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Sedona, Arizona is thought to be one of the most peaceful cities in the world. The city is encompassed by giant red rock formations that are bound to make you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside with inspiration, as well as give you an enormous sense of tranquility during your time there. Here are the best things to do in Sedona, Arizona.
Get Your Heart Racing with Pink Jeep Tours
What Is It? The Pink Jeep Tours in Sedona are perfect for those who want to add a little adventure to their vacations!
Why Do It? These easily spotted bright vehicles take their passengers out into the Sedona outback to see some of the city’s famous red rock formations up close and to venture down into some of the steep trails for a heart-racing experience.
Good to Know: The Broken Arrow tour takes people on an all-jeep drive for some rough and rowdy fun, while the Wrangler Roundup splits the tour time between a jeep ride and a horseback ride.
Hike Cathedral Rock
What Is It? The hike up to Cathedral Rock is more of a leisure one than a challenging one, as it can be done by people of all fitness levels in just about an hour.
Why Do It? The path goes up some red dirt trails and large rocks and gives a view of the Sedona surroundings that is to die for. Cathedral Rock is one of the area’s most recognized rock formations and is worth every bit of effort that it takes to see and climb it.
Good to Know: Be sure to photograph the whole way up, as the sights only get better with height!
Enjoy a Scenic Drive to Oak Creek Canyon
What Is It? Oak Creek Canyon is one of the state’s most popular canyons aside from the world-famous Grand Canyon.
Why Do It? One of the best ways to see it in all its beauty is to take the drive from Sedona to Flagstaff, or vice-versa, and stop along the way to do some hiking, have a picnic, or even a day or two of camping.
Good to Know: The best times of year to go are in the spring and the fall, as those months are more comfortable for doing outdoor things in Arizona.
Walk Devil's Bridge
What Is It? From the Devil’s Bridge parking area, a round trip hike out to the bridge itself is only about two miles and doesn’t require a lot of strenuous walking.
Why Do It? This is one of the best hikes that you can do in the Sedona area, as the formation is unlike anything else you’ll see!
Good to Know: Once you get on the bridge it can get pretty steep, but the views are remarkable and completely breathtaking.
Shop and Dine on Main Street
What Is It? For tourists who enjoy a nice afternoon stroll down a quaint and cultured street, Main Street in the downtown Sedona area is the perfect place to do so.
Why Do It? There are lots of different gift shops and art galleries to look at, as well as restaurants for both fine and casual dining.
Good to Know: It’s a fun place to stretch your legs while doing a little shopping, and the background scenery of the famous red rocks makes it a very peaceful experience.
Admire the Galaxy with Sedona Stargazing
What Is It? Due to the fact that Sedona has virtually no light at night, no pollution, and is based at a higher altitude, it makes it dark and a perfect location for stargazing.
Why Do It? One of the most popular activities for families to do in the red rock city is to take an astronomy tour with the Sedona Stargazing company. These sky experts will guide you through an evening of educational fun while getting to use a telescope and admire some of the most beautiful star sights that you will see in your lifetime.
Good to Know: The organization has been featured in a number of national media pieces by newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal and National Geographic.
Learn About the Citys on a Sedona Trolley Tour
What Is It? If you’re walking around on the main street, you might see these big red trolleys drive by.
Why Do It? These are fun tours that only take a couple of hours and riders get to learn all about Sedona and the city’s history, as well as how the region has changed over the years.
Good to Know: The drivers are typically long-time locals and offer a lot of extra tidbit information that you might not hear anywhere else!
Go Vortex Hunting
What Is It? Vortexes are thought to be areas that emit high levels of natural energy, which makes them prime hot spots for paranormal activity and heightened spiritual awareness.
Why Do It? There are several vortexes in the Sedona area, and many visitors like to map them out and either hike or walk to them.
Good to Know: Fortunately, many vortex spots are in some of the popular hiking areas that you might pass anyway, so why not go on your own vortex treasure hunt?
Plunge Into the Water at Slide Rock State Park
What Is It? Slide Rock Park is more than just a place to sightsee, but it’s an incredible experience where people can pick apples, see historic buildings, and go down the natural rock water slide into the water for a dip!
Why Do It? It costs money to get in per car, but nearly everyone who decides to go in says it’s well worth it.
Good to Know: The best time of year to go is during the summer for swimming, but the spring and fall are very nice too.
See the Palatki Pictographs
What Is It? Palatki, which means red house in the Hopi language, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Coconino Forest near Sedona.
Why Do It? Visitors can get a fascinating glimpse of what life might have been like in the red rocks from the mid-12th to mid-14th centuries. The ancient cliff dwellings were once the home of the Hopi tribe and are now considered to be among the largest cave dwellings in the region. The Arizona Natural History Association runs the site and it’s open to the public all year-round.
Good to Know: There are three hiking trails, one of which will bring you to the pictographs, another that leads to the Sinagua cliff dwellings and one that will bring you to a view of the dwellings.
Take in the 360-degree View From Airport Mesa
What Is It? Sedona’s Airport mesa offers a 360-degree panoramic view over the red rocks and iconic landmarks at 4,500 feet from above the city.
Why Do It? There’s simply no other hike that offers such awe-inspiring views, and the moderate loop trail stretches for three-and-a-miles making it easily doable within just a couple of hours.
Good to Know: Parking at the trailhead is limited so you’ll need to arrive early or park a mile away, but that extra mile provides some pretty impressive scenery too. Plus, you’ll be experiencing the Mesa Vortex, an Upflow area that is known to provide a sense of serenity.
Fly Over Sedona in a Hot Air Balloon
What Is It? One of the most unforgettable things you can do in Sedona is to soar up into the skies above in a hot air balloon early in the morning, just as the sun begins to rise over the fiery crimson towers lining the eastern horizon.
Why Do It? Fly with the eagles, watching the sunrise during the ascent and then gaze down over at the stunning Red Rock Country.
Good to Know: There are two hot air balloon companies in Sedona – Northern Light is the oldest, here for nearly a half-century, and its experience ends with a much raved-about light champagne picnic breakfast.
Take a Helicopter Tour
What Is It? Another thrilling option for exploring the iconic red rock formations is to take a helicopter tour.
Why Do It? There are multiple outfitters and options for this flight-seeing experience, many of which will bring you on a 35-minute ride to take in the spectacular aerial views of the cliffs and ridges in the Sonoran Desert landscape. You’ll fly above landmarks like Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, the Three Nuns, Snoopy Rock and Steamboat Rock while watching for wildlife like deer, elk and javelinas that inhabit the desert terrain.
Good to Know: Heading back to Sedona, you’ll also get to glimpse Secret Canyon and the remarkable cliff-side dwellings of the Sinagua people that were built high up on an inaccessible cliff. A Viator tour includes pickup and drop-off at your Sedona hotel.
Yoga Among the Red Rocks
What Is It? Airbnb offers a number of experiences in Sedona, including outdoor yoga surrounded by the red rock landscape.
Why Do It? Your guide is an experienced and certified yoga instructor with a vast knowledge of the trails, which she’s been hiking for nearly 25 years. It begins with a short trek followed by breath work and movement that explores “release, flow, laugh and discover within your body in mind,” closing with a centering meditation.
Good to Know: The class was designed to open up participants “mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically to the possibilities within body, soul and mind.”
