The best things to do in Sedona: hikes, vortexes and hidden gems

Looking for the best things to do in Sedona? From the Courthouse Butte Loop and the Chapel of the Holy Cross to sunset at Airport Mesa and a drive along Red Rock Loop Road, these are the experiences that make red rock country worth the hype.

So many Americans I spoke to named Sedona as their favourite place that I had to go and see what all the fuss was about. The reality is fascinating: spirituality meets spectacular landscapes, with some very commercial bits thrown in for good measure. The town itself is a strip of crystal shops, psychics and jeep tour kiosks, but the towering red rocks around it give way to landscapes that feel almost too big to be real.

Whether or not you believe in the vortexes (the swirling centres of energy that people say dot the landscape here), it’s easy to see why Sedona has that pull. My advice is to escape the town as often as you can and get out on a trail or two.

I visited Sedona in February, staying at the Matterhorn Inn in Uptown, hiking the Courthouse Butte Loop, taking in the views from Airport Mesa and even seeing the red rocks under a dusting of snow. This guide combines those experiences with everything else worth doing in and around town.

The best things to do in Sedona

Hike the Courthouse Butte Loop, my favourite trail in Sedona

The Courthouse Butte Loop was pretty much my favourite hike in Sedona. It doesn’t have the thrills of some of the other trails, like Devil’s Bridge, Cathedral Rock or the climb up Bell Rock, but it’s a reasonable length and takes you all the way around Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock, with expansive views of the red rocks the whole way.

The loop itself is about 3.8 miles, or closer to 4.5 if you start from the Bell Rock Vista car park, with around 300 feet of climbing in total, so it’s an easy hike for most people, taking around two hours. It starts from the Courthouse Vista or Bell Rock Vista car parks on SR 179, just north of the Village of Oak Creek, where you’ll need a Red Rock Pass ($5 a day) or an America the Beautiful pass to park. The far side of Courthouse Butte is much quieter than the busy trails around Bell Rock, so you’ll have stretches almost to yourself.

Top tip: The trail can get muddy after rain or snow, and parts are on bare slickrock, so wear shoes with good grip.

Admire the Chapel of the Holy Cross

The Chapel of the Holy Cross is one of Sedona’s most famous landmarks: a striking modern chapel that seems to loom straight out of the red rock buttes south of town. It was commissioned by the local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, designed by the architects Anshen & Allen and completed in 1956, and its 90-foot cross fills the whole front of the building.

You can go inside, but it’s the exterior that really wows. The chapel is open daily from 9am to 5pm (last entry 4:45pm), and entry is free, though donations are welcome. Parking at the top is very limited, so on busy days use the on-demand Sedona Shuttle Connect ($2 a ride), which picks up from the Mystic trailhead at the bottom of Chapel Road.

Watch the light change from Airport Mesa

Airport Mesa, a flat-topped mesa just above West Sedona, has some of the best views in Sedona: a sweep of red rocks and buttes stretching right across the valley. Park up and take it in, especially in the late afternoon, when the low sun sets the rocks glowing.

There’s also a loop trail through the boulders that takes you close to the Airport Mesa vortex, one of Sedona’s best-known energy sites, and the Airport Loop Trail circles the whole mesa in about 3.5 miles. The small free pull-out for the vortex on Airport Road fills fast, and if you drive up to the Airport Scenic Lookout at the top, you have to pay to park ($3 when I last checked).

Drive Red Rock Loop Road

Red Rock Loop Road is a nice scenic drive that gives you a different view of Sedona’s red rocks. It loops south off SR 89A west of town, winding through quiet countryside with views of Cathedral Rock rising above Oak Creek.

The loop takes under an hour, longer if you stop. Along the way, Crescent Moon Picnic Site at Red Rock Crossing has one of the most photographed views in Arizona: Cathedral Rock reflected in Oak Creek. Entry costs $15 per car (the Red Rock Pass isn’t valid here), and nearby Red Rock State Park has easy creekside trails and daily guided walks.

Hike to the Cathedral Rock vortex

Cathedral Rock is Sedona’s most photographed formation and is said to be one of its strongest vortexes. The Cathedral Rock Trail is short but steep: about 1.2 miles round trip with roughly 700 feet of climbing, much of it a scramble up bare slickrock with a section where you’ll need your hands. The reward is a saddle between the spires with views across the valley, and it’s spectacular at sunset.

Allow an hour or two, depending on how long you linger at the top. The Back O’ Beyond trailhead has only about 45 spaces, so take the free Sedona Shuttle (route 15) from Thursday to Sunday, when it runs.

Climb Bell Rock

Bell Rock is the bell-shaped butte you’ll see beside SR 179 as you drive into Sedona from the south, and it’s one of the town’s best-known vortexes. The easy Bell Rock Pathway runs around its base, but you can also scramble part of the way up.

