Like many towns in the United States, Sedona started out as a small ranch farm. Expanding over the years and becoming a largely populated desert area, this town in Arizona has endless activities and sights to see when visiting Sedona.
The name Sedona comes from the couple T.C. and Sedona Schnebly. T.C. was drawn to the area by his brother Dorsey Schnebly. He discovered Red Rock Country while seeking an ideal climate for his health. Eventually, there was a need for a town name and T.C.’s suggestions were too long for the government. His brother suggested his wife’s name, and on June 26, 1902 the town was officially approved to be named Sedona.
Most people are visiting Sedona to see the glorious red rocks, which surround the entire town. One of the coolest parts about Sedona is the redness of the rocks occurs no where else in the world. The red rocks were formed by a layer of sandstone called the Schnebly Hill Formation. All of the rocks are rich in iron from the past when Sedona was a sea bed. This creates the red-orange color in the rocks.
Among all of the different rock structures and places to visit, Sedona offers a wide variety of activities and sights. Hiking, propelling, mountain biking, off-road adventures, rock climbing, horse back riding, and much more. The following are a few activities my family and I loved when visiting Sedona!
Chapel of the Holy Cross
This beautiful church is built into the Sedona rock and stands out on top of a hill. It was officially finished in 1956 and offers a beautiful view. The chapel itself is open 9am to 5pm seven days a week, so you are almost always able to see the inside.
Not only is the inside of the chapel beautiful, but the view from the top is stunning. You can see across part of the town of Sedona. The chapel and view are both amazing sights to see when in Sedona.
Airport Mesa
This Airport Mesa location holds a stunning view of Sedona. During the day you are able to see across the entire town of Sedona and look out across the red rocks. However, the best time to see the Airport Mesa is during sunset. At the top of the hill you are able to watch the sun set across all the rocks of Sedona. It is truly a beautiful sight.
To get to the overlook itself, there is a short hike which is a total of 2.5 hours roundtrip. You are also able to drive up during the evening to view the sunset. I thought this was one of the most beautiful views to see while visiting Sedona.
Not only is this place gorgeous, it is one of Sedona’s energy vortexes. This vortex is said to have masculine energy, which has strengthened people’s spirit to take charge of their own lives and be more self-confident. There is a bunch of vortexes in Sedona and each one is said to promote different energies. I thought that this was such a cool aspect of Sedona to be part of.
Pink Jeep Tour
This is one of the best ways to sightsee in Sedona. The pink jeep tours offer the ability to see all the backcountry rocks you cannot usually see. The company offers about 16 different tours in just for Sedona. Basically, any tour you could want to do, you are able to through the Pink Adventure Tours.
My family and I booked the Broken Arrow Tour for our trip to Sedona. This rise is about 2 hours and allows visitors to see all the behind the scenes of the red rock country. I would only recommend this tour to individuals looking for an action filled afternoon. This is Sedona’s most thrilling and adventure seeking ride so make sure that you are ready for an adventure!
Slide Rock State Park
This state park holds a wonderous natural waterslide. Slide Rock is 80 feet long and a slippery ride down from all the algae on the rocks. The park has different hours for winter and regular season, but is open all days of the week (except some holidays)!
When choosing to swim in the state park, safety is their number one concern. Their are a few specific rules to follow which include being careful on slippery rocks, not going in the water in certain temperatures, and exercising caution since their is not lifeguard on duty.
Just seeing the park itself is a great adventure. There are amazing views all throughout the park and lots of different activities to do. There is a great wildlife viewing area which a lot of people have been able to spot a variety of animals.
Walk Around the Town and Shops
The natural landmarks of Sedona are beautiful and so is the town itself. Walking around the town of Sedona is a must when visiting. The people are super friendly and happy for you to be visiting. The stores all along the main strip are filled with amazing souvenirs and rock collectables (that were not stollen from National Parks or protected land).
At night time the street is lively with music, people, and fun. On some nights there was an entertainment act which is fun to watch. I think that when visiting Sedona, you should definitely walk around the town itself. It has so much rich history and it’s a great place to pick up a souvenir!
Cathedral Rock Hike
The Cathedral Rock Hike is a stunning 1.2 miles round trip hike. It is a total of 744ft and the most famous hike of Sedona. Even though the hike is a short 1.2 miles, it is up very high and requires individuals to get their hands and knees dirty when climbing up.
On the way down, there are parts of the hike where it is safe to slide down instead of walk down. Some people feel more comfortable sliding because you are already on the ground and cannot fall.
At the top of this hike there is a stunning outlook across the Sedona rocks. This hike is beautiful the entire time you are on the trial. I think that when visiting Sedona, this is a must do hike!
Bell Rock Hike
This hike is 0.8 miles long and only inclines about 208ft. The trail route itself is very popular so there will be people constantly passing by. This hike leads you to see the red rock shaped sort of like a bell. You are able to climb the bell rock itself and see different views from different angles of the rock. This trail is a lot easier and more family friendly if you have younger individuals joining you!
Overall the town of Sedona provides beauty and activities for all. I loved visiting this place with my family. We had so much fun seeing the sights, enjoying the warmth of the sun, and experiencing the amazing color of the rocks. When visiting Sedona I definitely recommend spending as much time in nature as you can!
And if you are planning to make an entire trip out west when visiting Sedona, check out my posts on the Grand Canyonand the town of Moab. Both of which are a few hours away from Sedona!
