Outdoor Activities in Sedona

Mountain Biking on Sedona's Red Rock Trail Network

Sedona has over 200 miles of singletrack spread across the Coconino National Forest, and the red dirt surface is rideable year-round when dry. The Bell Rock Pathway to Courthouse Butte loop covers about 4 miles of smooth, hard-packed trail, good for beginners who want red rock scenery without technical sections. For intermediate riders, the Slim Shady and Mescal trail system near the Village of Oak Creek offers rock features and slickrock rollers. Advanced riders tend to gravitate toward Hangover Trail, where exposed ledge riding above 500-foot drops tests nerve more than fitness. Bike rentals run $50-80 per day from shops along SR 89A in West Sedona.

Difficulty

Varies from beginner to advanced depending on trail choice

Duration

2-5 hours

Best season

October through April, when temperatures stay below 30°C

Rock Climbing and Bouldering

The sandstone around Sedona tends to be softer than granite or limestone at other climbing destinations, so the routes lean toward crack climbing and chimneying rather than face climbing. The area near Midgley Bridge on SR 89A sees the most activity, with routes in the 5.6 to 5.10 range on red and white sandstone. Mind you, the Sedona sandstone can be crumbly after rain. Climbers typically wait 48 hours after a storm before touching the walls. No permits are needed for climbing in the National Forest, though some formation closures apply for raptor nesting from February through June. The smell of warm sandstone on a dry February morning is one of those Sedona-specific sensory memories.

Difficulty

Intermediate to advanced

Duration

Half day to full day

Best season

October through May

Hot Air Balloon Flights over Red Rock Country

Several operators run sunrise flights from launch sites near the Sedona Airport mesa, typically lasting 60-90 minutes at 500-2,000 feet above the red formations. The morning light shifts from pink to deep orange as the sun clears the Mogollon Rim to the northeast. You'll smell propane from the burners and feel the air temperature drop as the balloon rises above the canyon floor. Prices run $250-350 per person. The calm, dry mornings from October through April are ideal for launches. Summer monsoon moisture and thermal activity make flights less predictable from June through August.

Difficulty

None, passive activity

Duration

60-90 minutes airborne, 3-4 hours total with setup

Best season

October through April

Horseback Riding in the Red Rock Corridors

Outfitters near the Village of Oak Creek and along Dry Creek Road run guided rides through the red rock corridors. A typical 2-hour ride covers 4-6 miles at a walk, passing through juniper-dotted terrain with views of Cathedral Rock or the Dry Creek basin. Prices start around $90-120 for a 2-hour trip. The horses know these routes from muscle memory, so first-time riders can focus on the Cathedral Rock views rather than steering. That said, summer rides leave before 8 AM or after 4 PM to avoid midday heat. The smell of sun-warmed juniper and crushed sage is strong along the Dry Creek routes.

Difficulty

Beginner-friendly

Duration

1-3 hours

Best season

October through May

Off-Road Jeep Tours on Broken Arrow and Schnebly Hill Road

Sedona's most popular commercial activity sends open-air Jeeps up Broken Arrow Trail and the unpaved section of Schnebly Hill Road, bouncing over slickrock shelves at steep angles. The Broken Arrow route covers about 3 miles and passes Submarine Rock, a flat-topped sandstone slab that looks exactly like its name. Schnebly Hill Road climbs roughly 2,000 feet over 12 miles from SR 179 to the rim, with loose gravel sections that require high clearance. Tours run $80-130 per person for 2 hours. If you have your own 4WD vehicle, Schnebly Hill Road is free to drive but closed after heavy rain or in winter when ice forms on the upper switchbacks.

Difficulty

Passenger activity, no fitness required

Duration

2-3 hours

Best season

Year-round, though summer tours run early morning

Trail Running on Sedona Singletrack

The red dirt singletrack around Sedona has become a draw for trail runners, with the Templeton Trail offering a moderate 4.2-mile out-and-back that contours along the base of Cathedral Rock. The surface is mostly packed dirt with some rock steps near the upper viewpoints. For longer efforts, Munds Wagon Trail climbs about 800 feet over 3 miles before connecting to routes toward Munds Mountain. Morning groups meet at the Posse Grounds trailhead and at Tlaquepaque Arts Village parking before dawn. Even a 3-mile morning run in April can leave you dehydrated without a hydration vest. The dry air and altitude combine to pull moisture from your lungs faster than at sea-level courses.

Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous

Duration

1-3 hours

Best season

October through April

Cathedral Rock Trail

Cathedral Rock starts from the Back O' Beyond trailhead off Back O' Beyond Road and climbs about 600 feet in 0.7 miles to a saddle between two of the formation's main spires. This is short but steep. Several sections require hands-on scrambling up smooth red slickrock at roughly 45-degree angles. Trekking poles get in the way on Cathedral Rock. On the saddle, you get a direct view down into Oak Creek canyon and across to Courthouse Butte. The parking lot fills by 7 AM on weekends from October through April. A Red Rock Pass is required for the trailhead.

Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous, hands-on scrambling required

Duration

1.5-2.5 hours round trip

Best season

October through April, early morning in summer

Devil's Bridge Trail

Devil's Bridge is the largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area, spanning about 54 feet across a side canyon off Dry Creek Road. The hike from the Dry Creek Road trailhead covers roughly 4 miles round trip with about 400 feet of elevation gain. The first mile follows a rocky 4WD road before narrowing to singletrack through juniper forest. You can walk out onto the bridge itself. The sandstone is solid here, not crumbly. Expect a line of 10-15 people waiting for photos on weekend mornings. The Mescal trailhead offers a shorter 2-mile round trip approach from the south, and that route has better shade.

Difficulty

Moderate

Duration

2-3 hours round trip

Best season

Year-round, mornings in summer

West Fork of Oak Creek Trail

West Fork starts at the Call of the Canyon day-use area, about 10 miles north of Uptown Sedona in Oak Creek Canyon along SR 89A. The trail crosses Oak Creek up to 13 times over 3 miles, with water levels ranging from ankle-deep to calf-deep depending on the season. The canyon narrows between sheer walls roughly 200 feet high, with bigtooth maples and Douglas fir overhead. In late October, the fall color here is the best within 100 miles. The surface along Oak Creek alternates between packed dirt, river cobble, and slick rock at each crossing. After 3 miles, the maintained trail ends and the route becomes a technical slot canyon wade requiring chest-deep water in places.

Difficulty

Easy to moderate, creek crossings require balance

Duration

3-4 hours round trip for the maintained 6-mile out-and-back

Best season

Late October for fall color, May through June for comfortable water temperature

Bear Mountain Trail

Bear Mountain is Sedona's most demanding commonly hiked trail, gaining about 2,000 feet in roughly 2.5 miles with sustained steep sections on exposed slickrock. The route follows rock cairns up the north face, and there are several false summits that test your patience. From the top, at roughly 6,500 feet, you see the red rock corridor stretching south toward the Village of Oak Creek and the Verde Valley. The grade is relentless. Bring at least 3 liters of water per person and start before 7 AM in any season. The trailhead is off Dry Creek Road, past the Boynton Canyon turnoff.

Difficulty

Strenuous

Duration

4-6 hours round trip

Best season

November through March

Bell Rock Pathway and Courthouse Butte Loop

This loop covers about 3.6 miles on mostly flat, well-maintained trail between Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, two of Sedona's most recognizable formations. The path starts from the Bell Rock Vista parking area along SR 179 and circles the base of both formations on hard-packed red dirt wide enough for two people side by side. It's the most accessible red rock hike in the area, suitable for families and first-time visitors to Sedona. For a harder option, scramble up the lower shelves of Bell Rock itself, though the routes get increasingly exposed and unmarked higher up. The parking area has room for about 80 vehicles and fills mid-morning on weekends.

Difficulty

Easy for the loop, moderate to strenuous for the Bell Rock scramble

Duration

1.5-2 hours for the loop

Best season

Year-round

Boynton Canyon Trail

Boynton Canyon runs 3 miles one way into a deep box canyon, gaining about 500 feet gradually from the trailhead at the end of Boynton Pass Road near the Enchantment Resort. The first half mile crosses open juniper flats before Boynton Canyon's walls close in. The temperature drops several degrees in the shade of the inner canyon, and the air smells like dry pine needles and iron-rich earth. At the trail's end, a short climb leads to a viewpoint looking back down the canyon toward the western horizon. A spur trail near the start leads to Boynton Vortex, one of Sedona's 4 commonly cited energy vortex sites, marked by juniper trees that grow in tight spirals near their base.

Difficulty

Moderate

Duration

2.5-3.5 hours round trip

Best season

Year-round, especially pleasant from October through May

Natural Water Slide at Slide Rock State Park

Slide Rock State Park opened in 1985 around a section of Oak Creek where the creek bed forms a smooth, algae-slicked sandstone chute. The natural slide runs about 80 feet long, and you go down on your back or stomach into a pool below. The water stays around 15-18°C even in August, so the first plunge is a genuine shock. The park sits 7 miles north of Uptown Sedona in Oak Creek Canyon. Entry costs $20-30 per vehicle depending on the day. Arrive before 9 AM on summer weekends or you will be turned away when the lot fills. Minor scrapes from the sandstone bottom are normal. Consider water shoes.

