Sedona is so beautiful that it’s really hard to go wrong with any of your hiking choices. But with hundreds of trails and gorgeous red rocks to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming at first.
After visitng Sedona many times, finally moving here because we love it so much, and now hosting family and friends who visit, we’ve come up with a one-day tour that will give you a good overview of Sedona trails, views, and vortexes in a half or full day, depending on the number of stops you choose along the way.
The tour begins at the “big rocks” on the south side of Sedona, takes you through Uptown in time for lunch or a snack, directs you out into the wilds beyond Thunder Mountain, and ends at Crescent Moon Ranch, a fee area that is extremely popular with photographers for its late afternoon reflections of Cathedral Rock in Oak Creek.
The Alltrails App will be helpful for more detailed trail info for any hike you choose along the way.
Enjoy!
HiLine Trail at sunset
Set your map app for: Bell Rock Trailhead
Depending on available parking, you can hop on a short trail at Bell Rock Trailhead, or U-turn and check out Courthouse Trailhead, or Little Horse. Any of these will offer great views and photo ops, and flat walks for as long or as short as you like. If you’d like another short hike in this area, circle around to Yavapai Trailhead on the other side of the road and take the trail up to HiLine. (Use the AllTrails app to find your way.) Full HiLine is a 7 mile hike, but just one mile will offer spectacular views.
Set your map app for: Oak Creek Vista
This will take you past the shopping area of Tlaquepaque, and through Uptown Sedona for souvenirs, snacks or lunch. As you continue through Uptown and into Oak Creek Canyon, you’ll pass by Grasshopper Point and Slide Rock State Park, both fee areas with swimming. There’s a Native American market on the left as you continue your drive. West Fork Trail is also ahead on this part of the tour and is a wonderful long hike along Oak Creek with multiple river crossings. Even a short walk on West Fork through a couple of the crossings is well worth it if you have time. You can continue your drive through the switchbacks to the top of the canyon and Oak Creek Vista, where there are great views and a Native American market.
Set your map app for: Airport Mesa
You’ll drive back down the canyon, back through Uptown, and enter West Sedona. At the top of Airport Mesa, you can pay a small fee to park and visit the Airport Vortex and Scenic Lookout if you like. Or just enjoy the drive and continue on!
Set your map app for: Doe Mountain Trailhead
If you’re hungry, Tortas de Fuego is along the way and offers delicious quesadillas, so big they come in a pizza box. Senor Bob’s is a local standby for hotdogs, burgers, and subs, including vegetarian options. This is also where you can hit McDonald’s, Whole Foods, and other grocery stores. If you’re ready for another walk, Doe Mountain is .6 mile of switchbacks to fabulous views. Fay Canyon is a flat walk that’s about 2.5 miles with a rock scramble at the end to fabulous views. Aerie Trailhead is just on past Doe Mountain. Aerie to Ground Control is about 4 miles out and back, with fabulous views.
Set your map app for: Boynton Canyon Trailhead
A short walk from the parking lot (park along the road at the junction of Dry Creek Rd and Long Canyon Rd if the lot is full) will take you to Boynton Canyon Vista, which is a popular vortex and gorgeous visit, especially if you happen to meet Sedona fixture Robert, who often visits this area to share a message of love and peace and play his pan flute from atop the rocks.
Set your map app for: Crescent Moon Ranch
You’ll drive part of the Red Rock Loop Road to reach Crescent Moon Ranch. This is an excellent drive, especially late in the day. If you’re looking for a sunset vista, there are a number of parking spots along the way that offer great views out over the rocks you’ve visited already, and you’ll see them in their very best light late in the day.
Crescent Moon Ranch is a flip flop walk down to Oak Creek, where you can find a number of swimming holes where Cathedral Rock reflects into the water. If you happen to have a hammock, bring it along and rest in the shade with the sound of running water. The most iconic photo spot is past the first swimming hole, to the big flat rock shelf.
Hope you enjoy your day!
If you’d like to explore the Verde Valley beyond Sedona, you might enjoy dinner out in:
Jerome, an old mining town on a mountain overlooking Sedona and the Verde Valley
*The Haunted Hamburger (the most amazing patio view on the planet)
*Bobby D’s Barbeque (the jalapeno molasses sauce, y’all.)
Cottonwood
*Old Main Street is one long delicious yumfest of restaurants and wineries
*Platero’s taco truck where the tacos are awesome and the carne asada fries are a religious experience
Clarkdale
*Main Street Café where everything is awesome
*Smeltertown Brewery for light bites and beer
If you loved Clarkdale so much you want to come back in the morning:
**Violette’s, a French café and coffee shop in a purple caboose