The highlight of my inaugural trip to the “Grand Canyon State” was undoubtedly the enchanting stay I had in the breathtaking landscapes of Sedona, Arizona after starting a day off in the vibrant allure of Scottsdale. Sedona is known for being a sacred and powerful location, drawing visitors worldwide to experience the energies of the red rocks themselves. Renowned for its spiritual significance, Sedona’s many vortex sites (places where the earth is alive with energy, to put it simply) are believed to facilitate healing and enlightenment and its large community dedicated to spiritual practices that you can see every few blocks is interspersed with wellness boutiques and resorts that assist you in being one with nature.
Some of the most popular vortexes to visit in Sedona are located at Airport Mesa, Bell Rock, Boynton Canyon, and Cathedral Rock (which I’ll go into more detail below). Even if you have no interest in energies (I also take that stuff with a grain of salt), I will say that I felt inspired and in awe of the beauty around me and there was an endless excitement that I felt exploring the picturesque Sedona, Arizona. The vibe was relaxing and classy and it really felt like a retreat – I think anyone who visits may feel the same! Although it is in the middle of the desert, you get 360-degree mountain views and it was a similar, but also different feeling I had when visiting the Rocky Mountains in Alberta and British Columbia. After spending 3 days in Sedona, Arizona, it easily became one of my favorite places in the United States.
When To Visit Sedona, Arizona
The best time to visit is during the spring between March to May and the fall between October to November. That is because the temperature is comfortable and ideal for outdoor activities and it’s not scathing hot like it can be in the summer. In a place like Sedona, you’ll truly enjoy the serene and peaceful experience you can get when there are fewer people around!
My best friend and I visited in mid-February and it was such a good move to book our trip to Sedona, Arizona during this time. Although it was only a couple degrees Celsius at most in the morning, it quickly warmed up to about 15-18°C at about 11 AM and it was very comfortable even hiking in a sports bra. It wasn’t too hot nor too cold – the weather was just perfect to explore. Plus, there actually weren’t too many people or over-crowdedness – although, in some locations, you’ll want to wake up extra early to get there for either parking spaces or to be able to get on the shuttle without having to wait for the next one to a particular trail you may want to visit.
How To Get To Sedona, Arizona And How To Get Around
We rented a car on Turo and selected pickup and drop off at the airport and conveniently drove from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) to Scottsdale the first night, spent the next day exploring the area, and then drove to Sedona which is about 2 hours away. It’s best to have your own vehicle as there isn’t much transportation around the Sedona area and to get to certain hiking spots, you’ll need your own way to get there.
There is also limited access to shuttles around Sedona, depending on which hotels you stay at, as well as the option for RideShare programs like Uber or Lyft – but beware that they’re not always readily available and you’ll be lucky to get a ride!
Where To Stay In Sedona, Arizona
Known as one of Arizona’s best towns to visit, there are a few areas you can choose to stay in Sedona, Arizona and they include:
Uptown (Downtown) Sedona – Where most of the shops, restaurants, and main attractions are, but it’s still not necessarily walkable and you’ll need to drive.
West Sedona – Just a few minutes’ drive from the main Downtown Sedona area, it is a bit quieter than Uptown but even closer to scenic areas.
Village of Oak Creek – If you’re looking for serene quietness, you may opt for this area in Sedona that’s about 10 minutes away from Uptown. You’ll be just a bit further out from the hiking areas and restaurants but having the desert landscape and clear night skies may be worth it for you.
I personally would choose Uptown or West Sedona as a first-time visitor as you want to opt for convenience. I’ve learned from the past that this makes such a difference when traveling and saving a few bucks eventually didn’t seem to be worth my time – you don’t always want to be driving around or waiting on transportation if you could’ve just booked your accommodations right there and be able to walk when the option is available!
We had an amazing and comfortable stay at the Arabella Hotel Sedona in Uptown Sedona. When we visited, it wasn’t too busy at all with very little crowds. It was in a central location, very convenient for us to visit multiple locations for food, hikes, and other attractions, and they offered plenty of amenities including many on-site activities. It kind of felt like a resort as there was a daily schedule where you could choose what activities you wanted to attend and there were separate buildings and areas for accommodations and amenities.
