Sedona), as well as rentable modes of transport like ATVs and even horses, though those are mostly for tours and trails, especially if you’re not experienced.

We stick by our advice of using a car because that’s going to open up a lot of freedom for you to get around and see more Just know there are other ways to make your way, if you want to make the effort.

Where to Stay

There is a place to stay that suits everyone’s speed in Sedona. Resorts, timeshares, hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, campsites; it has it all. Book ahead of time though. This gem of a location is only becoming more popular and can be full at any time of the year given the warmer climate of the American Southwest and the beautiful pictures always popping up on the internet (see below).

Where to Go and What to Do

Our trips have been in the summer months and it was hot. A dry heat, we were told, but hot nonetheless. The sun was capable of burning, so plan sun protection accordingly. We enjoyed the days that it rained (almost every day on our first trip), because Sedona is a place you go to be outside, and a on a 90 degree hike the rain is a great help and keeps you going.

All that to say that despite the heat, Sedona is a place to be outside, to commune with nature, to get out to places where there are few if any people around. Below is a list of our personal favorites. Do note that to stop and hike at msome places around Sedona you will need a Red Rock Pass; click the link for details.

1. Devils Bridge is an absolute must see if you are in or near Sedona. There are many natural bridges in the world, and even some others in Arizona, but this one is a great feature in a land filled with great features. You can walk out onto and across it, but be careful, there are no guardrails here.

2. Cathedral Rock is one of the most photographed places in Arizona, and does cut a nice figure against the red rock landscape and clear blue sky. The hike can take as long as an hour to the top, but usually about 40 minutes.

3. Wilson Mountain is a personal favorite. 11.5 miles out-and-back, this hike offers red rocks, an occasionally challenging climb, and a varying landscape over the course of the hike including forested areas and meadows near the top. The view is fantastic and this hike is not one of the better know or better traveled, perhaps due to the distance. If you’re looking for some solitude, this is for you.

4. Situated around Oak Creek on what used to be an apple farm, Slide Rock State Park is a rare chance to cool down in the water in an otherwise dry locale. Shallow water flows over slippery rock, creating natural water “slides” which delight children and adults alike. Walking along the creek upstream is slow going but rewarding, and there are pools deep enough to swim in. Check the official website for times and costs to enter.

5. Courthouse Butte shares a loop trail with another of our favorites, Bell Rock. The loop is about 4 miles and moderately challenging, but not hard. Courthouse Butte is low hanging fruit as far as sights around Sedona go, so best check it off the list.

6.

Bell Rock is a unique rock feature, jutting up from the landscape and dominating the surrounding area. It is an easy hike from a nearby parking lot to get to Bell Rock and the ground is fairly open with scrub, small trees, and rocks hemming in the paths which are marked by rocks in circular cages.

As you approach Bell Rock the ground opens up and turns upward toward the summit. Making it to the very top is very hard and requires climbing. Not recommended for casual climbers, but you can get fairly high just by walking and scrambling, and the view is quite nice.

8.

Devil’s Kitchen is a large, open sinkhole and first of the notable sights on Soldier Pass Trail.

9.

Soldier Pass Cave isn’t technically on the Soldier Pass Trail but on a spur off of it, into the middle of the loop of all four trails, a little short of 1.5 miles into the hike. The Cave is also less of a cave than several semi-covered areas open to the elements. The view and formation of the caves is novel though, and worth the extra 0.5 miles each way.

10.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross was built in 1956 and is a striking counterpoint to the surrounding red rock. A winding ramp leads from the parking area up to the Chapel, which is open from 9-5 every day. While not a reason to visit Sedona in itself, it is a nice stop not far from the town proper.

11.

Visiting Tlaquepaque is much more fun than trying to pronounce Tlaquepaque (T-la-keh-pah-keh), we assure you. A village sized area with small shops and eateries, Tlaquepaque is a great place to go to escape the heat and enjoy some Arizona culture at your ease. Quintessentially, the self described “Art and Soul of Sedona” colorful, shaded, situated along Oak Creek, and growing. Just recently a second section of Tlaq has opened up across the street from the original and still thriving shopping/artist village.

Click here for a Google Map of our favorite places in Sedona, Arizona.