Difficulty

Easy, though cold water and slippery rocks require caution

Duration

2-4 hours

Best season

May through September

Swimming at Grasshopper Point

Grasshopper Point is a swimming hole on Oak Creek about 2 miles north of Uptown Sedona along SR 89A. The creek forms a deep, slow pool here, with rock ledges that people use for sunbathing and cliff jumping from heights of 10-20 feet. The water is clear with a green tint from the canyon bottom. Entry costs $10 per vehicle. The site is smaller and quieter than the state park upstream in Oak Creek Canyon. On hot afternoons, the cold creek water is a relief after hiking, and the canyon walls provide shade starting around 3 PM. No lifeguards are on duty.

Difficulty

Easy, though cliff jumping carries inherent risk

Duration

1-3 hours

Best season

May through September

Kayaking and Canoeing on the Verde River

The Verde River flows through the valley below Sedona, accessible from put-in points near Camp Verde and Cottonwood. The stretch from Beasley Flat to Camp Verde covers about 8 miles of Class I-II water with gentle riffles and a few small rapids. Kayak and canoe rentals are available in both towns, typically $45-65 for a half-day with shuttle service. The Verde is one of Arizona's last free-flowing rivers, and the riparian corridor supports bald eagles, great blue herons, and river otters. Water levels are highest from late February through May during snowmelt. By late summer, some sections get shallow enough to require dragging your boat over exposed gravel bars.

Difficulty

Beginner to intermediate, Class I-II rapids

Duration

3-5 hours for the Beasley Flat to Camp Verde section

Best season

March through May for reliable water levels

Swimming at Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness

Wet Beaver Creek sits about 15 miles south of Sedona near the community of Rimrock. The Bell Trail leads 3 miles from the trailhead to a deep swimming hole called The Crack, where the creek has carved a narrow gorge in basalt. The water pools deep enough for swimming in a slot about 15 feet wide, with sheer walls rising on both sides. The hike in is flat for the first 2 miles along the creek, then descends steeply for the final mile. This spot draws far fewer visitors than the Oak Creek swimming holes. Bring water shoes for the rocky creek bottom, and expect the water temperature to feel noticeably colder than Oak Creek.

Difficulty

Moderate, 3-mile hike required to reach the swimming area

Duration

4-6 hours including the hike

Best season

May through September

Red Rock State Park opened in 1986 along a gentle stretch of lower Oak Creek, about 6 miles southwest of Uptown Sedona on Red Rock Loop Road. This is not the same as Crescent Moon, though both overlook Cathedral Rock from the south. The 286-acre park focuses on environmental education rather than adventure, with 5 miles of mostly flat trails through riparian habitat along the creek banks. Expect to hear canyon wrens calling from the sycamores and see great blue herons standing still in the shallows. The Eagle's Nest overlook gives a wide panorama of the red formations without the crowds at nearby trailheads. The visitor center runs guided nature walks and seasonal bird counts through the year.

Highlights: Eagle's Nest overlook, Oak Creek riparian corridor, guided nature walks, 5 miles of easy trails

Dead Horse Ranch sits in Cottonwood, about 20 miles southwest of Sedona along SR 89A. Established in 1972 along the Verde River, it covers 423 acres of river bottom, cottonwood groves, and desert upland. The park has stocked fishing lagoons, 6 miles of trails, and picnic areas under massive old cottonwoods whose shade feels 10 degrees cooler than the open desert. This is where Sedona locals go for flat, shaded walking near water without the tourist density. You might spot river otters in the Verde, and the birding is strong, with over 100 species documented. Mountain biking is allowed on some of the park trails.

Highlights: Verde River access, stocked fishing lagoons, cottonwood-shaded picnic areas, 100+ bird species

Crescent Moon sits on the south bank of Oak Creek, directly below Cathedral Rock. On calm mornings, the reflection of Cathedral Rock in the water is nearly perfect, which is why this is Sedona's most photographed angle. The area has shallow wading spots where Oak Creek spreads wide over a rocky bottom, popular with families from May through September. Entry costs $12 per vehicle. Arrive before 9 AM on summer weekends or you'll circle the parking lot for 20 minutes. The sound of the creek and the cool air rising off the water make this spot feel noticeably cooler than the Uptown sidewalks.

Highlights: Cathedral Rock reflections, shallow Oak Creek wading, $12 vehicle entry, early-morning photography

Posse Grounds is Sedona's main municipal park, off Posse Grounds Road between Uptown and West Sedona. It has sports fields, a dog park, a skateboard park, and picnic pavilions spread across a flat mesa. The park connects to the Posse Grounds Trail, which links into the larger National Forest system toward Soldier Pass. Locals use it for morning stretches before heading into the Coconino backcountry. The views of Steamboat Rock and Thunder Mountain from the park's north side are wide and mostly tourist-free.

Highlights: Dog park, skateboard park, Soldier Pass trail connection, views of Steamboat Rock and Thunder Mountain