--- title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Sedona, Arizona | Wimup" description: "Red-rock hikes, the Chapel of the Holy Cross and Oak Creek's swimming holes. The 10 best things to do in Sedona, plus where to eat, drive and taste wine." url: https://wimup.com/city/sedona type: City guide updated: 2026-10-13 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Top 10 Things To Do in Sedona Sedona, United States · North America · By Wimup Editorial, 14 min read Sedona is a small town in a very large landscape: red sandstone buttes on every side, Oak Creek running through the canyon to the north, and national forest trailheads minutes from most hotels. Come to walk. The shops of Uptown are the part to skip. ## Quick answer Give Sedona three days. Hike Cathedral Rock at first light, see the Chapel of the Holy Cross, then drive the Red Rock Scenic Byway past Bell Rock. Day two: Devil's Bridge and Airport Mesa at sunset. Day three, head up Oak Creek Canyon to West Fork and Slide Rock. Take the free shuttle to trailheads Thursday to Sunday. ## Quick facts - **Best months:** Mar · Apr · Oct · Nov - **Ideal length:** 3 days - **Budget per day:** $180–350 - **Language:** English - **Getting around:** Car & free trailhead shuttle - **Tourism board:** [Official site](https://visitsedona.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## The 10 best things to do in Sedona ### 1. Hike Cathedral Rock Hike · Back O' Beyond Road, Sedona Sedona's signature butte, reached by a short, steep scramble up slickrock to a saddle between the spires. Thursday to Sunday the trailhead lot closes to cars, so take the free Sedona Shuttle; other days, arrive before 8am with a Red Rock Pass. - **Time:** 1.5–2 hrs - **Cost:** Red Rock Pass - **Best at:** Sunrise - **Tip:** Shuttle Thu–Sun Links: [Website](https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/cathedral-rock-trail-no-170?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 2. Devil's Bridge Hike · Dry Creek Road, Sedona The arch everyone photographs, and the line to stand on it builds by mid-morning. Low-clearance cars start at Dry Creek Vista or Mescal for about four miles round trip; the Sedona Shuttle serves both trailheads Thursday to Sunday. - **Time:** 2.5 hrs - **Cost:** Red Rock Pass - **Best at:** Early morning - **Tip:** Queue for the photo Links: [Website](https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/devils-bridge-trail-no-120?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 3. Chapel of the Holy Cross Landmark · 780 Chapel Road, Sedona Marguerite Brunswig Staude's chapel, finished in 1956, is built straight into the red rock with a cross for its facade. Entry is free. The view down the valley from the ramp matters more than the small interior. - **Time:** 45 min - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Parking is tight Links: [Website](https://chapeloftheholycross.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 4. Drive the Red Rock Scenic Byway Drive · State Route 179, Sedona SR 179 from the Village of Oak Creek to Sedona is an All-American Road: 7.5 miles past Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte and Cathedral Rock. Stop at the Courthouse Vista lot and walk the Bell Rock Pathway to the base. - **Time:** 1–2 hrs - **Cost:** Free drive - **Best at:** Late afternoon - **Tip:** Pass needed at some lots Links: [Website](https://visitsedona.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 5. Slide Rock State Park Park · State Route 89A, Oak Creek Canyon A natural water chute in Oak Creek, on an old apple homestead seven miles up the canyon. Entry is first come, first served with no reservations, and cars cost $30 from May to September, $20 from October to April. - **Time:** 2–3 hrs - **Cost:** $20–30 per car - **Best at:** Summer mornings - **Tip:** No pets May–Sep Links: [Website](https://azstateparks.com/slide-rock/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 6. Sunset at Airport Mesa Viewpoint · Airport Road, Sedona The mesa above West Sedona looks across the whole basin, and it is the town's sunset ritual. The vortex lot holds about a dozen cars; the paid lot at the top of Airport Road is bigger. Arrive an hour early. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Paid parking - **Best at:** Sunset - **Tip:** Bring a headlamp Links: [Website](https://visitsedona.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 7. West Fork of Oak Creek Hike · State Route 89A, Oak Creek Canyon A creekside walk into a narrow canyon of maples and sandstone walls, best in late October colour. The Call of the Canyon lot fills by 9.30am in busy seasons, charges a day-use fee, and does not take interagency passes. - **Time:** 3–4 hrs - **Cost:** Day-use fee - **Best at:** Fall colour - **Tip:** Wear shoes for wading Links: [Website](https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/call-canyon-picnic-site?