Some activities included live music, yoga, meditation, and massage sessions, stargazing with a professional telescope, game nights, s’mores by the fire, and more! They also have their own mini trail on their property where you can watch the sunset by the fire.
Breakfast was also included with a variety of items to choose from (I thought it was better than your typical continental breakfasts). They also have takeaway boxes for your convenience – so pack some snacks as you’re heading out to the trails for the day! A perk for some people is that this hotel is also pet-friendly (dogs specifically) with doggie socials.
Popular Restaurants To Visit
Sedona, Arizona is often associated with the hippie culture and has built a reputation with its spiritual and New Age communities. Along with being totally surrounded by nature, many restaurants here proudly create unique dishes that can only be found here with their local ingredients and healthy but delicious menus. A few of their most popular restaurants include the following so be sure to book reservations in advance if you can!
Mariposa Latin Grill
89 AgaveCantina
Dahl & DiLuca Ristorante
René at Tlaquepaque – This is actually the most romantic restaurant in Sedona and lucky enough for us, they weren’t judgy about us being in our hiking clothes (but honestly, I’ll do my best to never do this again because it’s a really classy restaurant but were craving the French onion soup and it’s one of the best we’ve had!)
The Vault Uptown
Cowboy Club
Cress On Oak Creek
Tii Gavo
Javelina Cantina
Open Range Grill & Tavern
Wildflower
Molé – Conveniently located at Arabella Hotel Sedona
Sedona Memories Café
ChocolaTree Organic Eatery
The Best Things To Do In Sedona, Arizona
As mentioned above, Sedona, Arizona is known for its mystical vortexes but it also offers an abundance of hiking trails that not only showcases the stunning landscapes but also provides opportunities for every level of adventurer. Beyond the lovely outdoors, the vibrant arts scene that boasts local talent also further inspires your inner creativity. Also, don’t miss the chance to indulge in this town’s culinary delights – that’s one area we wish we had a little more time doing but we really wanted to just explore the outdoors and do as much as we can. Whatever activities you may end up deciding on, Sedona promises an unforgettable experience in just 3 days.
Note: To make the most out of your 3 days in Sedona, Arizona, you may want to start your mornings and head out around 7 AM. Or if you’re looking to explore this beautiful town in a more leisurely way, you can extend your trip to 4 or 5 days to make sure you can also enjoy all the amenities your accommodations may offer and have a good mix of adventure and relaxation.
First Day In Sedona, Arizona
Bell Trail – The Crack
Time Spent – 3 hours
Why You Should Visit – Although this isn’t in Sedona, it’s on the way to Sedona if you’re coming from Scottsdale like I did. It is about 3.5 miles each way for this hike but once you get to The Crack, it’s like a secret oasis and you can also do cliff jumping too right into the swimming hole. If you rather just wade in the pool, the south side is shallow enough to do just that or you can even sunbathe here. But make sure to avoid weekends or go early in the morning to avoid crowds.
Bell Rock Trail
Time Spent – 15 to 45 minutes
Why You Should Visit – This trail is open year-round and it’s a fairly quick hike with gorgeous panoramic views at the top. However, if you just want a short hike or are short on time, you can actually see the view within 10 to 15 minutes of your walk and there’s no need to hike the entire trail. Sometimes the short hikes are quite satisfying considering how many trails you may have on your itinerary in a day!
Time Spent – 1 to 2 hours
Why You Should Visit – This is probably my favorite hike in Sedona, Arizona and I would actually love to go back – and that’s saying a lot as I rarely like to revisit places unless I totally love them! This is not only a fun and challenging hike, you get the most picturesque views right from the beginning at the parking lot. And if you go early enough, you can also spot the hot air balloons from a distance.
Things To Know – I highly encourage wearing hiking shoes for this particular hike as it is steep, slippery because of the smooth rocks, and requires some scrambling to get to the top. This is also one of the few locations in Sedona where you need to take a shuttle from a designated parking lot to get here on Thursdays to Sundays (unless otherwise stated) as the parking lot is very small and it’s a very popular attraction so it gets very busy. We took the first shuttle at 7 AM and it was the perfect time to avoid crowds. You can see the shuttle schedule here.
