Red rock hikes, starry skies and desert calm
Sedona is a small town in northern Arizona surrounded by towering red sandstone buttes, about two hours north of Phoenix. This guide covers the town, the Red Rock trails around it, Oak Creek Canyon and classic day trips like the Grand Canyon. Visitors come for hiking, jeep tours, spas and the spiritual reputation of its so-called vortex sites. It suits hikers, couples and anyone chasing big desert scenery with comfortable lodging.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
Sedona's most photographed formation, with a short, steep scramble trail to a saddle between red spires. The view of Oak Creek below is classic.
Check the official site for current prices.
A bell-shaped butte by the main highway into Sedona, with easy trails around its base and scrambling routes higher up. It is said to be a vortex site.
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A modern Catholic chapel built into the red rocks in 1956, with a tall cross window looking out over the valley. It is a peaceful stop with great views.
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The largest natural sandstone arch in the area, reached by a moderate hike, with a famous photo spot standing on top. Lines for photos can be long.
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A natural water slide in the slippery creek bed of Oak Creek Canyon, with swimming holes and an old apple orchard. It is a summer favorite.
Vehicle entry was 20 dollars off peak and 30 dollars at peak times for up to four people on the official site in 2026.
A flat-topped mesa with a short trail and overlook giving 360-degree views of the town and buttes. It is the most popular sunset spot.
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A shopping village built in Mexican colonial style with courtyards, fountains, galleries and restaurants under sycamore trees. It is a pleasant place to stroll.
Not confirmed on an official page; check locally for any fees.
Off-road jeep tours that climb rocky tracks into the red rock backcountry with a guide. They are a Sedona tradition.
Check the official site for current prices.
The famous mile-deep canyon carved by the Colorado River, seen from viewpoints along the South Rim. It is the classic day trip from Sedona.
The private vehicle entry fee was 35 dollars on the official park site in 2026.
A five-story cliff dwelling built by the Sinagua people around 800 years ago, tucked into a limestone cliff. A short paved trail leads past it.
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Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one on the south side, day two for Devil's Bridge and a jeep tour, day three in Oak Creek Canyon and Tlaquepaque.
A hillside former copper mining town of galleries and wine bars.
28 mi · Car, about 50 minutes each way
A scenic train through a remote canyon.
22 mi · Car to Clarkdale, about 40 minutes, then a 4-hour train ride
A mountain town with Lowell Observatory and a historic downtown.
31 mi · Car through Oak Creek Canyon, about 50 minutes
A hilltop pueblo ruin near Clarkdale with valley views.
28 mi · Drive about 45 minutes
A long but doable day trip to see the canyon.
112 mi · Drive about 2 hours 30 minutes, or book a tour
Well preserved cliff dwellings from the Sinagua people.
22 mi · Drive about 35 minutes
Best: March to May and September to November. Warm days and cool nights are ideal for hiking, avoiding summer heat and winter chill.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
October (October 10 to 11 in 2026)
An outdoor art show with over a hundred artists against the red rocks.
Typically February
Independent film screenings in town; confirm dates on the official site.
Late October to early November
Cottonwoods and sycamores turn gold along the creek canyon.
There is no US government advisory for domestic travel, so this follows the UK FCDO USA advice, which says violent crime rarely affects tourists; crime is low; the main risks are heat, dehydration, getting lost on trails and flash floods in monsoon season.
Uptown and Tlaquepaque are walkable, but trailheads and viewpoints are spread out and need a car or shuttle.
The free Sedona Shuttle serves popular trailheads, but there is little other transit.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: first-timers, families
Shops, restaurants and views near Oak Creek Canyon.
Best for: budget, adventure
More affordable hotels near many trailheads and local restaurants.
Best for: couples, golf
South of town near Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock.
Best for: nature, couples
Creekside cabins and lodges among the trees.
Best for: couples, art lovers
Upscale resorts near the arts village and Oak Creek.
| Main airport | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), 118 mi from the center |
| To the center | Rent a car and drive about 2 hours via I-17, or book a scheduled airport shuttle. |
| Around town | A car is essential for most trailheads and day trips. Use the free Sedona Shuttle to avoid full parking lots at the busiest hikes. |
| Ride apps | Uber, Lyft |
Cactus fruit in margaritas, lemonade and desserts.
Fuel before a hike, often with green chile.
Frybread topped with beans, meat and cheese.
The Verde Valley has a growing wine trail.
Look for local takes on tacos, fry bread and green chile.
Margaritas and syrups made from the desert cactus fruit.
Small local wineries are a short drive away in Cottonwood and Page Springs.
| Plugs | Type A and B, 120 V |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Tipping | Tip 18 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and 15 to 20 percent for taxis and rideshares. |
| Payments | Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for small vendors, parking meters and tips. |
| Etiquette | Dress is casual. Stay on trails, pack out trash and do not build rock cairns or stack stones. |
Ancestral Sinagua people farmed the Verde Valley and built cliff dwellings here roughly 800 years ago, and the Yavapai and Apache later lived in the area. Anglo settlers arrived in the late 1800s and grew fruit along Oak Creek, naming the town after settler Sedona Schnebly in 1902. From the 1940s Hollywood filmed dozens of Westerns among the red rocks. In the 1980s it gained fame as a New Age center, and tourism now drives the town.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.