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 8. Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village Shopping · State Route 179, Sedona Abe Miller built this copy of an old Mexican village between 1971 and 1978, around the creekside sycamores, with tiles and ironwork from Mexico. Entry is free; come for the galleries and courtyards, not bargains. - **Time:** 1–2 hrs - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Evening - **Tip:** Luminarias in December Links: [Website](https://www.tlaq.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 9. Palatki Heritage Site History · Palatki Road, Coconino National Forest Sinagua cliff dwellings and rock art in a red alcove west of town, seen on a short guided walk. Book a timed ticket on Recreation.gov and bring a Red Rock Pass too. The last miles are gravel; drive slowly. - **Time:** 1.5 hrs - **Cost:** Timed ticket - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas Links: [Website](https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/10089352?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 10. Red Rock State Park Park · 4050 Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona A nature preserve on Oak Creek with easy trails, shade and a direct view of Cathedral Rock. It is the gentlest walking in Sedona and the best with children. Open 8am to 5pm, with last entry at 4.30pm. - **Time:** 2 hrs - **Cost:** Ticketed - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Last entry 4.30pm Links: [Website](https://azstateparks.com/red-rock/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best hikes in Sedona Eight trails beyond the famous two, from flat creek walks to summit climbs. 1. **Bell Rock Pathway** (Easy · Red Rock Pass · Village of Oak Creek): An easy, wide path to the base of Bell Rock; the climb above is unofficial. 2. **Boynton Canyon** (Moderate · Half day · West Sedona): A long, gentle canyon walk past the Enchantment resort into cool box-canyon forest. 3. **Soldier Pass** (Moderate · Shuttle stop · West Sedona): The Devil's Kitchen sinkhole and the Seven Sacred Pools, a shuttle stop Thursday to Sunday. 4. **Fay Canyon** (Easy · Short · Dry Creek): A short, flat canyon with a hidden arch on its east wall. 5. **Doe Mountain** (Moderate · Steep start · Dry Creek): A short switchback climb to a flat mesa with views on every side. 6. **Bear Mountain** (Strenuous · Full day · Dry Creek): The hardest day hike in town, with the widest views for the effort. 7. **Little Horse to Chicken Point** (Moderate · Shuttle stop · Village of Oak Creek): A shuttle-served trail to the slickrock saddle below the Chapel. 8. **Courthouse Butte Loop** (Moderate · Loop · Village of Oak Creek): A quieter circuit around Bell Rock's bigger neighbour. ## Best restaurants in Sedona Red-rock views at dinner, and a cowboy bar that founded an art movement. 1. **Elote Cafe** (Mexican · Book ahead · Uptown): Jeff Smedstad's Mexican cooking, named for its fire-roasted corn. 2. **Mariposa** (Latin · Reservations · West Sedona): Lisa Dahl's wood-fired Latin grill on a bluff above 89A. 3. **Dahl & Di Luca** (Italian · Dinner · West Sedona): Dahl's first Sedona restaurant, Italian since 1995. 4. **Cowboy Club** (High desert · Historic · Uptown): The former Oak Creek Tavern: steaks, cactus fries and rattlesnake. 5. **Creekside American Bistro** (American · Views · SR 179): Seasonal plates on covered decks above Oak Creek. 6. **Indian Gardens Cafe & Market** (Cafe · Casual · Oak Creek Canyon): A canyon stop for breakfast and sandwiches before the trails. ## Best scenic drives in Sedona Four roads that are the reason to hire a car. 1. **Red Rock Scenic Byway** (Paved · 7.5 miles · Village of Oak Creek): SR 179's 7.5 miles past Bell Rock, an All-American Road since 2006. 2. **Oak Creek Canyon** (Paved · Switchbacks · Oak Creek Canyon): SR 89A climbs the canyon to Flagstaff past Slide Rock and West Fork. 3. **Red Rock Loop Road** (Mixed · Any car · West Sedona): A loop off 89A to Red Rock State Park, partly unpaved. 4. **Schnebly Hill Road** (Dirt · High clearance · Uptown): A rough dirt climb to the Schnebly Hill Vista over the basin. ## Best art & shopping in Sedona Where Sedona's long run as an artists' town still shows. 1. **Tlaquepaque** (Free entry · SR 179): Galleries and courtyards in a village built from 1971 to 1978. [Website](https://www.tlaq.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Sedona Arts Center** (Gallery · Classes · Uptown): Founded in 1958 in the old Jordan apple-packing barn. [Website](https://sedonaartscenter.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 3. **Hillside Sedona** (Galleries · SR 179): Galleries and terraces off SR 179, a walk from Tlaquepaque. 