Chapel Of The Holy Cross
Time Spent – 15 minutes or less
Why You Should Visit – This is actually rated number 1 of the 10 best attractions in Sedona, Arizona and although Cathedral Rock still is number 1 for me, I can see why. This Roman Catholic chapel was built into the side of the red rocks and was completed in 1956. This idea came about when local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude was inspired to build a church “by the construction of the Empire State Building” in Budapest, Hungary but because of World War 2, she decided to build it in her own backyard.
Things To Know – Who doesn’t love a quick stop where you can get to the main attraction right away? You can literally get a photo of this church just by being in your car and driving by – it does get crowded (surprisingly the most crowded location we’ve been to in Sedona) so being able to get your photos right from the comfort of your car is very convenient to say the least.
Tlaquepaque Art and Shopping Village
Time Spent – 2 to 3 hours
Why You Should Visit – This outdoor market was created after a traditional Mexican Village, Tlaquepaque, which means “the best of everything” and it has been a famous Sedona landmark since the 1970s. Originally an artist community where a variety of artists come together to create and display their artwork, it has now become a location for a unique shopping experience in Sedona along with many highly-rated restaurants, art galleries, craft shops, and specialty shops. The cobblestone paths, decorative arches, and unique look also offers opportunities for some great photos.
Things To Know – It can get quite busy so plan your visit before 11 AM, between 2 to 4 PM, or even after dinner as the sun is setting.
Grasshopper Point
Time Spent – 15 minutes to 1 hour
Why You Should Visit – As a desert oasis, it’s always nice to be able to get some water views! This scenic swimming hole is right at the base of Oak Creek Canyon surrounded by the red rock cliffs and is a popular location for swimming (no cliff diving or jumping here for safety reasons), fishing, relaxing, and hiking. There are 3 nearby hikes you can also choose to do: Allen’s bend, Casner Canyon Trail, and Huckaby Trail.
Things To Know – This location is only open from April 1 to October 31, so be sure to only visit if you’re traveling between that time frame.
Second Day In Sedona, Arizona
Airport Mesa
Time Spent – 30 minutes
Why You Should Visit – As mentioned earlier, Airport Mesa is one of Sedona’s famous vortex locations and you get astounding views of Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Chimney Rock, Coffee Pot Rock, and Courthouse Butte. If you’re short on time, this is a must-visit as you can kill a few birds with one stone with these 360-degree views and you can choose to either hike to it or drive to it.
Soldier Pass Trail To Seven Sacred Pools
Time Spent – 30 minutes to 1 hour
Why You Should Visit – Getting to Seven Sacred Pools from Soldier Pass Trail is the closest trail you can hike to get to this location. To be honest, they kind of looked like large puddles in person but if you can get the right angle and lighting (sunrise or sunset), you can get some really cool photos. And I will say that the short hike was actually pretty nice and there are a few things to look at. We also saw a mama deer and her baby as we were hiking to the pools. I would say this is worth it only because the hike is so short and the mountain views made it even more scenic.
Things To Know – Like Cathedral Rock, on Thursdays to Sundays, you’ll need to take a shuttle from their designated parking lot to get to this location. You can see the shuttle schedule here. There is extremely limited parking here and we visited on a Monday and waited about 45 minutes for parking when we got there around 8 AM.
Sugarloaf Trail
Time Spent – 40 minutes to 1 hour
Why You Should Visit – If you want an easy hike that doesn’t take a lot of time or energy with all-around views, this is a trail you may opt for. Because I do have some better hikes on this itinerary (and some that are more challenging), I have personally skipped this but I included this trail in my 3-day itinerary for Sedona for those who would like an simpler hiking option.
