29 Must-Do’s in Beautiful Sedona, Arizona
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
11. Take in a gorgeous sunset at Airport Mesa
The Airport Mesa overlook is a hotspot for sunset photography. Few experiences are quite as memorable as watching a breathtaking sunset over the red rocks. Beautiful Bell & Cathedral Rock provide a stunning backdrop.
Mike and I love planning a date night here every now and then. Our perfect itinerary goes something like this: watching a romantic red rock sunset, followed by dinner at one of Sedona’s fine dining establishments (I love Lisa Dah’s Cucina Rustica). Watching a beautiful red rock sunset is one of the simplest and cheapest experiences you will have during your time here, yet also one of the most memorable. For a less crowded alternative, visit at sunrise.
12. Enjoy an easy stroll along Wilson or Fay Canyon
One of the great aspects about Sedona is that you will find a trail for every fitness level. There are just as many easy nature strolls as there are rough & tough all day adventures. Basically, if you want to explore the great outdoors, there will be some type of trail to fit your current fitness level.
2 of the easiest trails in town offer no shortage of great views, so there is no need to push yourself above your current fitness level. Both Fay and Wilson Canyon are under 3 miles, almost totally flat, and shady enough to hike during the heat of summer (morning only!). There are big red rock views, not a lot of crowds, and the drive over to either is fabulous. Neither will take more than an hour and a half to complete. These hikes are the closest you can get to nature strolls in this area. Other great short, flat hikes to consider include Templeton at Cathedral Rock and Marg’s Draw.
13. Enjoy patio dining amidst the red rocks
Not surprisingly, there are many places to dine outside while enjoying incredible vistas of the red rocks. Really, you will never want to take your eyes off the rock formations. Spring and fall are my favorite times weather-wise (and crowd-wise) for al fresco dining. It gets really hot in the summer and oftentimes too cold in the winter.
Some of my favorite restaurants offering great patio views include: Hideaway House (a casual Italian style restaurant with great home-cooked food), Wildflower (a Panera knock off with a similar “You Pick Two” deal), and The Hudson (a casual upscale restaurant with a creative menu – try the Butternut Squash ravioli!). Any of these restaurants are great casual choices with a relaxed vibe, so you can come in straight from the trails.
Also check out my list of the best restaurants. Surprisingly, this city holds its’ own in the dining department. A lot of tourists towns are so overrated, but I honestly love the food options here.
14. Take in the stunning vistas at Midgley Bridge/Hike Huckaby
As one of the most photo worthy stops along scenic Oak Creek Canyon drive, the famous Midgley Bridge always draws a big crowd. The parking lot will be loaded almost anytime of day. So much in fact that if you arrive too late you will be out of luck in terms of finding a spot.
Asides from spectacular scenery, you can also access a number of scenic trails here including Wilson Canyon, Wilson Mountain, and the Huckaby. I really love the big open views and creek access on the Huckaby but this one is a definite no during the hot summer season.
Like the West Fork, Midgley is a very popular destination, so you must set off super early in order to secure parking (the lot is very small!). To beat the crowds and enjoy an awesome expresso, start your day at Indian Gardens (opens at 8am) located just down the road.
15. Escape the crowds at Red Rock State Park*
As it is located quite aways outside of town, Red Rock State Park does not draw nearly as much tourist traffic. As a local, this was the prime benefit to me. It’s actually a pretty quiet little nature oasis, and thus, the perfect place for birdwatchers and photographers. The trail system here is short (just 5 miles total), and all trails are of easy-moderate intensity. Nothing too strenuous, and I love the big views here and wildlife is more active.
Like all trails in the region, the views are outstanding no matter which trail you choose, although Eagle’s Nest provides the most awe-inspiring scenery. The benefit of visiting this park is that it is so well maintained and there is a great visitor center and theater. To learn more about the area, check out a free ranger led nature walk held daily and/or one of the birdwatching walks held on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
My guide to visiting Red Rock SP
16. Leaf peep along the West Fork trail
If you time your Oak Creek visit perfectly (typically around the 3rd-4th week of October) you will get to hike one of the most colorful fall tails in all of Arizona. While nearby Flagstaff offers the most dazzling foliage due to the abundance of aspens which turn golden this time of year, hiking in Oak Creek offers a more traditional East coast vibe with the type of hues you would find in New England, thus West Fork’s nickname as “New England in Arizona.”
