A vibrant town in a mountainous desert region, there are things to do in Sedona for all tastes.
It’s a place characterized by beautiful red rocks, towering buttes, and deep canyons. The Arizona town is known for having a rich artistic culture and contains a huge variety of galleries. Plus, the energetic activity in the area draws a vibrant new-age community.
I love visiting Sedona and count it as one of my favorite places to visit in Arizona. Let’s get into the best things to do in Sedona!
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25 Best Things to Do in Sedona
Devil’s Bridge
If you dare, venture out onto a natural red rock bridge with panoramic views of Sedona.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
One of Sedona’s most iconic features, Devil’s bridge draws tons of people wanting a photo perched on this towering natural bridge. The hike up to the bridge is steep but not overly challenging and winds through some beautiful red-rock countryside that Sedona’s famous for.
To get out ahead of the crowds, start your hike early in the morning which also happens to be optimal for photos. Parking can also be limited at the main trailhead (Devil’s Bridge Trail), so I recommend starting at Mescal Trailhead which is a 5.7-mile round-trip hike that tends to have less traffic.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
See the ancient cliff settlements built by indigenous peoples.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (928) 567-3322 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 4:45 pm daily | Entrance: $10
Montezuma Castle National Monument contains the remnants of incredible dwellings built into the cliffs by the Sinagua people sometime between AD 1100 and 1400. The structures have been well preserved and offer an incredible opportunity to glimpse into the past of the region.
The national park lies about 45 minutes outside of Sedona – a drive that’s well worth it to see such a unique example of history.
👉 Just have a day to explore Sedona? This private tour of Sedona is customizable, and will take you to the top sites!
Bell Rock
Hike a few miles to this iconic bell-shaped rock formation.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: Open 24/7 | Entrance: Free
The monolithic Bell Rock butte emerges out of the Sedona countryside and is one of Sedona’s most recognizable towering red rock formations. While you can appreciate the butte from afar, a fantastic 3.5-mile roundtrip hike takes you to the top where you can enjoy panoramic views.
Bell Rock is also the site of a vortex, a place of concentrated energy where some believe there is elevated spiritual activity.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
This intriguing chapel emerges from the surrounding red rocks, creating an impressive site.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (928) 282-4069 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: Free
Constructed in the 1950s, this Catholic Chapel perches high up on a cliff face, seemingly embedded or emerging from the red rocks themselves. The church welcomes all visitors wanting to behold the architectural wonder, regardless of religious denomination, and has a small gift shop at the base.
For those looking to attend a mass while visiting Sedona, the Chapel of the Holy Cross is a wonderful place to combine religion and the area’s natural beauty.
Airport Mesa
For some of the best views of Sedona, this hike is a must.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (928) 203-2900 | Website | Hours: Open 24/7 | Entrance: Free
The moderate Airport Mesa loop leads around the base of the large mesa and offers beautiful views of the scenery below. It’s one of the best places to watch the sunset and enjoy the beautiful color changes in the red rock country.
Airport Mesa is also the site of one of Sedona’s vortexes where the Earth’s energy radiates at greater intensity.
Boynton Canyon
This hike will take you to an iconic subway cave with sweeping views.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
While slightly less popular than Devil’s Bridge and Cathedral Rock, Boynton Canyon and its subway cave are equally impressive.
The 6.1-mile out-and-back hiking trail is considered to be moderately challenging. To reach the subway caves, take a side trail to the right about a mile from the final canyon viewpoint.
Soldier Pass
This hike leads to a massive sinkhole and a series of seven small pools called the seven sisters.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: Open 24/7 | Website | Entrance: Free
Soldier Pass Trail is my personal favorite hike in Sedona, and in my opinion, beats out the more popular Devil’s Bridge and Cathedral Rock. I only saw a few other hikers on the 4.5-mile trail so we had all of the main sites to ourselves.
The moderately difficult hike leads to a giant sinkhole called Devil’s Kitchen, the seven sisters, a series of seven small pools, and a unique cave. Each of these features is remarkable, but the trail also winds through what I thought was one of the most beautiful landscapes in Sedona.
Brins Mesa
Explore Sedona’s breathtaking landscape dotted with red rock buttes and canyons.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: Open 24/7 | Entrance: Free
A moderate 3-mile hike, Brins Mesa is a great stroll for those wanting to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Sedona landscape.
The trail also connects to various other hiking trails that wind through the red rock wilderness, making it a great kickoff point to explore. Once you make it to Brins Overlook you’ll be rewarded with unmatched views of the surroundings.
Brins Trail also allows vehicles and is a favorite among adrenaline-chasing offroaders.
Bear Mountain
One of Sedona’s more challenging hikes leads to what many recognize as the best views.
📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free
On Bear Mountain Trail you will hike nearly 5 miles over which you’ll gain 2,000+ ft of elevation. The trail is not for the inexperienced hiker or the faint of heart, as much of the hike requires scrambling over sheer rock. Those with the gumption to take on one of Sedona’s most difficult hiking trails will be rewarded with stunning views of Fay Canyon and towering buttes.