4. **Uptown Sedona** (Shops · Tours · Uptown): The main street of souvenir shops, jeep tours and Jordan Road. ## Best wineries in Sedona Arizona's own wine country, 20 to 45 minutes south and west. 1. **Page Springs Cellars** (Cellar door · Bistro · Cornville): Syrah on Oak Creek, open every day; tastings need no booking. [Website](https://pagespringscellars.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Javelina Leap** (Cellar door · Bistro · Cornville): A family winery and bistro next door on Page Springs Road. 3. **Caduceus Cellars** (Tasting room · Jerome): Maynard James Keenan's tasting room on Jerome's Main Street. 4. **Merkin Vineyards** (Tasting room · Cottonwood): Keenan's second label, with a tasting room in Cottonwood. ## Best neighborhoods in Sedona Four bases, each closer to a different set of trails. 1. **Uptown** (Shops · Walkable · Uptown): The walkable north end on 89A, busy by day, quiet by 9pm. 2. **West Sedona** (Residential · Dining · West Sedona): Where locals live and most restaurants and motels sit. 3. **Village of Oak Creek** (Quiet · Trails · Village of Oak Creek): South on 179 beside Bell Rock, with its own trailheads. 4. **Oak Creek Canyon** (Cabins · Creek · Oak Creek Canyon): Creekside cabins and lodges under the canyon walls. ## Best day trips in Sedona Five outings within two hours, from cliff dwellings to the canyon. 1. **Jerome** (About 45 min by car · Jerome): An old copper town on Cleopatra Hill, now galleries and wine bars. 2. **Montezuma Castle** (About 30 min by car · Camp Verde): A Sinagua cliff dwelling set high in a limestone cliff off I-17. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/moca/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 3. **Verde Canyon Railroad** (About 40 min by car · Clarkdale): A slow train from Clarkdale through the Verde River canyon. [Website](https://verdecanyonrr.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 4. **Flagstaff** (About 1 hr by car · Flagstaff): Up Oak Creek Canyon to Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was found. 5. **Grand Canyon South Rim** (About 2 hrs by car · Grand Canyon): Leave by dawn; the drive is about two hours each way. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Festivals & annual events in Sedona (2026) - **Sedona International Film Festival** (February): Nine days of screenings; the 33rd edition runs 20 to 28 February 2027. - **St. Patrick's Parade** (March): A free morning parade down Jordan Road in Uptown. - **Sedona Hummingbird Festival** (July): Three days on the region's hummingbirds; 2026 ran 24 to 26 July. - **Sedona WineFest** (September): Verde Valley wineries pour at Posse Grounds Park, usually late in the month. - **Sedona Arts Festival** (October): A weekend of more than 100 juried artists. - **Sedona Plein Air Festival** (October): A week of painters at work outdoors, run by the Sedona Arts Center. - **Sedona Mountain Bike Festival** (November): Demo bikes and group rides; moved from March, 2026 runs 6 to 8 November. - **Festival of Lights** (December): Thousands of luminarias lit across Tlaquepaque's courtyards. ## Must-try food and drink in Sedona, Arizona - **Prickly pear margarita**: Pink with the fruit of the local cactus, on every bar list. - **Cactus fries**: The Cowboy Club's, with prickly pear dipping sauce. - **Rattlesnake**: Served as sausage at the Cowboy Club. - **Elote**: Fire-roasted corn, the dish Elote Cafe is named for. - **Chimichanga**: The fried burrito Arizona claims as its own. - **Navajo taco**: Fry bread piled with beans, chile and cheese. - **Verde Valley syrah**: The grape Page Springs Cellars is known for. - **Wild game**: Game on the Cowboy Club's high-desert menu, beside the steaks. ## Sedona transport & airports - **Phoenix Sky Harbor** (PHX): The nearest major airport, about two hours south by I-17. Most visitors fly in here and hire a car. [Website](https://www.skyharbor.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Airport shuttle** (Coach): Groome Transportation runs scheduled shuttles between Phoenix Sky Harbor, Sedona hotels and the Verde Valley. [Website](https://sedonachamber.com/transportation/airport-shuttle?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Sedona Shuttle** (Free): Free trailhead buses Thursday to Sunday from park-and-ride lots to Cathedral Rock, Soldier Pass, Dry Creek Vista, Mescal and Little Horse. No Red Rock Pass needed. [Website](https://sedonashuttle.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Car and Red Rock Pass** (Car): A car is the practical way to reach the canyon and day trips. Many forest trailheads need a Red Rock Pass, $5 a day or $15 a week. [Website](https://visitsedona.