Plenty of deciduous trees including maples, oaks, and sycamores line the trail, in turn creating a medley of gorgeous autumn hues that will put you in a fall mood despite the surrounding desert scenery. I also love the mix of tranquil creek and eye catching red rock views. I prefer leaf peeping hikes in Flagstaff, but being a Midwest native who lived in New England for years , I do miss the type of foliage I would see back home. Note that it is pretty darn popular this time of year, so avoid weekends if possible, or at least set your alarm to beat the Phoenix crowds!
17. Cruise along the scenic Red Rock Scenic Byway*
SR 179, otherwise known as the Red Rock Scenic Byway, is another scenic drive to add to your bucket list. If you plan on hiking Little Horse or any other trail out this way, you will end up taking this route to get to the trailhead. Even if you are not heading out this way for a hike, the drive is well worth it for the incredible red rock scenery. Again, another great alternative for anyone wishing to avoid working up a sweat.
On this drive, you will pass many of the region’s most notable rock formations. Various overlooks along the way give you the opportunity to take some photos and stretch your legs (or better yet plan for a hike!).
Driving this route is a great way for a new visitor to get acquainted with the various rock formations. Did you know that each formation has been given a unique nickname? See if you can find Courthouse Butte, Snoopy Rock, Coffeepot Rock, etc on each hike.
Note that this drive is pretty low on traffic early on in the morning and oftentimes backed up by late afternoon. Prefer to let someone else do the driving? Sign up for an open air trolley tour – a much better value than the Jeep tours!
18. Browse the shops & galleries of Uptown Sedona
You will find a lot of tourists in Uptown. It’s basically the gathering place where everyone goes when they are done with their outdoor activities for the day. Shops, restaurants, bars, galleries, treat shops, fudge shops, wine tasting, olive oil tastings…there is a bit of something for everyone jam packed into this small but lively area.
The highlight is a short little nature stroll which runs along the road (known as the Sedona History Walk) which features some of the best views of the red rocks you can enjoy without hiking. Several restaurants in the area have nice outdoor patios, specifically the ones found at Hyatt’s Pinion Point shops. I like Salt Rock Southwest Kitchen.
You will find lots of cute shops here where you can pick up touristy southwestern decor or Native American crafts. They sell the cutest little cactus gardens. Prickly pear everything including jams, syrups, hot sauce etc can all be found here. Why not pick up a special Southwestern treat for yourself to commemorate your trip?! There is a great little Christmas shop (Merry Christmas Sedona) where you can take home a cacti ornament memento. The pet shop (Whiskers Barkery) is a great place to pick up a present for your furry friends. Also be sure to check out the monthly art walk if your visit coincides.
Check out this Uptown directory before your visit.
19. Climb Cathedral Rock
Cathedral Rock is another one of the go-to spots for new tourists. With fabulous scenery and vortex energy, it’s one of the first spots new visitors flock to. The hike is scary and very challenging and 100% not a good choice for those afraid of heights. I was a bit terrified and I am not afraid of heights at all. This one requires a lot of scrambling and you may need people to help push you up at various spots, but the views get more and more beautiful the further you go. Fortunately, you do not need to go all the way up to appreciate the majestic scenery.
20. Enjoy a peaceful stroll along a creekside trail*
Only a few of hikes offer any decent views of Oak creek. If you are the type who absolutely prefers water along a hike, then you will want to keep the Templeton, Huckaby, or West Fork in mind. These trails all feature abundant creekside views, as well as gorgeous red rock scenery. Templeton is a great alternative as Cathedral and it conveniently starts from the same trailhead. You will see most tourists continuing on to Cathedral whereas this trail is a quiet, non scary alternative.
