Things to Do in Sedona

With clusters of natural wonders in every direction, it’s difficult to pin down a specific list of attractions. But what follows are a few premier highlights.

Chapel of The Holy Cross

The most compelling work of art in town doesn’t hang in a gallery. It rises from the ground and merges elegantly with the surrounding towers of stone. The Chapel of the Holy Cross was designed by sculptor, Marguerite Brunswig Staude and completed in 1957. The chapel perches 200 feet above the valley floor, thrusting upward between two burly pillars of rock. High cliffs of salmon hues form the backdrop. The interior of the chapel is simple and unadorned. A few benches, some tapestries and flickering candles create a serene, meditative oasis, while soft sunlight streams through the floor-to-ceiling window.

Art & Galleries

Sedona’s breathtaking natural beauty has become an inspiring haven for artists of every kind. Public artworks can be found throughout the city for your enjoyment. The Gallery District is a delightful walk just outside of Uptown and other locations can be reached by a short drive or taking one of two of our Trolley systems. We hope you will visit our art-filled plazas and parks with this map as your guide. Please use WalkSedona.com on your mobile phone for directions.

Red Rocks & Hiking

If you’ve ever seen a photo of Sedona, chances are you’ve seen Crescent Moon Picnic Area, known locally as Red Rock Crossing. That image of Oak Creek flowing in front of majestic Cathedral Rock is one of the most photographed images in the Southwest. Don’t be surprised to find radiant brides and glowing grooms posing for their wedding portrait on the rocky banks. The shallow stream meanders past the base of Cathedral Rock and through forested groves. On the bank opposite Cathedral you’ll notice dozens of stacked rock totems, looking like a miniature Stonehenge. This is Buddha Beach, considered to be the site of a powerful vortex.

Eight Hiking Tips for the Desert

For those who also like a challenge, Schnebly Hill Road makes a twisted ascent through red rock tablelands to the pine forests of the Colorado Plateau with sprawling vistas along the way. The rugged wagon road was scratched from rocky hillsides by Sedona pioneers at the turn of the last century, and it hasn’t changed much in the years since. The first mile is paved but don’t be fooled. The road quickly turns primitive, a lane pockmarked, ledged and veined with rocky fragments. Making a steady climb, views sweep across an expanse of sandstone formations to the wall of Mingus Mountain at the far edge of the Verde Valley. If you don’t have a high clearance vehicle, consider taking a jeep tour.

Slide Rock State Park & Red Rock State Park

Sedona is bracketed by two spectacular state parks. Seven miles north of town, in what once was a thriving orchard, stone banks throttle Oak Creek into a slender fast-moving channel creating a natural water ride. Along the route are pools of varying depths, perfect for wading and swimming. Slide Rock State Park is one of the beloved swimming holes in the Southwest. Word of warning: Wear cut-offs or other sturdy shorts. If you’re here during a non-swimming time of year, you can wander the old orchards in peace and explore the bony banks of the creek until you find a scenic spot and picnic like there’s no tomorrow.

Red Rock State Park offers a more nuanced but equally satisfying encounter, without having to peel off a wet bathing suit. Southwest of town, the park exists as a bit of wilderness snatched from development and reinvented as living laboratory. The 286-acre nature preserve contains a network of trails, everything from creekside rambles to high dramatic vistas. Staff and volunteers conduct daily activities such as bird watching tours, wildflower walks, moonlight hikes and geology discussions.