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Sedona at a glance - **Country:** United States - **Region:** Arizona (Coconino and Yavapai counties) - **Population:** 9,684 (2020 census) - **Founded:** 1902; incorporated as a city in 1988 - **Nickname:** Red Rock Country - **Language:** English - **Currency:** US dollar (US$) - **Time zone:** MST · UTC−7, no daylight saving - **Calling code:** +1 928 - **Airports:** PHX (2 hrs) · FLG (1 hr) - **Power:** 120V · Type A/B - **Emergency:** 911 ## Interesting facts - The town is named after Sedona Schnebly, whose husband Theodore was its first postmaster. - The city straddles two counties, Coconino to the north and Yavapai to the south. - In 2014 Sedona became the world's eighth International Dark Sky Community. - The Cowboy Artists of America was founded in 1965 at the Oak Creek Tavern, now the Cowboy Club. - SR 179 was named an All-American Road in 2006, the top tier of the National Scenic Byways. ## Sedona travel FAQ ### How many days do you need in Sedona? Three. One for Cathedral Rock, the Chapel and the byway, one for Devil's Bridge and Airport Mesa at sunset, and one up Oak Creek Canyon. Add a fourth for the Grand Canyon or the Verde Valley wineries. ### Do you need a Red Rock Pass in Sedona? For parking at most national forest trailheads, yes: $5 a day or $15 a week, sold at trailhead machines. An America the Beautiful pass also works. Riders on the free Sedona Shuttle need no pass. ### How does the Sedona Shuttle work? Free buses run Thursday to Sunday, year-round, from park-and-ride lots to five trailheads, including Cathedral Rock and Soldier Pass. On those days some trailhead lots close to private cars, so the shuttle is the way in. ### When is the best time to visit Sedona? March to May and October to November, when days are mild for hiking. Summer is hot, and July to September brings afternoon monsoon storms. Winter is quiet, with the odd dusting of snow on the rocks. ### Can you visit the Grand Canyon from Sedona? Yes. The South Rim is about two hours by car, via Flagstaff or Williams. Leave at dawn, give the rim the whole day, and come back down Oak Creek Canyon before dark. ## Nearby guides - [Las Vegas](https://wimup.com/city/las-vegas.md): United States · 10 picks - [Moab](https://wimup.com/city/moab.md): United States · 10 picks - [Los Angeles](https://wimup.com/city/los-angeles.md): United States · 10 picks - [All of North America →](https://wimup.com/north-america): 38 cities Part of the [United States guide](https://wimup.com/country/united-states.md) · [North America](https://wimup.com/north-america.md) ## Sources - [Sedona tourism board](https://visitsedona.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Hike Cathedral Rock (official site)](https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/cathedral-rock-trail-no-170?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Devil's Bridge (official site)](https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/trails/devils-bridge-trail-no-120?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Chapel of the Holy Cross (official site)](https://chapeloftheholycross.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Slide Rock State Park (official site)](https://azstateparks.com/slide-rock/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [West Fork of Oak Creek (official site)](https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation/call-canyon-picnic-site?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village (official site)](https://www.tlaq.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Palatki Heritage Site (official site)](https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/10089352?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Red Rock State Park (official site)](https://azstateparks.com/red-rock/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Sedona Arts Center (official site)](https://sedonaartscenter.org/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Page Springs Cellars (official site)](https://pagespringscellars.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Montezuma Castle (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/moca/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Verde Canyon Railroad (official site)](https://verdecanyonrr.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Grand Canyon South Rim (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Phoenix Sky Harbor (official site)](https://www.skyharbor.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Airport shuttle (official site)](https://sedonachamber.com/transportation/airport-shuttle?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Sedona Shuttle (official site)](https://sedonashuttle.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.