Sedona, Arizona
Location: Sedona, Arizona (and surrounding area)
Best time to Visit: March - May (the desert blooms, temps are mid 60s - 80s).
Fall is also good hiking weather. Winter is in the 50s and summer temps can reach 90-97.
Trip Duration: It’s a great spot for a long weekend, but there’s enough to keep you busy for a week (especially with extensions to the Grand Canyon or Lake Powell).
Couples or Kids?: Either! Kids ages five and up would love the hikes and Slide Rock, but if you want to pick up the pace... it would be a great Anniversary spot, or the perfect location for a health-focused spa and hiking friends trip.
Hiking around Cathedral Rock
The Vibe
Maybe it’s the pull of the vortex, or maybe it’s just the stunning scenes of red rock, cactus blooms, and winding rivers, but we definitely felt pulled into Sedona. And yes, I said vortex. Whether you believe in these “energy-charged areas on Earth” or not, you should know that MANY people in Sedona do. There is a whole new-age vibe going on and a large community that focuses on alternative healing and spiritual practices. Get your aura read, visit a rock shop to learn about which stones help with focus or passion, or just skip all of that and hike your heart out. Either way, it’s a great place to vacation if you’re focused on healthful living and enjoying the outdoors.
Ommmm…
Accommodations
We actually stayed at this lovely Airbnb 20 minutes south of Sedona in the quaint town of Oak Creek. The perk of this area is that you don’t have to deal with Sedona traffic, which can be very congested on weekends. Oak Creek is big enough to offer some great restaurants and you’re much closer to the hikes to the south. However, if you really want to be able to walk to restaurants and like exploring shops, bars, etc. then I recommend getting a hotel or Airbnb that is walkable to the center of Sedona.
Our Airbnb in Oak Creek
Activities
Hiking in Sedona
As with any desert hiking, plan your day around morning hikes and evening hikes to catch the coolest part of the day and that glowy, soft lighting. Another motivating factor for getting up early is that some of the parking lots are tiny and interest is BIG, so depending on when you’re visiting, you may need to beat the rush.
Stunning views!
Cathedral Rock Hike (1.4 miles out and back) - this was my favorite hike in Sedona. We started around 5 pm and were lucky enough to get a spot in the parking lot (there will be signs turning you away if it’s full). The hike provides gorgeous views the whole way up the sandstone rockface of the mountain. There isn’t really a trail to start; you just make your way up until you start to see Cairns (intentionally placed rock piles) to guide you. There is one section in particular that is quite challenging, but it’s brief and there are handholds and footholds that make it easier than it looks. And, man, is it worth the view at the top!
This one section of Cathedral Rock does get very challenging. You could turn around at this point and still have a great hike with beautiful views.
Devil’s Bridge (4.2 miles out and back) - it’s very famous, but I have mixed feelings about it. The bridge view at the end is gorgeous, but if you actually want to be able to walk out on the bridge (which you are allowed to do), you need to go early in the morning. We went around 4 pm and there was a whole line (about 2 hours long) of Instagramers waiting for their turn to pose. About .75 miles of this trial is on a dirt road/wash (dry riverbed) that isn’t too exciting. After that, things get a little steep as you start your ascent for a glimpse of Devil’s Bridge. If you don’t want to wait in line (we didn’t) you can still walk past those waiting and get a view of the bridge and the gorgeous views surrounding it.
Devil’s Bridge - Land of the Instagramers!
Bell Rock Loop We didn’t have time to get to this hike, but my sister said that it was one of their favorites. Check out this blog post for more info. It looks awesome!
For information on more hiking in Sedona, check out this post from another blogger that includes a lot of details about each hike.
Play in the Water!
Slide Rock State Park: This was, by far, our kids’ favorite part of the trip. I would arrive before 11 am to get a spot in the parking lot before it fills up (much earlier if it’s summer). Slide Rock is an AWESOME natural playground. The river has carved smooth “slides” that you can ride and there are cliff areas where you can test your bravery with a 15-20 ft. jump into the water. The water IS cold, so you’ll probably find yourself oscillating between cold plunges and sprawling out on the hot sandstone to warm back up. Feel free to bring a picnic and some beer!
Sliding down Slide Rock!
Secret Swimming Hole: Had I not chatted with the cashier at Tuesday Mornings, we wouldn’t have known about this place. Pays to talk to locals! It was totally one of those “make a left on the dirt road and take it to the end…” I’ll mark it on the map for you, but once you get to the parking lot, head across the dirt road and follow the marked trial until you see the river. Keep walking along the river to the left and eventually you’ll see another trail to follow. As you’re walking the trail will eventually get closer to the water again (the river is on your right). Listen for voices and walk towards them. The “secret” is definitely out with the locals, so you’ll see others there, but it’s less crowded than Slide Rock State Park and a great place to bring a picnic and spend the afternoon.
Park in the lot at the red marker and then follow that green dotted line to the right, and then back to the left where it touches the river. (You could go to the end of the road and meet the river there, but I’m not sure how easy it is to walk along/through the river to get to the fun picnic and play area).
Food
Red Rock Cafe (Oak Creek) - Yes, it’s in a strip mall, but the food is amazing and the portions are generous. It’s a great place to load up on a big breakfast before hiking or put the feed bag on for lunch after you’ve trekked 5 miles.
Red Rock Cafe (Village of Oak Creek)
Chocola-Tree - I always look for vegan options when I’m traveling and this place is a mecca if you’re searching for GF, DF or vegan options. There are extensive tea choices and even vegan chocolates and desserts. Order and pay at the counter and then head to the side or rear courtyard to dig in.
Nothing like a fresh squeezed juice!
Local Juicery - Look for the line out the door! You can grab a juice or pre-made salad from the cooler, or check out their menu for other options. I adore places like this when I travel. Juicing and prepping healthful foods is labor intensive, so I’m giddy when someone else has done it for me!
Local Juicery in Sedona - great for grab and go!
For fancier fare…
Elote Cafe - gourmet Mexican fare that looks amazing. Make reservations weeks in advance!
Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill - phenomenal views, Latin-inspired cuisine
View 180 - a great sunset spot to relax on the patio and have a few drinks
(We hope to visit these restaurants on our next trip!)
I’m eager to get back to this area for a long weekend of hiking and wellness focused activities and food. It’s the kind of vacation that you don’t need to detox from! Happy trails!
Pin me for future travel planning!