Free
Red Rock Scenic Byway
State Route 179 through the red rocks south of town, a free drive with views of Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte and Cathedral Rock.
Red Rock Country, Arizona
Sedona
A red-rock town on Oak Creek, with a free scenic byway, forest trails under Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock, a creek walk in Oak Creek Canyon, and a chapel set into the sandstone.
Photo: Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Tomas Castelazo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sedona sits where Oak Creek leaves a deep canyon and enters a basin of red sandstone buttes. You can see Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte from the Red Rock Scenic Byway without a pass. The same rocks, seen from the forest trails, usually need a Red Rock Pass to park.
North of town, State Route 89A climbs Oak Creek Canyon past Slide Rock State Park and the West Fork trail. The Chapel of the Holy Cross is built into a sandstone spur on the south side of town.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Oak Creek Canyon
A scenic drive on State Route 89A north of Sedona, along a creek canyon of sandstone walls, pools and pull-offs.
Cheap
Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte
Easy paths around two of Sedona's most recognizable formations, just off the scenic byway. A Red Rock Pass is required to park.
Cheap
Cathedral Rock
A steep scramble up a broken red-rock fin, and a shorter walk to views of it from the creek side. A Red Rock Pass is required to park.
Cheap
Airport Mesa Scenic Overlook
A short climb and a roadside overlook above town, looking over West Sedona and the buttes. A Red Rock Pass is typically required at the trailhead.
Cheap
West Fork of Oak Creek
A creek walk between narrow canyon walls, starting at the Call of the Canyon area north of town. A separate fee is charged; a Red Rock Pass is not valid here.
Cheap
Slide Rock State Park
A historic apple farm in Oak Creek Canyon, with a natural creek slide in the slickrock. A state park fee is charged; the lot fills early.
Season Open year-round except Christmas. Recently 8 a.m.–6 p.m. from late January to mid-November, and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. in mid-winter; last entry is an hour before closing (check before you go).
Cheap
Red Rock State Park
A quieter state park of riparian trails and red-rock views along Oak Creek, south-west of town. A state park fee is charged.
Season Open daily, recently 8 a.m.–5 p.m., last entry 4:30 p.m.; shorter hours on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve (check before you go).
Paid
Pink Adventure Tours
Guided jeep trips into the red-rock country around Sedona, on forest roads you cannot drive in a regular car.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Chapel of the Holy Cross
A concrete chapel built into a sandstone spur, with a view back toward the buttes. Parking is limited.
Free
Uptown Sedona
A walkable strip of shops and galleries at the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon, with the rocks at the end of the street.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village
Courtyards of shops, galleries and restaurants, built to recall a Mexican village, a short walk from the creek.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Red Rock Pass
Required to park at many Coconino National Forest trailheads around Sedona, including Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Airport Mesa.
Slide Rock State Park
Admission to the creek slide and historic apple farm in Oak Creek Canyon. The lot fills early.
Season Open year-round except Christmas. Recently 8 a.m.–6 p.m. from late January to mid-November, and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. in mid-winter; last entry is an hour before closing (check before you go).
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Pink Adventure Tours Tour
Part of our Red rock and the high country guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- The buttes are better at the edges of the day, when the parking lots thin and the sandstone holds the last light.
- A canyon creek walk, a mesa sunset and a day on the trails are too much for a single pass through.
- Uptown and Tlaquepaque are easier on a morning when you are not racing a trailhead.
Nearby and worth the drive
Springdale and Zionabout 5 h · Guide ↗
The town at the mouth of Zion Canyon, about five hours north.
Flagstaffabout 45 min · Guide ↗The mountain city under the San Francisco Peaks, at the south end of the Grand Canyon road.
Ready-made trips with Sedona
Good to know
- Red Rock Pass: Required to park at many Coconino National Forest trailheads around Sedona, including Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Airport Mesa. It does not cover Arizona state parks or the West Fork / Call of the Canyon area. See the official pass page.
- Parking: Popular trailheads fill early, especially on weekends. Do not park on the highway if the lot is full.
- Tourism: visitsedona.com is the official visitor site.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Tomas Castelazo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Oak Creek in the canyon north of Sedona, Ray Redstone, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Bell Rock south of Sedona, Tedsan64, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: West Sedona and the red rocks from Airport Mesa, Eddiewexler, CC0
Photo: The West Fork of Oak Creek, Mark Chavez; Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Slide Rock State Park in Oak Creek Canyon, Dan9124, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: The Chapel of the Holy Cross in the red rocks, Matthew P. Del Buono, CC BY-SA 3.0