Be sure to bring lots of water, sun protection, and wear shoes with good traction.
West Fork Oak Creek Trail
This beautiful hike leads through the forested Oak Creek Canyon punctuated by striking red rock formations.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 8 am – dusk daily | Entrance: Free
West Fork Trail winds through the lush Oak Creek Canyon just outside of Downtown Sedona. This easy, mostly flat walking trail turned out to be an unexpected highlight of my trip because of the unique scenery. While most of Sedona is a beautiful desert, the water of Oak Creek makes the canyon a verdant oasis and I couldn’t get enough of the greenery contrasting with the red rock.
Throughout its lifetime, the small Oak Creek has carved out incredible tunnels and unique formations in the canyon rock walls.
Cathedral Rock
Hike up to this monolithic red rock for breathtaking views of Sedona from above.
📍 Google Maps | Website
There’s a reason that Cathedral Rock Trail is one of the most popular things to do in Sedona. The massive red butte truly resembles a massive cathedral and the hike up to it offers increasingly spectacular views. The hike requires a bit of rock scrambling and gets difficult in some places – especially if you attempt it at midday in summer as I did.
The hike terminates at the top of Cathedral Rock where, from its spires, the views of the valley below are spectacular.
Grand Canyon
The iconic southern rim of the Grand Canyon is a short drive from Sedona.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (928) 638-7888 | Website | Hours: Open 24/7 | Entrance: $35 per vehicle
Arguably the world’s most recognizable natural wonder, the Grand Canyon is worth seeing at least once in your life. The drive to the south rim from Sedona only takes a couple of hours, so pack a bag for the Grand Canyon and make a day trip out of it!
We spent a couple of hours strolling along the walking trails at the top of the immense canyon walls. It was as spectacular as expected.
Visit Slide Rock State Park
Take relief from the hot desert temperatures with a dip in this canyon river with rock banks.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (928) 282-3034 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $20 per vehicle
Slide Rock State Park is one of the most popular Sedona attractions and undoubtedly the most fun way to escape the desert heat in summer.
The water of Oak Creek meanders between towering rock walls, creating a picturesque natural bathing area. The banks of the river are formed by the iconic red rocks that Sedona’s famous for and are perfect for relaxing after a swim.
Hike up or down the river to find a less populated area, since the park draws tons of visitors each day.
📚 Related Reading: 19 Best Places to Go Camping in Arizona (By a Local)
Go on a Pink Jeep Tour
For a guided tour of the Sedona landscape, you can’t go wrong taking a jeep offroad.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (800) 873-3662 | Website | Entrance: starting at $59 per person
Pink Jeep Tours are a super fun and efficient way of seeing all of the top sites and attractions in and around Sedona.
They offer tons of different tours including the Grand Canyon Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, a vortex tour, and many more. If you want to pack a ton of sigh-seeing into a short time, a Pink Jeep Tour is a perfect option.
Verde Valley Wine Trail
Explore Sedona’s various wineries scattered throughout this little-known wine country.
🌐 Website | Entrance: Free
Sedona has its very own wine country where you can sip a glass of local wine and enjoy views of the stunning landscape. There are multiple fantastic wineries scattered throughout the Oak Creek Canyon and together they make up the Verde Valley Wine Trail.
Our favorites were Oak Creek Vineyards and Page Springs Cellars, both of which had great wine to enjoy with beautiful views of the surrounding nature.
Vortex Site
Visit one of Sedona’s areas of energetic importance to connect with yourself and the Earth.
For many people, Sedona is considered a place of spiritual importance and revered as a sacred place. This is thanks to its sites of strong energy flow, known as a vortex.
These vortexes are scattered throughout the countryside but draw in many visitors wanting to meditate, feel the energetic force, or just see what the fuss is about.
Most of the sites are somewhat remote and require a hike or bike to reach them. Otherwise, you can take a Jeep tour to various vortex sites.
Red Rock Scenic Byway
This drive is a must for stunning scenic views without having to leave the car.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: Open 24/7 | Entrance: Free
The 7.5-mile stretch of road called the Red Rock Scenic Byway winds through the Sedona wilderness and offers an opportunity to enjoy spectacular views of the red rock landscape.
This is a fantastic opportunity to get out into the outdoors when hiking or biking isn’t possible.
Off-Roading
Sedona is an off-road aficionado’s paradise, with tons of vehicle-accessible trails.
The area surrounding Sedona is known as an offroading playground. The rocky and rough terrain makes it a popular destination for people to test their 4WD vehicles and driving skills.
Coconino National Forest has tons of trails designated for offroading vehicles that offer a variety of difficulties. The best trails are considered to be Devils Bridge Trail, Hangover Trail Out-and-Back, and Schnebly Hill Road OHV Route.
If you aren’t confident of your offroading capabilities, you can still enjoy offroading adventures by going on a Jeep Tour.
Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village
Peruse the many art galleries at the architecturally beautiful Tlaquepaque Village.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (928) 282-4838 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Mon-Thu, 10 am – 6 pm Fri-Sun | Entrance: Free
Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village is a beautiful center designed to replicate a traditional Mexican village. The grounds themselves are worth visiting as they contain gardens, lovely benches, historic attractions, and art pieces.
As the name suggests, Tlaquepaque is filled with art galleries displaying unique pieces, often celebrating Sedona’s rich culture, history, and natural beauty.
Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park
For a beautifully peaceful moment away from it all, stroll this park made specifically for peace.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (877) 788-7229 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 6 pm daily | Entrance: voluntary donations
The Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park is an outdoor area whose purpose is to provide a tranquil place for people to meditate, pray, or just sit in peace.
Stupas are one of the earliest types of sacred structures whose origins date back to the time of Buddha over 2,500 years ago. They are considered to hold the presence of buddha and offer a place of enlightenment and spiritual significance for people of all religions.
Sedona’s Amitabha Stupa is one of the few in the West.
Mountain Biking
There’s no better way to see Sedona’s backcountry than from a bike.
The many trails that wind through the rocky, desert terrain in and around Sedona make it a top destination for mountain bikers of all skill levels. In fact, mountain biking is an awesome way to explore Sedona and see some of the more remote sites that are too far on foot.
Some of the top-rated trails for mountain biking are Aerie to Cockscomb Trail, Chuckwagon Trail, and Hangover Trail.
Visit the Palatki Heritage Site
See the remains of cliff dwellings constructed in the 12th century.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (928) 282-3854 | Website | Hours: 9:30 am – 3 pm daily
Located in Coconino National Forest, The Palatki (red house in Hopi) Heritage Site contains preserved ancient dwellings carved into the red stone cliffs. The site is only accessible via a long bumpy road, but the unique attraction is worth the adventure.
Guides will take you on a short hike to the actual dwellings, explain preserved rock art, and teach you about the unique culture and history of the Hopi people who constructed the impressive structures.
Sedona Beer Company
This small brewery is the best spot for a post-hike bite and brew.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (928) 224-9002 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 8 pm, Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
After discovering Sedona Beer Co., it became our go-to spot to have a beer and a snack after a hot hike. The small, humble establishment is quaint and homey, and the outdoor patio has a stunning red rock backdrop.
The beer list is ample and they have some great food as well. Our favorite was the pretzel.
Explore Downtown Sedona
This small brewery is the best spot for a post-hike bite and brew.
Sedona is an adorable small town that celebrates the area’s natural beauty with architecture inspired by the landscape. Many of the shops and restaurants are influenced by the rich culture and history of Sedona.
The walkable downtown area, called Uptown Sedona is packed full of art and artisanal shops, restaurants, and cute cafes. From anywhere in the town you’ll have a gorgeous backdrop of the stunning red landscape beyond.
Ride the Verde Canyon Railroad
See Sedona from a refurbished antique railcar.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: 1 (800) 293-7245 | Website | Price: starting at $119
Undoubtedly the coolest and most unique way to see Sedona is on a refurbished antique railway car on the Verde Canyon Railroad.
The four-hour trip through 20 miles of countryside offers spectacular views of otherwise impossible-to-reach places, which you get to enjoy from a charming train car with food and alcohol service.
👉 Read Next: Best Things to Do in Phoenix
FAQs About What to Do in Sedona
How do I spend a day in Sedona?
A day in Sedona is done right by visiting Devil’s Bridge and Cathedral Rock, and exploring the Sedona wilderness. You’ll also want to have lunch in Uptown Sedona and then head to Slide Rock to cool off in the pools of Oak Creek. To finish the day, have a beer and dinner at Sedona Beer Co.
What is Sedona best known for?
Sedona is best known for its beautiful red rock landscape and massive red sandstone formations that tower above the ground. Some of the most famous of these formations are Bell Rock, Snoopy Rock, Cathedral Rock,Devil’s Bridge, Chimney Rock, and Coffee Pot Rock.
What is the best time of year to go to Sedona AZ?
Spring and Fall are the best times to visit Sedona as this is when the weather is mild and conducive to hiking and exploring the outdoors. Summer temperatures can get extremely hot, which limits outdoor activities. Winter months can bring ice and snow likewise confining you to indoor activities, though the crowds will be thinner off-season.
Are 3 days enough in Sedona?
Three days in Sedona is just enough to see some of the more popular natural attractions and explore the small mountain town. You may not be able to see every last site and attraction that the area has to offer, but three days would be enough to see Cathedral Rock,Devil’s Bridge,Slide Rock, go wine tasting, and visit Tlaquepaque Village, all of which are must-see places.
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Thanks for reading my guide to things to do in Sedona! All outdoor lovers, art aficionados, and the spiritually inclined should add Sedona to their list of must-see places. Up next, check out our picks on the best day trips from Phoenix (hint: Sedona makes the list!)