The climb is about 1.5 miles round trip from the trailhead, with around 350 feet of steep scrambling up the north side to ledges with sweeping views. Beyond that, the upper rock is exposed, technical climbing, and the very top is for experienced climbers only. Go only as far as you’re comfortable, and remember that coming down is harder than going up.

Browse the galleries at Tlaquepaque

Even if you’re not a big shopper, Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village is worth a wander. Modelled on a traditional Mexican village, it’s a cluster of whitewashed buildings, arched walkways, courtyards and fountains in the shade of huge sycamore trees beside Oak Creek, home to galleries, craft shops and restaurants.

There are more than 50 shops, galleries and places to eat and drink, open daily from 10am to 5pm. It’s a lovely place for an hour, and a good spot for unique finds, from jewellery and ceramics to paintings by local artists, and the courtyards are especially pretty when they’re lit up with luminarias at Christmas.

Have breakfast at the Coffee Pot Restaurant

The Coffee Pot Restaurant in West Sedona is a brilliant breakfast spot, open daily from 6am to 2pm. It’s famous for its menu of 101 omelettes (so of course I had a breakfast taco), and in a town where restaurants tend towards a very curated experience, it’s refreshing to find somewhere serving hearty food in a lively setting with zero pretension.

Fuel up at Local Juicery

Local Juicery is a nice spot for picking up fresh juices and raw eats to set you up for a hike. As well as cold-pressed juices, there are smoothies, açaí bowls and plant-based snacks to take with you on the trail. It’s in West Sedona and opens daily from 8am.

Have lunch with a view at Mariposa

Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill sits on a hillside in West Sedona, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the red rocks. I wasn’t crazy about my visit, as I thought the food was pretty overpriced for what it was, but the views are stunning and the lunch menu, while short, was tasty.

It’s run by the Sedona chef Lisa Dahl. If you want the views without the dinner prices, lunch (11am to 2pm) is the time to go; dinner is by reservation only.

Visit Montezuma Castle

OK, so this one isn’t in Sedona itself, but these striking, well-preserved cliff dwellings are well worth a visit while you’re in the area. I visited in February.

Montezuma Castle is a five-storey, 20-room dwelling built by the Sinagua people, who lived here from around 1100 to 1425, tucked into a limestone alcove about 90 feet up the cliff above Beaver Creek. You can’t go inside, but a short, flat loop path below it gives you a good look. It’s about 40 minutes’ drive south of Sedona. Entry is $10 per adult and also covers nearby Tuzigoot, and Montezuma Well, a spring-fed sinkhole a few miles away, is free.

Hike to Devil’s Bridge

Devil’s Bridge is the largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area, about 50 feet high, and walking out onto it is one of the most popular things to do in town (expect a queue for the classic photo). The hike is moderate, with a steep final climb up rock steps to the top of the arch.

How far you walk depends on where you start. Only high-clearance vehicles can drive the rough road to the official Devil’s Bridge trailhead, from where it’s 1.6 miles round trip. Most people start at the Mescal trailhead (about 4 miles round trip) or the Dry Creek Vista trailhead (4.5 to 6 miles round trip, depending on the route), both served by the free Sedona Shuttle (route 11) from Thursday to Sunday. The trails reopened at the end of July 2026 after closing during the Pocket Fire.

Drive the Red Rock Scenic Byway

The Red Rock Scenic Byway is a 7.5-mile stretch of SR 179 running south from Sedona through the heart of red rock country, named an All-American Road in 2006. You’ll pass Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte and the Village of Oak Creek on the way, with plenty of places to pull over, and it’s especially beautiful in the late afternoon.

Many of the viewpoints and trailheads along the byway, including Bell Rock Vista and Courthouse Vista, need a Red Rock Pass to park.

See Oak Creek Canyon

Oak Creek Canyon is the river gorge between Sedona and Flagstaff, with the road (SR 89A) winding down through it for about 14 miles. It’s greener and cooler than the red rocks around town, with sheer walls, swimming holes and some lovely short hikes, and it’s the most scenic way to arrive from Flagstaff.

The highlights are Slide Rock State Park, where Oak Creek runs down a natural water slide ($20 per car from October to April, $30 in summer), and the West Fork Trail, one of the most popular hikes in the area.

The Pocket Fire burned more than 27,000 acres north of Sedona in summer 2026, closing the canyon for weeks. The road and most sites have reopened, but the West Fork Trail is closed until at least the end of October 2026 and officials have advised against swimming while the water is tested, so check the Coconino National Forest alerts before you go.

Step back in time at Palatki Heritage Site

Palatki is one of the largest cliff dwelling sites in red rock country, with Sinagua ruins from around 1150 to 1350 and rock art spanning thousands of years, sheltered beneath a red sandstone cliff west of Sedona. Its sister site, Honanki, is a few miles further along a rough dirt road (a high-clearance vehicle is best).

