Sedona
Around Flagstaff - Arizona
Current: Due to the tremendous volume of visitors, shuttles are operated year-round, Thursday through Sunday, to several trailheads around Sedona.
When the shuttles are in operation, the parking lots at Cathedral Rock and Soldier Pass are closed. All info can be found on the official webpage. If the number of visitors is very high, the shuttles will also be used on the other days of the week. Current updates on this topic can also be found on the official homepage.
Our visits: So far 3 visits in October 2011, May 2013 and June 2023
NEW !!!
Sedona
Description: Sedona is located 48 km south of Flagstaff at the exit of the Oak Creek Canyon in the Verde Valley. Because of its great location between huge sandstone cliffs, Sedona attracts several million tourists every year.
Our rating: Sedona is great because the town actually offers tourists everything they need for a nice stay. Especially nature enthusiasts get their money's worth here on the numerous hiking and climbing trails. The only real downer are the enormous prices that you have to pay here, especially for accommodation.
Mesa Trail
Description: The Mesa Trail leads once around the Airport Mesa. Since the day was already advanced, we hiked only a small part of it and then watched the sunset at an overlook. The trail leads up and down, but is not really strenuous. It is also very well maintained. The only problem is getting a parking spot at the trailhead. These are very limited and usually full. If you want to be here for sunset, you should arrive early.
Our rating: Very nice trail, because you hike almost on top of the mesa and so always have a great view into the valley. Absolute recommendation if you are in Sedona.
West Fork of the Oak Creek Trail
One note in advanceg: The parking situation at the trailhead is very tight. If you want to hike the trail, you should be there early to get a spot in the official parking lot. In addition, the valley through which you drive is very narrow and the possibilities to park are also almost non-existent.
Description: The trail, as the name implies, meanders along the western branch of Oak Creek. During the hike you cross the creek 26 times. This provides additional variety on this, already great, trail. It's uphill and downhill at times, but not too strenuous. Sometimes you have to climb, but even that is good to master.
Entrance fees and opening hours
- 12$/vehicle max. 5 persons
- Daily from 7am to sunset
Trail length: 6.2mi roundtrip
Altitude difference: approx. 492ft
Time needed: 5 hours
Difficulty level: easy - The trail is well developed and good to hike.
Our rating: A very great trail. We made very slow progress simply because we kept stopping to enjoy our wonderful surroundings. We were on the trail in May 2013 and there was not much water in the creek. That's why the numerous crossings were not particularly difficult. You could mostly hop from rock to rock without risking wet feet. Even if you don't hike the entire trail, it's worth a trip.
Soldier Pass Trail
One note in advance!!! The trailhead is basically located in a residential area. It is not easy to find parking and there are not many parking spaces available. Therefore, like almost everywhere in Sedona, it's not a bad idea to be there early.
Description: You can hike the trail quite a bit further than we did. But we were especially interested in the Seven Sacred Pools, which you reach after about 1.5 km. Unfortunately, there was not much water in the Pools in May 2013. The trail leads uphill and downhill from time to time, sometimes you have to climb over larger stones, but otherwise the trail is easy to hike.
Trail length: 1.8mi roundtrip
Altitude difference: approx. 459ft
Time needed: 2 hours
Difficulty level: easy
Our rating: Very nice trail over red sandstone. There are always great views and the trail is just fun. Next time we will certainly hike it further.
Schnebly Hill Road
Description: Schnebly Hill Road connects Sedona to Interstate 17 in a relatively direct route. The road winds through hills and offers great views of Sedona and the red mountains around it. We drove the road from Sedona in May 2013 and gave up after a few switchbacks because of its very poor condition. We don't know how the road continues further on.
Our rating: Except for the road condition, the road up here is really great, because you have really great viewpoints of Sedona. With the appropriate car, it's certainly more fun.
Airport Mesa
Description: This is an overlook right at the airport in Sedona. You drive up to the top of the Mesa and park in the large parking lot directly across from the lookout. Since this is a well-known place, you should be there in time especially for sunset because it can get very crowded.
Our rating: Unfortunately, when we visited in May 2013, the weather was not so optimal, but it is a great location to watch the sunset and the then glowing colorful rocks.
Bell Rock
Description: Bell Rock, is one of the popular places in Sedona. There are several trails, in several degrees of difficulty, around and on the Bell Rock. During our visit in May 2013, we unfortunately did not have much time left and so we could only take a look at the rock.
Our rating: Since we only made a small stopover, we can't say very much more here than that Bell Rock makes quite a nice sight.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Description: This Roman Catholic church was completed in 1956, after 18 months of construction. The cost was 300000$. The architect was August K. Strotz. It is now, because of its unique location, in the middle of the rocks, one of the attractions in the Sedona area.
For the GPS: 780 Chapel Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336
Our rating: Quite nice, because there are beautiful views. For us now the church is not an unconditiona must see, but still worth a little detour if you're in the area.
Tlaquepaque
Description: Tlaquepaque is a small art and shopping mall in Sedona. It is modeled after a small Mexican village and mean the best of everything. It houses numerous stores with artisan objects.
Our rating: We liked Tlaquepaque very much. For me as an artist, there was a lot of inspiration here. Also, the grounds are beautiful with all the trees, benches and shady nooks. What we especially liked was the Oak Creek Brewery. They had really tasty beer here. Not necessarily common in the USA.
