Sedona offers plenty of choices for active travelers who want to really see the Sonoran Desert whether on foot, by bike, in a jeep, or hot-air balloon.
There is nowhere in Arizona quite like Sedona. People travel to see its Red Rock landscape, which is unique, and stay to enjoy its other charms. It has stylish spas and resorts, welcoming inns, good restaurants, and an artistic/New Age atmosphere – all within a small town which is easy to walk around.
Red Rock Country
The first thing to do is to get out into the red rocks, whether you do this by yourself or by joining one of the popular jeep tours. Some of the rocks can be reached on foot, others are easier by bicycle, while some are a little further out of the town and can be seen by a combination of driving and then hiking a little.
There are several rock formations which have been given names, and it is easy to see why. One of the most famous is the Cathedral Rock, which is a few miles south of the town centre in the Coconino National Forest. It surprises visitors that there are so many forests in Arizona, which is thought of as mainly desert, but the Cathedral Rock is surrounded by trees.
Not far from Cathedral Rock are two more remarkable shapes: Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. Courthouse Butte is the taller of the two at 5,440 feet (1,660 m), and its name is a reminder that these formations are technically called buttes. It’s a dramatic shape familiar from many cowboy movies. Numerous films have used the Sedona landscape as backdrops, including Apache, Broken Arrow, and the original version of 3:10 to Yuma. Other rock formations you may want to see include Chicken Point, Coffee Pot Rock, Chimps Rock, and Snoopy Rock.
Oak Creek Canyon
Further south from Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock is Oak Creek Canyon, which has been described as a miniature version of the Grand Canyon. It is 12 miles (19.2 km) long, with towering sides, and it’s a popular place to go hiking, fishing, or swimming. It’s especially beautiful when the trees get their golden fall colors.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
In-between Cathedral Rock and the center of Sedona is the town’s most notable building: the Chapel of the Holy Cross. This modern structure built in an ancient landscape is truly striking. This Roman Catholic chapel was completed in 1856, having received special permission for its construction. It was a successful project as it has won various architectural awards and proved to be very popular with the people of Arizona and with visitors too.
These are the main sights in and around Sedona, but you should also allow time for simply enjoying the town itself, where strolling around its shops and galleries is also a delight.