You need a timed ticket for Palatki, booked on Recreation.gov, plus a Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful pass. From October to May it’s open from 9:30am to 3pm (mornings only on Wednesdays), and from June to September from Wednesday to Saturday mornings only. It closes in very hot weather and after rain or snow. Honanki doesn’t need a reservation.

Learn about Sedona’s past at the Sedona Heritage Museum

The Sedona Heritage Museum is housed in the old Jordan family homestead in Jordan Historical Park in Uptown, set among the apple orchards of one of Sedona’s pioneer families. It covers the settlers who arrived from 1876, ranching and cowboy life, the orchards, and the Western films shot in Sedona since the 1920s. It’s open daily from 11am to 3pm and is a good option for a rainy day.

Meditate at Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park

You’re never short of spiritual things to do in Sedona, and the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park is one of the most peaceful. The 36-foot stupa, a Buddhist monument, sits in 14 acres of juniper woodland at the foot of Thunder Mountain in West Sedona, with walking paths and red rock views. Visitors of any faith are welcome, and entry is free. The park is open from dawn to dusk, but the car park is only open from 8:30am to 5pm.

Take a vortex jeep tour

Jeep tours are one of the most popular ways to see Sedona’s backcountry, bouncing along rough roads to viewpoints you couldn’t reach in a normal car. Some focus on the vortexes, stopping at sites such as Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock, with a guide explaining the beliefs behind them.

Stargaze under Sedona’s dark skies

Sedona is an International Dark Sky Community, which means strict rules on outdoor lighting and some of the darkest skies of any town in the US. On a clear night, drive a few minutes out of town and you’ll see the Milky Way. For something different, join a night-sky tour with telescopes and night-vision goggles.

Have dinner at the Cowboy Club

There aren’t many things to do in Sedona at night, so make dinner an event. The Cowboy Club Grille & Spirits in Uptown is the place to try Southwestern cooking in a building with real history: it’s where the Cowboy Artists of America was founded in 1965. Expect steaks, bison and the famous cactus fries. It’s open daily from 11am to 9pm.

Get pampered at a Sedona spa

Sedona is one of the wellness capitals of the US, so it makes sense to book a massage after a few days of hiking. The most famous spa, Mii Amo at Enchantment Resort in Boynton Canyon, is only open to resort guests, but there are plenty of day spas in town, such as New Day Spa, offering massages, body wraps and hot stone treatments.

Join the Sedona Yoga Festival

Sedona has long been known as a New Age capital, so it’s no surprise it has its own yoga festival. The Sedona Yoga Festival brings together teachers from around the world each spring for several days of yoga, meditation, workshops and music, held at the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock. The next festival runs from 29 April to 2 May 2027.

Spend a day in Jerome

If you want a change from the red rocks, take a day trip to Jerome, a former copper mining town clinging to the side of Cleopatra Hill. Once nearly abandoned, it’s now home to art galleries, wine tasting rooms and a lot of ghost stories. Visit the Jerome State Historic Park in the old Douglas Mansion to learn about the town’s mining history.

Jerome is about 45 to 50 minutes’ drive from Sedona. Jerome State Historic Park is open daily from 9am to 4:30pm, and entry is $10 for adults.

Camp under the stars in Oak Creek Canyon

For a night under the stars, there are Forest Service campgrounds along Oak Creek Canyon, including Manzanita (open all year) and Pine Flat (mid-April to late October), at about $30 a night, bookable on Recreation.gov. For a group, the Crescent Moon Ranch Cabin by Red Rock Crossing sleeps up to 10. The best time to camp is spring or autumn, when it’s neither too hot nor too cold. See my guide to where to stay in Sedona for more campgrounds.

Tips for visiting Sedona

• How long to spend: three days gives you time for a couple of hikes, a scenic drive and the main sights. See my 3-day Sedona itinerary.
• When to go: spring and autumn are best. I visited in February, and to be honest, I don’t think it was the best time of year (though I did get to see Sedona in the snow): it’s quite cold, but on the plus side it’s a lot quieter. Avoid the summer months if you can, particularly at weekends, when some places practically come to a standstill.
• Red Rock Pass: many trailheads and viewpoints need one to park: $5 a day, $15 a week or $20 a year, from the machines at trailheads or online. America the Beautiful passes are accepted instead.
• Getting around: you’ll need a car to explore, but use the free Sedona Shuttle to reach the busiest trailheads. It runs from Thursday to Sunday all year (daily in spring break), from park-and-ride lots to Cathedral Rock, Soldier Pass and Devil’s Bridge.

Where to stay in Sedona

I stayed at the Matterhorn Inn, a great-value hotel in the heart of Uptown that’s been revamped, with red rock views from every room. For a splurge, Amara Resort and Spa sits beside Oak Creek with an infinity pool and spa. See my guide to where to stay in Sedona for more.

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• The best hikes in Sedona
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