Devil’s Bridge
Time Spent – 2 to 4 hours
Why You Should Visit – This is a challenging and fun hike – probably my second favorite hike in Sedona, and even though I am a bit apprehensive about heights without barriers like on this mountain, I did really enjoy it. As you’re nearing the top, it gets more challenging as you have to climb a bit and paths do get narrower and closer to the edge. You get awesome views near the top and as you get closer to the actual bridge, that’s when the exhilaration really begins. I will be honest, I was probably the only one there that feared walking onto the bridge and couldn’t go all the way to the middle because what if it just collapsed?! And also, it got narrower towards the middle so no thanks. I still think the risk is there, maybe not in my lifetime but it’s possible! And there have been reports that people have fallen off and died so I rather just not risk it for pictures – it’s never worth it to me although it did look safe when people walked to take photos. Other than that – it is a gorgeous place to take photos and to be at the top and experience it for yourself. The end reward is absolutely worth it and you can say you did it and faced a fear!
Things To Know – You can get to Devil’s Bridge from Devil’s Bridge Trailhead which is a 1.8-mile roundtrip hike, but if their parking is full, your other option is to head to Mescal Trailhead and start from there (which we had to do), making the roundtrip hike about 3.9 miles. Once you’re at Devil’s Bridge, there is a line to get your Instagram-worthy photo – I’ve heard that some people have waited a couple of hours, but I got lucky to only have to wait about 10 minutes – so always go as early as you can! Also with this trail, on Thursdays to Sundays, you’ll need to take a shuttle from their designated parking lot to get to this location. You can see the shuttle schedule here.
Subway Cave (Boynton Canyon Cave)
Time Spent – 3 to 6 hours
Why You Should Visit – Simply because of the unique views! And if you like hiking and don’t mind a longer trail (6.1 miles roundtrip to be exact), a challenge, or heights, this is for you. You can even see the ancient cave of the Sinagua people with petroglyphs on the red rocks.
Things To Know – You will start this hike off at Boynton Canyon Trail but do keep an eye out as the turn-off to the Subway Cave is a little hard to find. For the Subway Cave views you see in photos, you do need to turn around to see it (just like the Birthing Cave which was underwhelming but it was an easy and somewhat quick hike – FYI, if you do go, stand all the way to the back and use a very wide-angle camera lens!). Now exiting the Subway Cave may be tricky as you do need to walk out to the edge so be extremely careful and stay close to the wall as there is quite a drop.
Third Day In Sedona, Arizona
Secret Slick Rock Trail
Time Spent – 20 minutes
Why You Should Visit – You’ll get striking views of Cathedral Rock from afar and it’s such a short trail that it’s worth going for a different perspective.
Things To Know – The best time to visit is from January to June and you can also find people having engagement or wedding photoshoots here.
Red Rock State Park – Eagles Nest Loop Trail
Time Spent – 2 hours
Why You Should Visit – As one of the most popular State Parks in Sedona, it’s definitely worth visiting this 286-acre nature preserve. There are several trails for you to choose from, but Eagles Nest Loop was the most popular with 360-degree views from the top, and we were lucky to have it to ourselves for the majority of the time. There is also an abundance of plants and wildlife with the possibility to spot animals like bobcats, coyotes, javelina, lizards, mule deer, snakes, tarantulas, and even unique local birds. Unfortunately (or fortunately in my case), I didn’t see any of the above but it could be the season I visited.
Things To Know – Red Rock State Park promotes the preservation of nature and even has an environmental education center where you can learn more. There are no garbage cans so you need to take with you what you bring and leave no trace. Remember to stay on the designated trails
Palatki And Honanki Heritage Sites
Time Spent – 2 hours
Why You Should Visit – These sister archaeological sites are located in the Coconino National Forest of Sedona, Arizona and they were the largest cliff dwellings of this area between 1150-1350 AD. The Sinagua people, who were ancestors of the Hopi people, lived in this area and lived off the land. Now the stone ruins that were built into the canyon walls are left for us to see. There are 3 trails at the Palatki Heritage Site where you can either go up to the Sinagua cliff dwellings, one that is wheelchair accessible, and one that goes to the alcoves with pictographs of every native tribe that have lived in the Verde Valley.
Things To Know – To visit these locations, you must make reservations. There is a limited amount of space and tours are limited to 12 visitors at a time. Honanki Heritage Site is also closed when the temperature is over 100° F or when the roads are impassable, but they do have a larger set of ruins than Palatki if that helps you make a decision on which you’d like to visit more.
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