Sedona ArizonaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Sedona, Arizona.
1. Cathedral Rock
ICONIC RED ROCK FORMATION
Cathedral Rock stands as one of Sedona's most photographed and revered natural landmarks, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding red rock landscape. Hikers can take the moderate trail to experience stunning vistas and the unique energy that many believe emanates from this natural formation. The distinctive spires and formation create a cathedral-like silhouette against the Arizona sky, making it especially magical during sunrise and sunset.
2. Devil's Bridge Trail
NATURAL STONE ARCH
Devil's Bridge Trail leads visitors to Sedona's largest natural sandstone arch, offering one of the most photographed spots in the region. The moderate 4.2-mile round trip hike gradually ascends through juniper trees and across red rock terrain before revealing the spectacular natural bridge. Adventurous travelers can walk across the bridge for a thrilling photo opportunity with sweeping views of the surrounding red rock formations.
3. Chapel of the Holy Cross
ICONIC SPIRITUAL LANDMARK
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a stunning architectural marvel built into the red rocks of Sedona, combining spiritual significance with breathtaking natural beauty. Designed by sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude and completed in 1956, this Roman Catholic chapel features a striking 90-foot cross that appears to rise directly from the red rock buttes. Visitors can admire both the impressive architecture and enjoy panoramic views of Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and the surrounding Verde Valley from its elevated position.
4. Bell Rock
FAMOUS VORTEX SITE
Bell Rock is one of Sedona's most recognized red rock formations, believed to be a powerful energy vortex site that attracts spiritual seekers from around the world. The bell-shaped butte offers several hiking trails of varying difficulties, allowing visitors to experience magnificent views of the surrounding landscape. Many visitors report feeling a special energy or heightened awareness when visiting this natural landmark, making it both a scenic and spiritual experience.
5. Boynton Canyon
SACRED CANYON TRAIL
Boynton Canyon offers one of Sedona's most scenic and diverse hiking experiences through a box canyon considered sacred by Native American tribes. The trail winds through lush vegetation, past ancient cliff dwellings, and between towering red rock walls that create a uniquely serene atmosphere. As another of Sedona's vortex sites, many visitors come to experience the balanced masculine and feminine energies believed to emanate from this special place.
6. West Fork Trail
SHADED CREEK HIKE
The West Fork Trail follows Oak Creek through a stunning canyon, offering a refreshing alternative to Sedona's sun-exposed desert hikes with its shaded path and multiple creek crossings. This family-friendly trail showcases dramatic canyon walls, lush vegetation, and the crystal-clear waters of Oak Creek in a microclimate that supports diverse plant and wildlife. Fall visitors are treated to a spectacular display of autumn colors as the trail's maple, oak, and cottonwood trees transform the canyon into a vibrant palette of reds, oranges, and yellows.
7. Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village
ARTISAN SHOPPING VILLAGE
Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village is a charming outdoor marketplace designed to resemble a traditional Mexican village, featuring cobblestone walkways, vine-covered walls, and beautiful fountains. Visitors can explore over 50 specialty shops, galleries, and restaurants showcasing high-quality Southwestern and international art, jewelry, sculptures, and crafts. The village regularly hosts cultural events, art shows, and seasonal celebrations that bring the already vibrant atmosphere to life with music, dance, and artistic demonstrations.
8. Red Rock State Park
EDUCATIONAL NATURE PRESERVE
Red Rock State Park is a 286-acre nature preserve and environmental education center offering stunning views of the red rock formations along Oak Creek. The park features over five miles of interconnecting trails that wind through riparian habitats, meadows, and along the creek with opportunities to spot diverse wildlife including javelina, mule deer, and various bird species. Visitors can enhance their experience by participating in guided nature walks, attending educational programs at the visitor center, or enjoying bird watching in this ecologically rich environment.
9. Slide Rock State Park
NATURAL WATER SLIDE
Slide Rock State Park features a natural water slide formed by the slick bed of Oak Creek that provides a thrilling and refreshing experience for visitors during warm months. Originally the Pendley Homestead, the park preserves the historic apple orchard and farm buildings that tell the story of early settlement in the area. Beyond the famous water slide, visitors can enjoy picnicking, hiking, and swimming while surrounded by the stunning red rock landscape that makes this one of Arizona's most popular state parks.
10. Airport Mesa
PANORAMIC SUNSET VIEWPOINT
Airport Mesa offers one of the most accessible and spectacular panoramic viewpoints in Sedona, particularly renowned for its breathtaking sunset vistas over the red rock landscape. This location is known as one of Sedona's major vortex sites, where many visitors report feeling increased energy and heightened awareness. The relatively easy trail around the mesa provides 360-degree views of iconic formations including Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Courthouse Butte, making it a must-visit spot for photographers and spiritual seekers alike.
11. V Bar V Heritage Site
ANCIENT ROCK ART
V Bar V Heritage Site contains the largest and most well-preserved petroglyph site in the Verde Valley, featuring over 1,000 individual petroglyphs created by the Sinagua people. Visitors can take a short, accessible trail to view these ancient rock art panels that date back to 1150-1400 CE, providing a fascinating glimpse into the lives and beliefs of the area's indigenous inhabitants. Knowledgeable docents offer informative tours explaining the significance of the various symbols and their connection to astronomical events, agricultural cycles, and cultural practices.
12. Blazin' M Ranch
WESTERN DINNER SHOW
The Blazin' M Ranch offers an authentic Western-themed experience complete with a chuckwagon supper featuring delicious barbecue chicken and ribs. Before dinner, guests can enjoy family-friendly activities including roping lessons, vintage tractor pulls, an Old West shooting gallery, and browsing unique shops in the replica Western town. The evening culminates with the Blazin' M Cowboys entertaining visitors with a lively show full of comedy, storytelling, and classic Western music that celebrates the spirit of the American West.
13. Tuzigoot National Monument
ANCIENT PUEBLO RUINS
Tuzigoot National Monument preserves a 110-room pueblo ruin built by the Sinagua people between 1000 and 1400 CE, perched atop a limestone and sandstone ridge overlooking the Verde Valley. Visitors can explore the partially reconstructed ruins via a self-guided trail that winds through the ancient village, offering insights into how these indigenous people built community structures adapted to the local environment. The site's museum displays artifacts excavated from the ruins, including pottery, tools, and textiles that help tell the story of this sophisticated pre-Columbian culture.
14. Montezuma Castle
CLIFF DWELLING NATIONAL MONUMENT
Montezuma Castle is one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in North America, built by the Sinagua people around 1100 CE into a natural alcove 90 feet above the valley floor. This impressive five-story structure contains 20 rooms and showcases the ingenuity and architectural skill of its builders who created a secure living space with natural temperature regulation. Visitors can view the dwelling from an accessible trail below while learning about the indigenous people who thrived in this desert environment for over 400 years before mysteriously departing around 1425 CE.
15. Jerome Historic Town
MOUNTAINTOP GHOST TOWN
Jerome Historic Town clings dramatically to the side of Cleopatra Hill, transformed from a booming billion-dollar copper mining camp to a fascinating living ghost town with a rich history of boom and bust. Visitors can wander the steep, winding streets lined with historic buildings now housing artists' galleries, unique shops, museums, and acclaimed restaurants offering spectacular views of the Verde Valley below. The town's colorful past as a raucous mining community comes to life through preserved sites like the Jerome State Historic Park housed in the 1916 Douglas Mansion and the Gold King Mine and Ghost Town, where mining equipment and vehicles from the early 20th century are displayed.